EVERETT, Wash. — Homelessness is an isolating experience few can imagine, and for a young person, it can be even more so, but in Snohomish County, there is a place they can go besides the streets.
"At Cocoon House our mission is to help empower young people, families and the community to break the cycle of homelessness through outreach, housing, and prevention," said Joe Alonzo of Cocoon House. "Since Cocoon House was founded in 1991 we have served over 32,000 young people and their families. We have five different locations that we do our work in, four housing programs around the county, two shelters and we have two long-term programs."
For clients like Sara, the program provides a lengthy list of services that help young people like her get their lives back on track.
"It was hard not knowing where to turn not knowing what to do," said Sara. "I come here and they constantly help, they are always helping with something. They are amazing cause they are down to earth, they're at your level, they understand.”
Sara was living in her car before coming to Cocoon House. She can't imagine where her life would have gone without it.
"I really does mean something," said Sara. "It may not in someone's eyes that hasn't been down that road but it is."
And with supporters like Premera Blue-Cross, the road to help Cocoon House provides isn't going away.
"We will begin construction on a new 32 thousand square foot facility on Colby Avenue here and we will open in June of 2019,” said Alonzo. "What's really exciting to me is we will have the ability to bring kids off the street who have never been familiar with Cocoon House, get their basic needs met."
So while everyone deserves a safe place to live, Cocoon House hopes their temporary home gives young people the foothold they need to step off the streets.
"When you provide these young people with a safe and stable environment, they do start to stabilize. We just try to propel them along," said Alonzo.
On April 24, Cocoon House will be holding its annual Butterfly Celebration & Luncheon honoring the accomplishments of young people who have overcome their life challenges. You can find tickets for this event here.
This story is sponsored by Premera Blue Cross.
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