Rising out of the shadows
Every year, millions of young people between 18 and 25 need emergency shelter. Some have aged out of foster care. Others have been pushed out by family conflict, discrimination, or neglect. Each story is different, but all deserve safety, care, and a chance to heal.
Our doors are open to young adults ages 18–25 experiencing housing instability
ROOTS Young Adult Shelter provides a safe, welcoming, and affirming space for up to 45 young people each night in Seattle’s University District. Our low-barrier approach means you don’t need an ID, income, or proof of anything to stay with us.
Each guest is offered a warm meal, a safe place to sleep, and access to case management, housing navigation, wellness support, employment resources, and community connections. At ROOTS, every young person is met with dignity, respect, and the opportunity to take their next step forward.
0
0%
0
0%
Our New Home
ROOTS has always been a place of firsts. For many young people, it is the first place they turn when they experience homelessness, and it is where safety and healing take root. We meet each guest where they are and walk beside them as they take their next steps forward.
In 2021, ROOTS took a historic step by purchasing our first permanent home in the University District. After more than twenty years on 43rd Street, this move gave us the stability to keep serving young adults with dignity and care.
By 2025, we fully paid off our new home and began major renovations to make the space even safer, more welcoming, and better equipped for the future. This milestone represents more than ownership. It reflects lasting security for the hundreds of young people who come through our doors each year seeking warmth, support, and connection.
Our guests deserve more than a bed. They deserve a community that believes in their potential and invests in their future. At ROOTS, we are building that future together, one night, one guest, and one home at a time.
Building Belonging
Post 2
