Meeting Notes: Bridge Coalition Meeting on July 22nd
Opening Comments (Jim):
- Chat Introductions 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.
- Jim Theofelis opened the discussion by announcing that NorthStar Advocates has successfully completed the first round of staff training with Friends of Youth as part of the SHB 1929 Bridge Housing implementation.
The Bridge Scope and Vision (Jim):
- 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.
Bridge Housing Program Updates: Excelsior Wellness & Friends of Youth
Lauren Zunker, Vice President of Operations at Excelsior Wellness, presented a detailed presentation on the organization’s upcoming Bridge Housing program. She emphasized Excelsior’s long-standing commitment to transitional-age youth and how the program aligns deeply with their mission to prevent homelessness and promote well-being. Excelsior’s approach integrates multiple layers of support—mental health, wellness, integrated care, and a care closet—with a clear focus on continuity across the system of care. Lauren described their program as one that not only prevents homelessness but also empowers young people to define and follow their own paths.
As part of the presentation, she shared a mural created by the young people involved—described as a “mural of hope”—which captures the heart of the program’s spirit. The team has been intentional about designing the program in partnership with NorthStar Advocates.
Excelsior has made strong progress across multiple domains, including facility preparation, securing furniture, defining staff roles, and conducting pre-launch meetings. Internal departments are now collaborating actively, and policy development, data integration through their EHR system, and stakeholder engagement with the HCA, NorthStar Advocates, and Friends of Youth are well underway. Lauren outlined their forward strategy, which includes hiring final staff members, doing a staff training series with NorthStar Advocates that’s scheduled for mid-August, preparing intake documents, finalizing daily program flow, and tailoring individualized care plans to the Return to Community Plan. Their team is also working on a broader communications strategy, including their internal magazine, to raise awareness and increase visibility for the Bridge Housing Program.
Once the doors officially open, Excelsior will enter the initial launch phase of the Bridge program. They view this program as an important step in building a full continuum of care, aligning it with their broader vision of integrated services and long-term supportive housing solutions.
In the next update, Noehly Tzintzun, Director of Shelter Services at Friends of Youth, shared that their Bridge Pointe program is now officially open and is now finalizing services and building referral pathways. They have been holding internal planning sessions to ensure departments are aligned and that their first interactions with young people are welcoming, simple, and affirming. Noehly emphasized the importance of the first encounter—making sure it sets the tone for trust and dignity. The program will continue to evolve as staff assess and adjust policies and procedures based on both implementation and participant feedback.
She reflected on the training her team received from NorthStar Advocates, describing it as transparent, raw, and deeply resonant with their mission. Unlike many other trainings, this session acknowledged the real challenges staff face and directly connected with their day-to-day experiences. The team was so impacted by the approach that they are already talking about NorthStar Advocates doing additional sessions.
Noehly talked about that at the heart of Bridge Pointe is a client-centered, youth-driven approach. The team wants to encourage young people to envision the life they want and ask themselves the bold question: “Why not me?” Noehly described their role not as one of directing, but of resourcing and walking alongside youth as they identify their next best steps. She reiterated that the program is intentionally designed to be responsive to youth input and flexible enough to grow and improve over time. The goal is to empower each young person to imagine—and create—a future on their own terms.
The Return to Community Plan & Development:
Sarah Spier with NorthStar Advocates delivered a presentation outlining the journey that NorthStar Advocates led in the creation of the Return to Community Plan—a youth-driven strategy to support successful transitions from inpatient behavioral health treatment to safe, stable housing. This journey wasn’t just about research. It was a coordinated, statewide effort to listen deeply, to learn, and to co-design solutions with those who know the system best: the young people who have lived it.
Sarah began by walking the audience through the foundation of the Return to Community Plan, rooted in SHB 1929. The bill responds to a troubling statistic: nearly 80% of young people who experience homelessness within 3–12 months of exiting state care are coming directly from inpatient behavioral health treatment. SHB 1929 created a solution—Bridge Housing, a voluntary, 90-day recovery-based transitional housing model designed for unaccompanied homeless young adults (ages 18–24) exiting behavioral health inpatient treatment facilities.
