The Youth Connection

Who We Are

Every young person deserves a safe place to belong and the chance to build a stable future. The Youth Connection is a nonprofit serving at risk and homeless youth ages 12–24. We believe in youth led solutions and work every day to help young people gain stability and independence. We operate two drop in centers in Mason County, one in Belfair and one in Shelton, providing safe and welcoming spaces for all youth, client or non.

What We Do

Through case management and care coordination, we guide youth toward housing, employment, and long term stability. Our wide range of supportive programs includes access to food, hygiene products, and housing services. Within our housing program, we provide six off-site shelter houses, transitional housing, eviction prevention, and rapid rehousing.

To help youth rebuild their lives, we assist with essential life documents such as IDs and Social Security cards, connect them to benefits, and ensure they understand how to use them. We provide referrals for counseling and treatment when they are ready, and empower them to advocate for themselves. We also teach vital life skills from cooking and cleaning to financial basics so youth are prepared for independence. Last year, 86.7% or 114 youth in our program exited into permanent housing.

Why It Matters

Youth homelessness is more prevalent than many realize. A national study in 2017 found that 1 in 10 young adults ages 18–25 and at least 1 in 30 youth ages 13–17 experience some form of homelessness unaccompanied by a parent or guardian each year.

Here in Mason County, the need is just as urgent. In our program, 65% of youth had been homeless for more than a month, and 81% of those with housing were living in conditions not suitable for habitation.

Every day, we see the difference a safe place and consistent support can make in the lives of young people. With community backing, we can help youth move out of crisis and into lasting stability.