ROOTS Young Adult Shelter provides safe, emergency, overnight shelter to young adults (ages 18-25) in Seattle's University District that are homeless. Our vision is that one day shelter will no longer be necessary because each young person will have a safe home. Until that happens, we will continue to open our doors.

Description:
ROOTS Young Adult Shelter (RYAS) provides safe, overnight, emergency shelter to young adults in Seattle's University District that are homeless. The shelter provides a safe, warm place to sleep, an evening and morning meal, referrals to longer-term services, and volunteers who will listen without judging. The shelter relies on the strong support of local religious institutions, but religious programming is not included or expected of shelter guests. RYAS is a volunteer based organization with limited staff to coordinate and manage the program.

ROOTS also hosts the weekly Friday Feast meal program, which has been in continuous operation since 1999. Friday Feast provides a restaurant-quality meal every Friday at 6PM to between 150 and 200 homeless and low-income individuals of all ages. Real Change has called Friday Feast "The best of all soup kitchen meals."

History:
RYAS recently merged with another emergency shelter program, University Young Adult Shelter (UYS), enabling us to provide seven nights a week of safe, emergency shelter. UYS was an inspiring example of the power of community. The organization was born of the passion and dedication of a group of volunteers including members of University District congregations, students, parents, and others. These people refused to close their eyes to the tragic reality of youth homelessness, and created a powerful force for change in the lives of young people. It is a force that has remained active and vital for over a decade. University Young Adult Shelter has offered more than 4,000 bednights a year for the young people of the streets. During this time, an ever-expanding core of volunteers has made the shelter a nurturing place for some of our communities most neglected young people. Youth who stay at the shelter find warmth, security, and the type of caring relationships that are so essential to human development.
For more information on RYAS, and it's parent organization, Rising Out Of The Shadows (ROOTS), please visit www.rootsinfo.org

Contact person: Heather Anderson, Shelter Manager, (phone), (email)

Address:

1415 NE 43rd Street Seattle, WA 98105 This location is NOT handicap accessible (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.rootsinfo.org

Directions:

Please call or email for specific directions.   Nearest Bus Stop: 15th Ave. NE & NE 43rd St. -- 25, 43, 44, 45, 48, 49, 70, 133, 167, 197, 205, 271, 272, 277; University Ave. & NE 43rd St. -- 71, 72, 73, 74, 373

Miscellaneous Information

Liability
	No
Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers?
	Yes
Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18?
	No