This Crisis Is Solvable
This summer, the national effort to end youth homelessness took a huge step forward with the official launch of A Way Home America. This initiative will build the movement to prevent and end homelessness among young people in America and the Campion Foundation is proud to be a partner.
As a coalition of homeless youth providers, advocates, researchers, government agencies, philanthropists and young people, A Way Home America (AWHA) has set the following goals for the year 2020:
- Prevent and end homelessness among all youth and young adults
- Ensure that homelessness among youth and young adults is rare, and if it occurs, is brief and one-time.
Youth homelessness is a serious issue in America. On any given night, an estimated 36,907 youth experience homelessness without a parent or guardian. Often, these young people are fleeing abuse and neglect. Up to 40% of homeless youth are LGBTQ and young people of color are disproportionately represented.
Over the next year, AWHA will elevate the issue of youth homelessness nationally, identify the policies needed, and provide a collective voice to advocate for changes critical to address this issue. We will learn from young people who have experienced homeless what is needed and we will challenge local communities to establish ambitious goals to house homeless youth.
It was great news when Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed the Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Act in April, 2015. It was a big step towards making sure that no young people ever have to spend a night on the streets. But there is so much more to do.
That’s why we are moving forward with key stakeholders to launch a statewide campaign to end youth homelessness in Washington state. We believe our state can be a leader in this effort around the country. Take a look at the resources, stories and partners below, and be sure to check back for updates on our progress.

A Way Home Washington, First Lady Trudi Inslee, and Pearl Jam Announce Anchor Community Initiative
Posted onAuthorSheila Babb Anderson
Photo Credit: Jim Bennett Last week, Campion Foundation grantee A Way Home Washington (AWHWA) joined with Washington First Lady Trudi Inslee and Pearl Jam to launch a major statewide campaign to end youth and young adult homelessness in four communities
More ›Read Sonya Campion’s Guest Editorial in the Puget Sound Business Journal
Posted onAuthorSonya Campion
Read Sonya Campion’s Guest Editorial in the Puget Sound Business Journal Dear Colleagues, With daily negative headlines and community dialogue about the lack of progress to prevent and end homelessness in the Seattle area, I’ve been dismayed that no one
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New Numbers on National LGBTQ Youth Homelessness
Posted onAuthorCarrie Savage
Last week, the second major installment of the Voices of Youth Count study was released by Chapin Hall. Voices of Youth Count (VoYC) is an academic, peer-reviewed study that the Campion Foundation is proud to fund along with a number
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Join the Team to End Youth Homelessness in Washington!
Posted onAuthorCarrie Savage
Our grantee A Way Home Washington (AWHWA) is hiring for two new critical positions in their mission to end youth and young adult homelessness in Washington! AWHWA partners with the state Office of Homeless Youth, philanthropic foundations, advocates, and service providers who support
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Unprecedented Legislative Successes to End Homelessness
Posted onAuthorSheila Babb Anderson
Washington’s legislative session ended on March 8th, and there’s no other way to say this: 2018 has been an incredible year for affordable housing and homelessness advocacy. Last year, a critical special election resulted in the Washington State Senate having
More ›Passage of Capital Budget Keeps Hope Alive for Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
Posted onAuthorSheila Babb Anderson
Passage of Capital Budget Keeps Hope Alive for Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits Last week, the Washington State Legislature passed the state’s Capital Budget, ending several months of gridlock that began during last year’s legislative session. Included in the Capital
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