Any youth ages 10-17 experiencing homelessness, running away, or who is at immediate risk of either.

You can stay at the shelter if you are experiencing a gap in housing, running away from home, couch surfing, or other types of housing instability. If you’re unsure whether this describes your situation, call the shelter any time of day or night to talk to a staff member, and we can help you decide if the shelter is the right fit for you.

No. All youth have their own bedroom with a bed, dresser, and other storage options.

We recognize that many youth struggling with things like housing and homelessness may use drugs and/or alcohol as a coping mechanism. We don’t believe this means you should not have access to shelter. Youth in active use will not be turned away from shelter. That said, drugs or alcohol are not allowed in shelter for any reason. If staff finds alcohol or drugs in the shelter, it will be confiscated and destroyed and we will safety plan with you around avoiding the issue in the future.

If a youth shows up at shelter under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and are safe to be there with staff supervision, we will allow them to stay. If a youth shows up at shelter under the influence, and they are not safe to be in shelter, we will help them get medical attention, and they will be invited back once they are safe again.

Each resident’s stay will vary in length with some staying only a few nights and some staying longer, but the majority of shelter stays are for fewer than 21 days.

We can provide transportation to the shelter if staffing allows. Depending on the time of day, we may also be able to work with the staff at the Zach Gordon Youth Center to provide transportation.

When a youth arrives at shelter, we are required to contact their guardian. Other than that, we maintain strict confidentiality standards regarding who is staying in shelter. We cannot tell anyone outside of the shelter who is staying here unless we have permission to do so.

No. Generally, youth staying at the shelter should keep their routines as normal as possible, ie: going to school or work, etc. We will work with you and your guardian on what your schedule will be while in shelter.

Yes, you can have your phone and personal technology with you. We have a wi-fi network for residents’ use.

Our first priority is ensuring safety for our residents, both during their stay and after. We will work with you and your guardian(s) to determine a discharge plan – for most youth – we will work with you to get home safely. Though for some, home may no longer be an option. You will help develop your plan of care and we will support you in reaching your goals.

The Zach Gordon Youth Center is a free drop-in facility that provides food, friendly staff, and a fun, safe place to spend time.