Since its opening in 2021, the Youth Navigation Center (YNC) has been a beacon of hope for youth and young adults in Stanislaus County. The YNC is a system of care that guides individuals in their search for permanent housing while providing a safe place to stay. The path to obtaining housing is not linear. The YNC supports youth every step of the way in their journey toward stability and self-sufficiency.

Obtaining permanent housing is a process that begins with securing vital documents such as a birth certificate or an ID. Youth who have found themselves unhoused don’t often have these documents. The next step is an assessment to enter the community coordinated entry list. As youth are matched to available housing options, they are notified of what is available to them. Housing projects across the county vary and have different eligibility requirements such as income, employment status, and age. While seeking transitional or permanent housing, youth work with YNC navigators to continue their education, find employment, save money, and access mental health services. The navigator helps youth understand what resources are available to them and how to obtain them. 

The YNC has two shelter options for youth ages 18-24: the Low Barrier Youth Shelter and Pathways, a transitional housing program. The shelter, which for many is the first step towards stable housing, has 24 beds available. Once in the shelter, youth are secured a bed for up to 90 days and have Navigation support available to them. The shelter is currently at capacity with a waitlist. Pathways is a transitional housing program where youth stay in a dorm style space with a shared living area and are secured placement for up to two years. The goal is to prepare youth for permanent housing by teaching essential life skills and helping them build self-sustainability. Transitional housing often serves as a bridge between the shelter and permanent housing.  

Our community has come together to support several youth-specific permanent housing options in Stanislaus County. Center for Human Services’ 1208 9th Street Project, consists of studio and one-bedroom apartments, created with funding from the state’s Project Homekey initiative, and in collaboration with the City of Modesto, and the Stanislaus County Community System of Care. Similarly, Jenny’s Place, another Homekey project, developed in partnership with the City of Modesto, Upholdings, and local service organizations, provides studio apartments for youth. Projects such as these have increased the number of youth-specific housing options in our community by 85 beds since 2021, helping reduce the percentage of unhoused youth waiting on the community coordinated entry list. 

As the YNC approaches its fifth year, it continues to be a reliable system of care for youth. Emily Webster, YNC Director shares, “We work really hard to provide a place where young people can become stable and start working towards the goals that they have set for themselves.” Every day, our dedicated staff work toward our goal of ending youth homelessness in Stanislaus County.  

Together, we can build a future where every youth has a safe place to call home. Get involved and support the YNC at www.yncstanislaus.org 

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