Wind Youth Services

Wind Client and Vista del Lago Class of 2017 graduate

“If you told me at the beginning of 9th grade–heck, even at the start of 12th, that I’d make it this far, I’d have laughed at the absurdity of your faith in me. There was always this timer in my head. “You won’t live to be 18,” it ticked. When that milestone passed, “you won’t live to graduate” was the next whisper. But here I am, diploma in hand and college classes upcoming. I don’t think I would have made it without the support of Wind Youth. Throughout most of high school, I had nowhere to call home. You probably couldn’t tell, as I was always that one kid who cheered and smiled and had a seemingly endless reserve of positive energy. But after the last bell rung, that changed; I went back to people who abused me or neglected me, try hard as I might to prove I was worth being in their family. Midway through 12th grade, I found myself not only homeless, but houseless–and it was here I was informed Wind Youth had a bed open. And for the last four months, I’ve had a home, with people who care about me and want me to succeed, who support me through my struggles and love me for who I am. As I look to the future, college and jobs and an apartment, I find myself not scoffing at such impossible dreams, but planning and looking forward to them.”

My name is Gemma Gabbett, and Wind Youth both saved my life and helped make it worth living.

Sleeping bags are for camping trips and sleep-overs, not for living.

Every night in Sacramento, more than 400 children and young people do not sleep in a bed, but rather find refuge on a park bench, under a freeway or on a doorstep. Wind Youth Services provides food, shelter and lodging for as many of these homeless youth as we can.

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Today, the City of Sacramento, in partnership with Wind Youth Services, announced the expansion of Wind Youth Services’ operational hours to accommodate overnight options for unhoused youth.

“Our transitional age youth are some of our most vulnerable populations,” said Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “It breaks my heart to hear what these young people deal with on a daily basis. I’m thankful to our community partners and city staff for ensuring the good work Wind Youth Services is already doing can be extended to provide unhoused youth with a safe place to spend the night and access resources.”

This is the fifth shelter that has been opened in the last two months through coordinated City and County efforts to augment emergency shelter options for people suffering homelessness in Sacramento communities. The City and County, their leaders, and regional partners have been actively pursuing ways to prevent and end homelessness by committing significant resources in a variety of investments.

Through this new partnership, Wind Youth Services was able to extend its hours of operation to provide overnight accommodation for youth they are already serving with daytime resources beginning at the end of last week.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the City to offer a place where our community’s unhoused youth can find shelter on these cold and rainy nights,” says Suzi Dotson, Executive Director of Wind Youth Services. “We’ve been wanting to offer this to our youth for a long time, since they can’t always stay in the adult warming centers, so it’s great to see it finally happening!”

Labor groups in the region stepped in to provide $10,000 to help cover the additional costs of keeping the center open overnight.

“When we first heard about the City of Sacramento’s push to expand the shelter program we felt it was an obligation for us to step in and put our money where our mouth is,” said Fran McDermott, Executive Director for the National Electric Contractors Association, Greater Sacramento Chapter. “We wanted to show our commitment to the City after such a great partnership with them over the years and understand the need for good partners in the community to ensure our most vulnerable are being taking care of.”

Bob Ward, Business Manager for IBEW Local 340 added: “It was common sense for us and our brothers and sisters. We make our money building housing and want to find ways to ensure those that need housing the most can get out of the elements. It felt like our duty to step up and do anything we could to help these youths.”

Previously opened shelters include:

The City’s Weather Refuge Center at Southside Park (2107 6th Street) remains available from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. when temperatures are forecast below 40 degrees or during persistently rainy evenings. 211 Sacramento updates this page with nights it is open.

The winter refuge center located at 904 11th Street is still currently operating every night from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and is staffed by Volunteers of America. The City provides a heated indoor space with blankets, water and snacks.

Stanford Settlement was opened to provide spaces for up to 25 people during cold and wet weather for the balance of the winter through a coordinated effort launched by Sacramento County, Sacramento City, the Association of Realtors, and the United Public Employees (UPE).

Volunteers of America provides staffing, transportation and food, with the County providing water, blankets and security.

El Hogar was similarly opened to provide spaces for up to 46 people during cold and wet weather. It is operated by the Salvation Army.

The City has a page on its website with a link of all emergency services.

We have several youth moving into new apartments (yay!) who need apartment furnishings. If you have any new or gently used items you could donate, they can be dropped off atCountry Club Apartments at 2926 Watt Ave, #34. Contact Eden at 916-307-1450 for more info. Here is a complete list of what we need most, with asterisks by our most needed:

FURNITURE:
Mattresses, box springs and frames*
Bedding*
Nightstand
Dressers*
Kitchen table and chairs
Couches*
Lamps

KITCHEN ITEMS:*
Pots and pans
Cooking utensils (spoons, spatulas, knives)
Silverware
Dishware (plates, bowls and cups)
Garbage can

CLEANING SUPPLIES:
Sponges
All-purpose cleaner
Mop
Broom
Garbage bags

HYGIENE:
Shampoo/conditioner
Soap
Razors
Towel
Washcloth/hand towel
Toothbrush/toothpaste

BATHROOM:*
Shower curtain
Towels

Early in the month of December, Wind partnered with Future Youth Records and Sexually Exploited Children and Teens (SECT) to create an opportunity for 12 girls to write two original songs and record them in a professional studio here in Sacramento.

The goal of the project was to bring together a group of girls who had never met each other and didn’t necessarily have any prior musical experience and to create original music that focused on promoting the idea of Women’s Empowerment. The girls had so many stories to share and right away they connected on a deeper level. Each of the girls was pulling for each other. They had shouldered the responsibility of creating music that would empower young women and to change the harmful stereotypes of women that are too often portrayed in music.

After 4 days they had completed the impossible task of writing and recording two amazing, original songs. Each song will now be sent off to be mastered and have additional tracks added to the final mix. The final songs will be available in early 2017.

Below is a brief video of the experience.

Credit goes to Future Youth Records for filming and editing.

SMUD partnered with Home Depot to bring a few added additions to Wind’s TAY shelter this month. Thanks to a grant written by Sacramento Dream Center, Home Depot was able to purchase a large shed, flower beds, a sink, new microwave, and a large barbecue grill for the Shelter and Transitional Housing Program. Home Depot worked with SMUD to remove the bushes and shrubs in the backyard to make space for the shed and installed the sink and flower bed in the backyard.

In addition, they constructed a place for bicycle repairs to be completed, as many of the youth use bikes as their primary form of transportation. Lastly, SMUD generously donated a brand new water heater to the Adolescent shelter to replace the old failing one that had been installed almost 2 decades previously! Good Day Sacramento came out to witness and film the event which was broadcast live on television.