To make sure these programs were built with young people and not just for them, NorthStar Advocates held four focus groups with 46 lived experience experts, young adults, and system partners across Washington State. These groups included:
- The Bridge Coalition
- Office of Homeless Youth (Y4Y)
- The Whatcom County Youth Action Board (YAB)
- A lived/professional experience group
What the Focus Groups Revealed:
Sarah walked through the five core areas explored in the focus groups, highlighting how every component of the Return to Community Plan was shaped by the voices of young people.
- Barriers to Treatment
Young people detailed an often painful path to care:
- Stigma kept many from asking for help.
- Limited access, long waitlists, and inadequate Medicaid networks were major roadblocks.
- Many faced incompetent or non-trauma-informed providers.
- Aftercare was often nonexistent, with some discharged directly into unsafe or homeless situations.
“After treatment, I didn’t have housing and went back into an abusive situation.”
- Clean and Sober Environment
80% of participants emphasized that maintaining a clean and sober environment post-treatment was essential for recovery. However, language matters—some found terms like “clean” problematic, advocating instead for alternatives like “recovery-focused” or “living in sobriety.”
“‘Clean’ gives off purity culture vibes. ‘Recovery-focused’ feels more supportive.”
- Early Program Exits
Relapse, many agreed, should not be an automatic reason for removal from housing. Instead:
- Aggressive behavior
- Repeated drug use without engagement
- Threats to others’ safety
were cited as valid grounds for early exit.
“Relapse is part of the process. Don’t kick them out just because they relapse.”
- Services That Make a Difference
Participants envisioned a robust, healing-centered program. In addition to behavioral health and peer support, they stressed the importance of:
- Job and education support
- Life skills coaching (budgeting, job hunting, etc.)
- Enrichment opportunities (art, sports, music)
- Resource navigators to help with transportation, clothing, and food
“Learning how to manage finances and basic life skills would help us stay independent.”
- Success in Returning to Community
When asked what it takes to successfully return to community after treatment, the answers were clear:
- Stable housing
- Ongoing peer and mental health support
- Opportunities for employment and education
- A personalized plan that considers each young person’s goals, challenges, and dreams
- Built-in safety planning and wellness tools
“Each person needs a plan that fits their situation—one size doesn’t work for everyone.”
Co-Designing the Return to Community Plan:
Sarah concluded by sharing a brief overview of the actual Return to Community Plan—a practical, person-centered tool created in partnership with the very youth who inspired it. This plan isn’t just a checklist—it’s a conversation starter, a goal-setting guide, and a living document to help young people move forward on their terms. The plan will be an essential part of the Bridge Housing programs and will center on the following priority areas:
- Housing Stability (the foundation for success)
- Peer Support
- Mental Health & Recovery
- Jobs, Money & Financial Goals
- Education
- Essentials & Transportation
- Joy & Passion Projects
- Advocacy
The Return to Community Plan stands as a testament to what is possible when system design begins with listening. As Sarah emphasized in her presentation, sustainable change happens when the people most impacted by a system are the ones shaping it.
Legislative Champions Reaffirm Support for SHB 1929 and Youth-Centered Solutions:
The meeting wrapped up with a powerful show of support from four legislative champions: Representative Callan, Representative Macri, Representative Davis, and Representative Eslick. Each of these leaders has played a vital role in elevating the needs of young people at the intersection of behavioral health and homelessness—and their continued advocacy is helping shape a stronger, more responsive system across Washington State.
During the meeting, the legislators shared their deep appreciation for the work behind SHB 1929 and the Return to Community Plan, acknowledging the importance of centering youth voice in both policy and program design. They applauded the intentionality behind Bridge Housing—its focus on recovery, stability, and peer-led support—and reaffirmed their commitment to keeping this momentum going.
They also highlighted broader aligned efforts underway throughout the state, such as the growth of WAQRR-certified Recovery Residences, the expansion of Host Home programs, and the statewide Washington Thriving initiative. The message from the legislature was clear: Through collective advocacy, policy leadership, and programs designed with and for youth and young adults, a new path is being paved—one where recovery, housing stability, and hope are not just possible, but expected.
Community Updates:
- No updates.
Closing Comments:
- Jim closed the meeting and thanked everyone for their support and active participation in this work and announced there will be NO AUGUST Coalition Meeting.
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