Friends of Youth held the grand opening of its new Homeless Youth Service Center on Oct. 10. Located at 16225 N.E. 87th St., Suite A-1, in Redmond, the Youth Service Center provides emergency overnight shelter for young adults and full-service, daytime drop-in hours for homeless youth ages 15-24.

Redmond Mayor John Marchione spoke of the city’s commitment to programs like those of Friends of Youth.

King County Executive Dow Constantine was on hand to reaffirm the county’s commitment to ending homelessness, particularly among youth and young adults. Congressman Dave Reichert noted that it takes everyone in the community to come together to address this issue.

Friends of Youth President Terry Pottmeyer, of Mercer Island, spoke of the 2,527 homeless youth who were helped last year and emphasized that this event was celebrating hope, not just a much-needed new space.

The event also celebrated Friends of Youth’s partners whose collaboration over the past decade culminated in the opening of the Service Center.

Certificates of Appreciation were given to the Bellevue YMCA, City of Bellevue Police Department, City of Bellevue Highland Community Center and the Joshua P. Williams Foundation.

Also acknowledged were four faith communities that had provided shelter space over the past two years: St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, Lake Washington United Church, Redmond United Methodist Church and Mercer Island United Methodist Church.

The Youth Services Center shelter program, The Landing, is the only emergency young adult shelter on the Eastside.

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