THE HISTORY
Lori Cavender
Founder |
Although officially founded in January 2010 by Lori Cavender 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.
Ryan's House for Youth began in a van as street based out reach services providing youth with basic needs and case management. Ryan's House for Youth evolved to add its first drop-in center in Freeland, Wa soon after. Lori worked tirelessly with the help of young people to pass the Host Home legislation known as HB2440 in 2016. Also in 2016, the Coupeville campus was purchased, the drop-in center moved locations, and the Emergency and Transitional housing programs were created. In 2020 the second drop-in center location opened in Oak Harbor. For more information about Ryan’s House for Youth please contact Amber Truex Executive Director at (360) 331-4575. Tax ID: 27-2113343 |
WHO WAS RYAN?
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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. |