Host Homes

A proven approach offering safe short-term housing for
students experiencing housing instability, Host Homes
pairs community-based housing with youth-driven case
management and wraparound supports to intervene
before youth experience chronic houselessness.

Host Homes helps students pursue educational goals,
develop & strengthen life skills, bridge gaps to stable
independent housing and lifelong well-being and success.

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What is Host Homes

TOGETHER! Host Homes program is an option for safe, identity-affirming, short term housing with a vetted host. The aim is to support unaccompanied youth who are facing housing instability in Thurston County.

Hosts are neither landlords, nor guardians. They act as a pro-social adult offering a private room and meals in their home. This support enables unaccompanied youth to work on educational goals, strengthen their life skills, and graduate from the program into stable, independent housing. 

Each student is paired with youth-driven case management, and complete and personalized services while they are hosted, to help them through the program. 

Each Host receives case management support and specialized training to set them up for success as a host.

The goal of the TOGETHER! Host Homes program is to intervene before youth experience chronic houselessness. If you want to help a teen experiencing housing instability, become a host or donate today.

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How to Become a Host

This program model offers youth a choice for housing with vetted volunteer community hosts. Youth agency and mutual consent are the core of the guest and host matching process. The length of student participation is determined “as needed” and agreed to by the guest and host.

Host Applicants must:

  • Be at least 21 years-old at time of application to the program. If a couple is applying jointly to host, both individuals must meet the age requirement
  • Be Thurston County Residents for at least one year
  • Be able and willing to provide a private room and meals within their home
  • Be able to complete all required orientation trainings and be willing to attend any additional trainings as required
  • Have and maintain homeowner’s or renter’s insurance for the duration of volunteer service with the program
  • Undergo and pass a background check and reference check
  • Undergo and pass a home inspection

Host applicants can apply here. 

Who Can Be Hosted?

  • High school students enrolled in North Thurston Public Schools, Olympia School District, or Tumwater School District.
  • Young people between 13 to 21 years of age

They must:

  • Have parent/legal guardian permission if under 18 years old
  • Pass a background check
  • Be willing to participate in the Host Homes Program

Students can apply here.

 

The process for hosts and youth entering our Host Homes program

FAQs

Q: "What distinguishes Host Homes from the traditional foster care system?”

A: The Host Homes program helps fill a gap in the foster care system for unaccompanied teens. Unlike foster care, Host Homes is completely voluntary. Hosts, youth, and families all choose to participate, and parents do not lose their parental rights when a young person enrolls in the program.

 

Q: What support do Hosts receive through the program?

A: The Host Homes program is a holistic service, meaning hosts have the same level of access to case managers as the youth do. Case managers provide support through mediation, resource navigation, and guidance, and hosts also receive a monthly reimbursement to help offset the cost of hosting.

 

Additional questions? Please email us at

Referrals

Youth/Young Adult applicants can be referred to our program by a high school counselor, navigator, social worker, and/or community service provider. Youth may also self-refer. To refer a student, please email us at .

 

Thank you to our key partners

As the program was developed and piloted, key Community Partners included:

Ongoing operations are only possible through community support.