Bridge Coalition Meeting July 28th
Opening Comments (Jim):
- Introductions via chat were done
- A broad overview of NorthStar Advocates Mission and purpose was discussed,
- Focusing on return to community: safe housing, relationships, and supporting young adults facing unaccompanied homelessness interests and passions.
The Bridge Scope and Vision (Mayauna):
- High rate of return to homelessness for young people exiting inpatient care,
- Cross-system information sharing and training,
- Developing Return To Community Plan,
- Developing opportunities for systems reform.
Opening Comments- Jim Theofelis Executive Director of NorthStar Advocates
Jim welcomed Coalition members and provided a brief overview of NorthStar Advocates’ mission and the purpose of the Bridge Coalition. NorthStar’s work is focused on building a culturally and developmentally responsive and relevant behavioral health system for young people, particularly those experiencing unaccompanied homelessness.
Jim also shared several advocacy and legislative updates:
- NorthStar Advocates, HCA, and the Spokane Bridge Housing team recently presented at the Spokane Fentanyl Roundtable.
- NorthStar is continuing conversations with leaders in Spokane, King County, and across Washington as planning begins for the 2027 legislative session.
- A primary priority for the upcoming session will be protecting funding for the Bridge Coalition and SHB 1929 Bridge Housing programs.
- As more data becomes available from the Spokane and King County programs, NorthStar will also begin exploring what future expansion could look like, including additional Bridge Housing, longer-term recovery support, flexible funding, and potential supports for minors.
Jim reiterated the larger vision behind Bridge Housing: inpatient behavioral health treatment should become an off-ramp from homelessness, not another pathway back to it.
SHB 1929 Bridge Housing Program Updates
Friends of Youth – Presenter: Blanca Gonzalez, Program Manager
Blanca shared that Friends of Youth continues to focus heavily on community outreach and building relationships with providers. The team has found that connecting directly with community partners, rather than relying only on email communication, has helped strengthen referrals and coordination before, during, and after a young person’s stay at Bridge Pointe.
Program updates included:
- Five young adults were residing in one Bridge Pointe house, with additional intakes scheduled for the second house.
- The team has been building a relationship with Job Corps and has connected at least one young adult to its residential education and job training opportunities.
- The program has seen an increase in referrals as well as positive exits into housing and employment opportunities.
The team emphasized that strong community relationships are an important part of helping young adults leave Bridge Pointe connected to housing, employment, and the resources needed for continued stability.
Excelsior Wellness – Presenter: Dylan Ramirez, Program Manager
Dylan shared that Excelsior Wellness has also been increasing outreach and community engagement to strengthen awareness and referrals to the Bridge Housing program.
Recent outreach included participation in the Spokane Fentanyl Roundtable, a community provider meeting through Pioneer, and a CASE conference in Spokane Valley that included case managers, law enforcement, and other community partners.
Program updates included:
- Five young adults were participating in the Bridge Housing program.
- Staff continue to use the Return to Community Plan beginning at intake and throughout the young person’s 90-day stay.
- Dylan highlighted how the plan changes and adapts as a young person’s goals, needs, and priorities evolve.
- Excelsior continues to build referral relationships throughout the Spokane community.
Dylan also shared concerns about the upcoming closure of Volunteers of America’s Young Adult Shelter in Spokane. Approximately 40 young adults were expected to be impacted by the transition. Cannon Hall is anticipated to open in the fall, but providers are working together to address the gap in services that will exist in the interim.
Guest Speaker: Amanda Duggar – Spokane Regional Health District
Amanda Duggar, Overdose Substance Misuse Prevention Program Coordinator with the Spokane Regional Health District, joined the Coalition to share the work of the SMILE Team: Substance, Mental Health, Information, Learning & Education.
Amanda began by sharing her own journey into prevention work. After experiencing substance misuse and a stroke in 2005, Amanda entered recovery alongside her husband. On August 15th, they will celebrate 21 years of sobriety.
Amanda also shared how losing several family members to overdose, fentanyl, and suicide has shaped her commitment to prevention, education, reducing stigma, and supporting people in recovery.
She shared a message given to her by a nurse during her own recovery that continues to guide her work:
“Today is a new day for a new beginning.”
The SMILE Team
Originally established as the Illicit Substance Collaboration Team, the group evolved into the SMILE Team as its work expanded to recognize the close connection between substance use and mental health.
The team’s work is centered around hope, reducing stigma, connecting people to resources, and strengthening community collaboration.
Recent projects include:
- Conducting a Spokane County community survey to identify gaps in fentanyl awareness, education, and prevention.
- Developing a campaign to normalize naloxone as an everyday safety tool.
