Get involved
Make a Donation
Make a Financial Gift
Your financial support helps provide overnight shelter, case management, meals, clothing, and individualized care to more than 450 young adults each year. Unrestricted gifts allow ROOTS to respond quickly to urgent needs and ensure young adults receive consistent, dignified support.
Ways to give
One Time or Recurring
Donations Online
Credit card or
paypal giving
Employer gift matching
Gifts of stock
Vehicle donations
through CARS
Volunteer hour grants
from your employer
Mail a Check
ROOTS Young Adult Shelter
4541 19th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98105
Give in kind
In-kind donations help meet immediate, practical needs for young adults staying at ROOTS. Because our needs change frequently, we coordinate all in-kind donations in advance and do not accept unsolicited drop-offs.
To find out what items are currently most needed, please visit our wishlist, which is updated weekly, or complete the in-kind donation form to connect with our team.
Shop the Wishlist
In Kind Donation Form
Stay Connected
Sign up for our newsletter to learn how your support makes a difference, hear directly from staff and community partners, and stay connected to opportunities to get involved.
Volunteer with ROOTS
Help create a safe, welcoming space for young adults each night.
Volunteers are essential to ROOTS. Each evening, our goal is to have one volunteer or staff member present for every three guests we serve. Volunteers support daily shelter operations while also building community and offering consistent, compassionate presence to young adults experiencing homelessness.
Whether serving a meal, helping set up our space, or simply sitting and talking with a guest, volunteers play a critical role in creating stability, dignity, and belonging.
Volunteer Shifts
ROOTS offers several in shelter volunteer shifts. Volunteers are encouraged to commit to a consistent weekly shift when possible to help provide stability and continuity for our guests.
Evening Shift
7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Support evening shelter operations, including serving dinner, distributing supplies, setting up the space, and building community with guests.
Morning Shift
6:45 AM to 8:30 AM -
Sunday through Friday
7:15 AM to 9:30 AM - Saturday
Help guests start their day by supporting morning routines, assisting with laundry, helping with clean up, and fostering a calm, welcoming environment.
Saturday Lunch
Program Shift
Saturdays late morning
to early afternoon
Support meal preparation, serving, and clean up during our Saturday Lunch Program. Volunteers help create a welcoming, community centered meal experience for guests.
Getting started
Apply to Volunteer
Training & Requirements
To ensure a safe and supportive environment for guests, volunteers complete required training and paperwork.
Requirements
• Volunteers must be at least 18 years old
• Background check required prior to first shift
• Background check required prior to first shift
Questions
If you have questions about volunteering or need help finding the right fit, please contact our Volunteer Team.
Join our team
Working at ROOTS means joining a small, committed team that believes relationships matter, harm reduction saves lives, and systems should bend toward people, not the other way around. Our staff bring curiosity, empathy, and a willingness to learn. We value lived experience, cultural humility, and a shared commitment to equity and justice.
At ROOTS Young Adult Shelter, our work is grounded in safety, dignity, and belonging. We support young adults ages 18 to 25 who are navigating homelessness, and we do so with compassion, consistency, and deep respect for each person’s autonomy.
If you are looking for meaningful work, a strong community, and an organization that cares about its people as much as its mission, we invite you to explore opportunities with ROOTS.
Why Work at ROOTS
- Mission driven work that makes a real impact in young adults’ lives
- A collaborative, supportive team culture
- Ongoing opportunities for learning, growth, and leadership
- Clear boundaries that support sustainability in direct service work
- A commitment to equity, inclusion, and trauma informed care
ROOTS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage people with lived experience of homelessness, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and others from historically marginalized communities to apply.
Employee Benefits
ROOTS is committed to supporting the wellbeing of our employees. Benefits include:
- 12 paid holidays
- Paid Time Off accrued by hours worked
- Health Related Leave
- Employee Assistance Program
- Health, dental, and vision coverage offered to full time employees after their first full month of work
Health Insurance Options
- HMO plan with 100% of premiums paid by ROOTS
- PPO plan with employees responsible for paying 100% of the cost difference between the base plan and the PPO plan
Transportation Benefit
Agency subsidized ORCA Pass through the ORCA Business Passport program, providing unlimited access to regional transit
Retirement Plan
- 401k retirement plan for eligible employees
- ROOTS provides a matching contribution of up to 3% of employee compensation, in accordance with plan guidelines
Events
Events are one of the ways we build community, raise critical funds, and invite people into the work of ROOTS Young Adult Shelter. From signature fundraisers to small gatherings, our events center connection, storytelling, and shared commitment to young adult housing stability.
Whether you attend, volunteer, sponsor, or share with your networks, your participation helps make our work possible.
Upcoming Events
Rise Up
September 25, 2026
Rise Up is ROOTS’ annual fundraising event, bringing together community members, partners, and supporters to raise funds for shelter operations and supportive services for young adults. The evening includes storytelling, community celebration, and opportunities to give in meaningful ways.
[Learn more or register]
Community Events and Engagement
Throughout the year, ROOTS hosts and participates in community events that build awareness, deepen relationships, and create opportunities to learn more about young adult homelessness. These may include open houses, tabling at community gatherings, donor events, and partner hosted programs.
Check back often as new events are added.
Past Events
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has shown up in support of ROOTS. These events reflect the strength of our community and make it possible for young adults to access safe overnight shelter and supportive care.
Rise Up 2025
Building on the momentum of the year before, Rise Up 2025 became our most successful event yet, raising over $220,000 and demonstrating growing community investment in ROOTS’ mission.
Rise Up 2024
Our largest fundraising event to date at the time, raising over $184,000 to support young adults experiencing homelessness through shelter operations and supportive services.