About Us

In 2018, approximately 200 youth ages 12-24 were homeless and living on their own.

About Ryan's House For Youth

Lori Cavender
Founder

Although officially founded in January 2010 as a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization, Ryan’s House for Youth originally began ten years earlier with a unique vision: to support and help homeless and at-risk youth achieve their highest potential both physically and mentally, as well as academically. This goal is best accomplished by supporting the whole child. Whether it’s providing basic human needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter, or simply being there with a little encouragement, Ryan’s House for Youth can do it.

By creating the Ryan’s House for Youth Host Home Program, youth and young adults, ages 12-24 who have experienced difficult circumstances in their home life, are able to pursue their academics, leaving behind the barriers that would otherwise hinder their ability to thrive. They may even be able to achieve the same level of education as many of their peers, some even to excel. These barriers may consist of inadequate nourishment, lack of adult support and mentoring, appropriate clothing and, of course, a safe place to sleep at night. Ryan’s House For Youth Drop-In Center provides a place where adult mentors can support youth and young adults (ages 12-24) and their education. Mediation staff are on site to help these youth mend the broken pieces that once separated them from their families and Case Managers are available to help access all needs such as medical, food cards, counselors, tutors, legal help, etc. The Emergency, Short-Term and Transitional Housing on Campus is specifically for young adults ages 18-24 to provide housing while finishing up college, working a job (part-time or full-time) or just getting back on track.

For more information about Ryan’s House for Youth please contact Amber Truex Interim Executive Director at (360) 331-4575.

Tax ID: 27-2113343

Who Was Ryan?

Ryan’s House For Youth is dedicated to the memory of Ryan Busche, who in his early 20’s along with his wife, Abby, perished on Alaska Airlines flight 261 off the coast of California. Ryan lived life on his own terms and was a free spirited, fun loving, self assured young man. He valued education and enjoyed his job at Microsoft. Ryan was very outgoing, never knew a stranger, and was a great friend to the homeless.

He was known to invite a homeless person in for dinner and a shower and Ryan himself even spent time on the streets of Portland learning what it was like to survive on next to nothing. Ryan always wore a big smile, and it is in his name and his memory that we are operating these programs.

Details

Ryan’s House For Youth serves all youth ages 12-24. The Drop-in Center is designed to be a place to come in out of the elements and find food, friendship, and adult support. They will find a place to rest and regroup before heading back out to the elements. Youth can apply for housing through the Host Family Program, or if older (18-24), through the Emergency, Short-term and Transitional Housing options on Campus. They can talk with a Case Manager and obtain resources or they can schedule a mediation appointment for them and their family. Youth are NOT discriminated upon on the basis of race, religion, or sexual orientation. ALL ARE WELCOME.

Youth and young adults who come into the Ryan's House For Youth Programs who are dealing with addictions and/or mental illness are referred to specialists at Fairfax, Ryther House, Compass, Sunrise Services or other local programs designed to best serve these young people.

Ryan’s House For Youth provides an atmosphere based on respect, where responsibilities and expectations combine with the day-to-day activities. Students participate in rotating chores and are always willing to help out.

Students have access to toiletries and new, clean clothing through the RHFY Clothing Closet and are provided a hot shower to clean up. Ryan’s House For Youth also provides tutoring and mentoring supports for students. Currently, the schools in the district have lost most, if not all, of their tutoring programs due to budget cuts. Students through the Drop-In Center and those youth in the community are able to connect with a caring mentor to help them with homework.

Supports for parents are also included. Since one of the main goals is for students to eventually return to their homes, parenting classes, support groups, and parent-child mediation is focused on in addition to the day-to-day needs of the youth. Local counselors as well as trained educators and mediation staff help to sustain this. Ryan's House For Youth also has a once a week counselor on site for youth needing this service.

Ryan’s House For Youth has also focuses its attention on the issue of homelessness because there are so many unaccompanied youth on Whidbey Island. Over 200 youth ages 12-24 were living on their own last year, more than 104 of these youth are students enrolled in Whidbey schools. These youth were living on the couches and floors of friends and relatives, in vehicles, or even in tents in the woods. This means that 1 to 2 out of every 100 students here on the Island are homeless, living without a parent.

This may not seem like a large number to the average city or town, but to our small community, this is a huge concern. Because this is a small, rural community, we do not have overnight shelters for homeless of any age. Unfortunately, this includes minors and children who are the most vulnerable members of the population. Whidbey Island does have a limited number of supports for homeless over the age of 18, but it is the younger students who have no resources available to them at all. Ryan’s House For Youth is excited to be apart of the passing of the first Host Home Legislation for Washington State, creating more housing opportunities in rural areas, which will allow youth in our community a chance to come in out of the elements and focus on life, not survival. There are only two shelters close to Whidbey Island for students who are currently homeless: Cocoon House in Everett, or Oasis Teen Shelter in Mount Vernon. These may seem like a short ferry ride away, but when a student has to take 2 buses and a ferry just to get to school, it is often easier just to quit. And with dropout rates on the island between 1.5%-5.5% we need to make every possible provision to help these kids choose to stay in school and support them while they are there.

Sending a student off-Island not only sends a message that we don’t want them here, but as a community we are also isolating them from the group of people at school (friends, mentors, coaches, etc.) from which they receive their only form of support and stability.