Jonas’ Journey, from Foster Care Youth to Young Adult Advisor

After foster care, Jonas found stability with the help of the Y Social Impact Center

At 17, after aging out of foster care, Jonas was left without the stability every young person deserves. He cycled through placement after placement, experienced food insecurity, and spent nights on the street — even facing life-threatening health challenges while trying to survive.

Between 2018 and 2022, approximately 20 percent of former foster youth in Washington experienced an episode of homelessness or housing instability within 12 months of leaving care.*

That changed when Jonas received a Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) voucher, a federally funded housing resource administered locally by the King County Housing Authority (KCHA). The voucher gave Jonas more than a roof; it gave him the stability to begin rebuilding his life.

Through our Y Social Impact Center, Jonas also found the guidance and resources to take his next steps forward. Through our FYI Voucher Support Program and Independent Living Program, he was connected with caring staff who walked alongside him and helped him navigate the next steps toward independence.

“I connected to the YMCA… they had an independent living program and helped me with the application process. For the first time, I felt like somebody wasn’t criminalizing me. I was told I had access to this resource, and that I was deserving of it.” ∼ Jonas

With stable housing and wraparound support from the Y, Jonas gained more than shelter; he gained the chance to focus on his health, make plans for his future, and step into independence with hope.

Watch Jonas' Full Story:

Jonas is currently serving on the Young Adult Grant Advisory Committee. In the program, Jonas works on a grant advisory board with other systems impacting young adults and uses his lived experience to influence funding decisions that impact King County nonprofits.

*Source: Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families

At the YMCA of Greater Seattle, we know housing is more than shelter. It is the foundation for dignity and opportunity. Together with partners like KCHA, we are creating pathways for young people, especially those transitioning from foster care, to find stability and thrive.