ROOTS Young Adult Shelter

ROOTS Young Adult Shelter is the largest emergency shelter for young adults experiencing homelessness in Washington State, located here in the U-District of Seattle.

Mission

ROOTS Young Adult Shelter partners with young adults experiencing homelessness on their journey to stability. Our vision is that everyone has a safe place to call home.

Our services are open to everyone ages 18-25. 

Description

Each night, ROOTS Young Adult Shelter provides emergency shelter, showers, meals, laundry services, case management, and much more to 45 young adults experiencing homelessness, ages 18-25. Your support allows ROOTS to meet community needs that have never been greater. Last year, we provided shelter to 469 unduplicated young adults, which represents a 9% increase over the 423 individuals we served in 2022. 

All are welcome at ROOTS. For 24 years, our approach has been and continues to be to operate a low-barrier shelter and resource hub in which all guests are welcome. Our guests are not required to be enrolled in case management, employed, in school, or to be substance use-free. Instead, the goal is to meet each guest "where they are." ROOTS prides itself in setting the bar for low-barrier young adult services. With a focus on community building between shelter guests, staff, and volunteers, ROOTS offers guests an unparalleled level of support.

Roughly two-thirds of our guests on any given night are people of color and an estimated 30%-35% of our clients identify as LGBTQIA+, which is 2-3x the rate of Seattle’s general population. More than half of those we serve reported that they have some sort of current disability, and many are survivors of the juvenile justice system, domestic abuse, or other trauma. It is ROOTS’ deepest commitment that clients not only create their personal pathway out of homelessness, but that they also experience belonging and a sense of purpose. 

Looking Ahead

This year, we will begin renovating our facility to expand services. Once this is completed, ROOTS will offer 24/7 drop-in programming. In addition to our emergency shelter, community partners will join us on-site each day to provide young adults with medical and mental health care, educational opportunities, and expanded quality of life programs. ROOTS will also begin to provide non time limited, dormitory style housing to young adults transitioning out of homelessness. Expanded services will enhance positive outcomes for young adults experiencing homelessness, so that they can enjoy full and rewarding lives.