Homeless Youth Solutions Initiative

History of HYSI

After the closure of Casa de Belen in 2020, a local shelter for homeless and at-risk youth, the Homeless Youth Solutions Initiative began convening to resource share, brainstorm, and find solutions for this gap in services. HYSI focuses on collaboration, partnership, and resource sharing in order to continue working towards solutions for Douglas County.

One of the products of this group is the Douglas County Youth Homelessness Roadmap that was published in 2022. This roadmap is a detailed report of the impact and scope of youth homelessness in Douglas County. In this report, HYSI maps out potential solutions and plans.

In 2023, HYSI made it a priority to utilize the Oregon Youth Resource Map for our community and reduce barriers for youth attempting to access services. This roadmap is a tool for young Oregonians to find the services and resources they need for legal, education, work, mental health, housing & shelter, day services & drop-in, care & safety, health & wellness, youth leadership, community resources, money, and basic needs.

What We Do