Fighting youth homelessness

Golden 1 CU assists in the establishment of a much-needed local resource.

February 5, 2019 by CU Magazine

Golden 1 CU representatives celebrate the groundbreaking of the Wind Youth Center. Front row, from left: Richard Musci, Golden 1 CU; Steve Hansen, City of Sacramento; Suzi Dotzon, Wind Youth Services; Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg; Golden 1 President/CEO Donna Bland; and Amanda McCarthy, Golden 1 CU and Wind Youth Services board member. Back row, from left: Golden 1’s Cassandra Jennings, Samantha Lui, and P. Craig Cornett, and John Wickland, Wind Youth Services.

In 2017, Golden 1 Credit Union in Sacramento, Calif., pledged to contribute $1 million over three years to establish the Wind Youth Center, which promotes the safety, shelter, and self-determination of youth experiencing homelessness.

The center aims to break the cycle of youth homelessness by providing much-needed resources such as mental health counseling, career and education services, and access to permanent housing.

With early intervention, homeless youth are less likely to become chronically homeless adults.

Golden 1 also donated $165,000 to three other organizations dedicated to combating youth homelessness.