- Creating one-page educational materials, short videos, and resources related to naloxone and overdose prevention.
- Providing community education about Washington’s Good Samaritan Law.
- Developing stigma-reduction messaging centered on compassion for people experiencing substance misuse.
- Providing education about emerging substances, including kratom and 7-OH.
- Promoting safe medication and substance storage for families, youth, and older adults.
- Expanding community naloxone training. Amanda shared that she has personally trained more than 500 people in Spokane County.
Amanda also shared the SMILE Team’s work to create opportunities for healing and connection. In 2024, the team held an International Overdose Awareness Day lantern event where community members honored loved ones who had died.
That work eventually grew into Healing Hands Creative Hearts, an event bringing together art, community resources, guest speakers, and people impacted by substance use and recovery. Amanda shared the story of one attendee who connected with treatment through the event and has remained in recovery.
The next Healing Hands Creative Hearts event is planned for August 8th at Spokane’s Central Library.
Upcoming priorities for the SMILE Team include expanding Narcan kiosks, increasing collaboration around mental health, and developing additional community education and resource guides.
Amanda closed her presentation with a reminder that guides the team’s work:
“Behind every statistic there is someone who is deeply loved.”
Guest Speaker: Jess Mayrer – Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families
Jess Mayrer from the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) joined the Coalition to discuss the Foster Care Housing Program (FCHP) and housing resources available to young adults transitioning from foster care.
Foster Care Housing Program and FYI Vouchers
DCYF’s Foster Care Housing Program serves young adults ages 18–24 and connects eligible young people with federal Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) housing vouchers and supportive services.
To be eligible, young people must:
- Have been in foster care between the ages of 16 and 18.
- Be between 18 and 24 years old.
- Have left foster care or be within 180 days of leaving.
- Have experienced homelessness or been at risk of homelessness at age 16 or older.
Jess discussed an important barrier for young people participating in Extended Foster Care. Federal rules generally prevent young people from simultaneously receiving a federal foster care payment and an FYI housing voucher. Advocacy is underway at both the state and federal levels to address this issue and create better transitions between systems.
Jess emphasized that FYI vouchers are an important resource, but they are not the right solution for every young person. Vouchers typically last 36 months and may be extended for an additional 24 months when certain supportive-service requirements are met. Because the assistance is time-limited, housing planning needs to consider each young person’s age, needs, level of support, and long-term housing plan.
Supportive Services
DCYF partners with housing authorities and contracted providers throughout all six DCYF regions, making the Foster Care Housing Program a statewide resource.
Young people receiving vouchers may opt into supportive services including:
- Housing navigation.
- Limited financial assistance.
- Help completing housing authority applications.
- Assistance obtaining vital documents.
- Education and career counseling.
- Independent living skills.
- Landlord support and housing stabilization.
Supportive services can continue for up to 36 months after a young person receives a voucher.
New Referral Process
DCYF has launched an automated referral system that allows young people to self-refer to the Foster Care Housing Program.
Third-party referrals are also accepted, but a signed consent form is required before DCYF can move forward with the referral.
DCYF currently has three regional housing liaisons who review referrals, determine eligibility, and connect eligible young adults with contracted service providers and housing authorities.
Jess shared that the program became fully staffed for the first time on May 1st and is increasing outreach and education so caseworkers and young people better understand the housing options available before a young person exits foster care.
Youth Exiting Systems of Care into Homelessness
Jess closed with data highlighting the broader challenge of young people exiting publicly funded systems of care into homelessness.
Data from the Office of Homeless Youth showed 1,139 homeless system exits in fiscal year 2024, with 78% involving young adults ages 18–24 and 22% involving minors ages 12–17.
Jess noted that Washington has made progress reducing homelessness among young people exiting foster care, while significant challenges remain for young people exiting juvenile justice and behavioral health systems.
The data also highlighted racial disparities among young people experiencing homeless exits. American Indian and Alaska Native and Black or African American young people were disproportionately represented among young people exiting systems of care into homelessness.
Jess then shared Foster Care Housing Program data from fiscal year 2024. The program served 426 young adults and reached American Indian and Alaska Native and Black or African American young people at rates substantially higher than their representation in Washington’s overall population.
Jess emphasized an important distinction: the Foster Care Housing Program appears to be reaching young people in a way that reflects the population involved in the child welfare system, but the disproportionate representation of young people of color within child welfare and homelessness remains a larger systemic equity issue.
The presentation reinforced a central theme of the Bridge Coalition’s work: young people should not exit systems of care into homelessness, and successful transitions require housing, supportive services, individualized planning, and coordination across systems.
Community Updates:
- No updates
Closing Comments:
- A reminder that the next meeting will be in September as there is no August meeting.
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