The Snoqualmie Valley Winter Shelter announced last week that it is now serving unaccompanied minors each night between 8:30PM – 10PM – an effort to help local homeless youth.
The overnight winter shelter operates each year from November – April in alternating locations in Fall City, North Bend and Snoqualmie. It is open nightly from 8:30PM – 7:30AM – currently in Snoqualmie – providing homeless community members dinner, a warm bed and breakfast the following morning, as well as help accessing needed social services.
Area youth can now come inside the shelter for a hot meal, access emergency clothing and learn about social services available to teens. Due to shelter’s licensing restrictions and liability issues, unaccompanied minors are not allowed to spend the night, but according to shelter administrators, volunteers will be onside nighly to provide outreach services, including putting young people in touch with a Safe Place coordinator who can help them access an appropriate shelter.
Shelter volunteers are hopeful young people will access overnight shelter services through Safe Place, but say ultimately it will be the young person’s decision. They noted that if youth disclose they have a run [away] report, then the shelter is required by law to call parents or law enforcement – and any suspicion of abuse or neglect will be reported to CPS.
The Snoqualmie Valley Winter Shelter is currently located at Snoqualmie United Methodist Church on River St in downtown Snoqualmie. January 19th the shelter will move to Mt Si Lutheran Church, 411 NE 8th Street in North Bend.
