Twenty Young People. One Community. Countless Possibilities.
At first blush OWL360 can be tricky to understand. Our organization was recently described as “three or four separate non profits,” though we humbly stand as one.
By Tobi McEnerney, Housing Case Care Manager
At first blush OWL360 can be tricky to understand. Our organization was recently described as “three or four separate non profits,” though we humbly stand as one.
The genesis of OWL360 in 2021 was a desire to meet young peoples’ need for stable housing as they emerged from the pandemic. The landscape of our community’s education, workforce, and housing availability had taken a sharp turn in the wrong direction. As new residents found Port Townsend, our young people were being squeezed out, many without the ability to compete for the limited stock of ever increasingly priced rentals in Jefferson County.
Thankfully, OWL360 has grown to have a robust housing program. What started as six units has tripled to eighteen, in large part thanks to our “global lease” approach. Our model partners with local landlords & community members in a unique and mutually beneficial way to provide not just stable housing, but stable income to property owners. Upon entering a global lease, OWL360 takes over property management, provides a reasonable monthly rent payment, and leaves homeowners with peace of mind - all while both parties make it possible for young people to build their futures from a stable home.
OWL360’s housing program presently serves 20 young people between the ages of 18-26, and 4 children under the age of 5. A Case Care Coordinator meets with each young person before they enter our program and places them on a waitlist. During this time, many young people remain living in their cars or couch surfing night by night. Our Resource Navigator begins working with them immediately. This work is aimed at solving anything from food insecurity to a desperate need for a dentist, to support in obtaining a cell phone in order to apply for employment.
Once there’s a housing unit available, in either shared or independent housing, the young person signs a one-year lease and agrees to continue working with a Case Care Coordinator, establishing and working towards reaching their goals. Often, the signed lease in itself is life changing. Having successful rental history allows our young people to more readily compete for market rate housing when they leave OWL306. It’s a small, but noteworthy aspect of the OWL360 housing journey.
Once into housing, our residents are set up with all furniture, pots and pans, bedding and all other “basics” for a home. We, the young person, and the case care coordination team then start on the next part of the journey. The “starting to dream” part. As a team, we set small and measurable goals to achieve those dreams. It’s heartening to see these dreams grow and expand the longer a young person is with us.
Housing is just the beginning.
Because just housing a young person, who may not possess the skill set to launch, is not enough, OWL360 has expanded with full wraparound services. Enter the “3 or 4 non-profits” previously mentioned, all of which are in-house and therefore deeply interconnected.
The social service world can be full of flyers and links meant to solve problems. Links to external resources can be overwhelming and confusing to navigate for anyone, let alone a young person in survival mode.
People solve problems. OWL360’s Mental Health program provides a licensed therapist to all housing residents free of charge. A robust Workforce Development program offers a certificate and internship opportunities, where hard skills like resume building are taught and soft skills, like interviewing, are explored. OWL360, in partnership with Port Townsend School District, houses Open Doors, a non-traditional high school completion program. Mental health services, workforce development and educational support are all offered in-house by the same people the young person has already gotten to know, largely in a place (The Nest) that is comfortable and welcoming.
Our housing waitlist grows every month, and so does our heart for the work of supporting our young people who grow alongside it. The triumph, trauma, and hope that comes out of our young people is staggering. Cheers to the future we’re all building together.
Interested in Learning More?
Contact Kelli Parcher
Kelli@owl360.org
