Thousands of youth are experiencing homelessness in Washington state.

37,337 students in Washington state experienced homelessness during the 2021-2022 school year. [1] This does not include youth who have dropped out of school, which is more common among youth experiencing homelessness. While staying at The Coffee Oasis emergency shelter, our wraparound services provide care for youth beyond housing. Youth in the shelter meet with a case manager to help them determine and meet their goals for areas such as education, employment, and mental health. Youth also have the opportunity to go through job training classes and complete an internship at one of The Coffee Oasis Cafes or at a local business.

A family crisis or break up is the most commonly reported cause of youth homelessness.

20% of youth and young adults aged 13-24 expressed that this was the primary reason for becoming homeless in Pierce County. [5] The next primary reason, trailing behind at 8%, was no affordable housing. According to the 2024 Pierce County Point-in-Time Count, there are 2,661 individuals experiencing homelessness. This is 23% higher than last year’s number.

At The Coffee Oasis, our mission is not just to house youth in need of shelter, but to restore community. This means that we work with youth in a holistic way to facilitate family reconciliation when possible and help youth find long term housing solutions beyond The Coffee Oasis youth shelters.

29% of youth and young adults experiencing homelessness are unsheltered.

These youth did not even have access to an emergency shelter and found themselves sleeping on the streets, in a tent, or in a vehicle. Since 2022, the number of youth The Coffee Oasis outreach team has connected with in Kitsap County has tripled.

For January-June 2024, the number of youth who found belonging at The Coffee Oasis drop-in centers has doubled since 2023 (2,113 youth). Currently, The Coffee Oasis operates the only two underage youth shelters in Pierce and Kitsap counties. There is a great need for more affordable housing options.

In his story, Zander shares the importance of increasing housing opportunities. “I think this would really help the youth in the community, because each year the youth at-risk number goes up.” For The Coffee Oasis, as we look to the future, we plan to expand our housing options to include a 12-bed transitional housing program for young mothers at our Tacoma location.

1 in 3 teens on the street will be lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home. [4]

Human trafficking is a horrific issue for youth and young adults who find themselves experiencing homelessness. Youth experiencing homelessness are a prime target for this lucrative and criminal industry. According to Scarlet Road, a local organization offering hope to those who have been sexually exploited, “the average age of entry into trafficking in our community is just 15 years old.” Without anywhere else to go, sometimes this is the easiest way to find shelter for the night. Desperation leads many youth to trade sexual favors for food, shelter, and protection.

At The Coffee Oasis, youth can find a safe place to stay with caring adults to help guide them in positive directions. Mentors and volunteers play a key role in our youth programs to reflect the love of Jesus to youth in need of support.

Suicide is the leading cause of death among youth experiencing homelessness.

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for 10 to 34 year olds in the U.S. and even higher among youth experiencing homelessness. [2] The effects of the COVID-19 epidemic worsened this public health crisis. [3] Youth and young adults are in desperate need of safe adults to talk to and walk alongside them. The Coffee Oasis Crisis Text Line is a text line for anyone ages 13-25 who is experiencing a crisis or just in need of someone to talk to. Through Crisis Services, we are able to provide in-person support through our Mobile Crisis Response team and walk-in services.

*If you are thinking about harming yourself or attempting suicide, tell someone who can help right away

• Call 911 for emergency services or go to the nearest hospital emergency room
• Call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• If you are between the ages of 13-25, text “Help” to The Coffee Oasis Crisis Text Line:
  (360) 377-5560

*If you have a family member or friend who is suicidal:

• Do not leave them alone
• Try to get the person to seek help immediately from an emergency room, physician, or mental health professional
• Take seriously any comments about suicide or wishing to die
• Encourage them to call or text a crisis line