More than just a shelter…

Jackson Street Youth Shelter…

• serves homeless, runaway, and other youth in crisis.
• is a 501c3 private non-profit.
• serves Benton and Linn Counties in Oregon.
• is located in a charming old house in downtown Corvallis near the public library.
• can serve up to 12 youth each night.
• serves youth 10 to 17 (18 year-olds still in high school accepted in some circumstances).

The Need for a Youth Shelter

Youth who live on the street, or who are removed from home for their own safety, can end up cold, hungry and without a bed to sleep in.

• Runaway behavior and youth homelessness continues to plague young people, families, and communities in Oregon.
• Runaway and homeless youth struggle with abuse, neglect, and medical, mental health, educational, or substance abuse problems.
• These youth are in desperate need of opportunities and support from caring adults and professionals to turn their lives around.
• Oregon data shows that 24,000 youth are runaway or homeless in the state each year.
• In 2005 1,939 students in Oregon schools were unaccompanied homeless minors who had been abandoned by parents, or had runaway from home or foster-care placement.
• National studies report that 36 to 50 percent of runaways said they ran away from home to escape abuse.
• Jackson Street Youth Shelter is the only organization between Salem and Eugene that provides shelter services to unaccompanied minors.

Our History

• In 1999, 159 youth were reported as runaways to Benton County law enforcement agencies, but was more likely double that number.
• In 1999, a group of concerned citizens formed the Jackson Street Youth Shelter, Inc. as to serve youth in crisis.
• In 2001, the shelter opened in downtown Corvallis.
• In 2007, Jackson Street Youth Shelter successfully conducted a capital campaign to purchase and remodel their existing facility (previously rented).

Our Goals

Our mission is to fill a gap in local support services for housing homeless youth. In addition to providing temporary emergency shelter to homeless youth ages 10-17, our treatment goals include:

• Assisting youth to articulate a positive vision of their future and identify the steps necessary to reach their goals.
• Encouraging homeless youth to re-establish family ties or, in cases when that is not appropriate, support youth in accessing other appropriate housing.
• Providing homeless youth with immediate crisis stabilization.
• Advocating for youth in accessing appropriate community support services for their mental and physical health, education, and personal well being.
• Supporting families by providing a safe place for a child who needs time away; working with family members for positive conflict resolution.
• Continuing to provide support services for youth through follow-up care which may include peer support groups, facilitating treatment for drug and alcohol addictions, and family mediation services.