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New Wind Youth Center opens doors to provide critical resource for homeless youth

Golden 1 Credit Union and Wind Youth Services celebrate upcoming opening of the Center with ribbon cutting ceremony

SACRAMENTO, CA (September 24, 2018) — Golden 1 Credit Union (Golden 1) and Wind Youth Services (Wind), the service provider focusing exclusively on runaway, homeless and street youth in Sacramento County, today joined to commemorate the upcoming opening of the new youth resource center in downtown Sacramento. The new Wind Youth Center (Center), located at 8th and S streets, will serve as a 24-hour crisis support center for young people between the ages of 12-24, and will provide food, showers, and shelter services to reduce the number of homeless youth in Sacramento. The Center will open its doors on October 1, 2018.

In 2017, Golden 1 pledged $1 million over three years to fund the development of the youth counseling center for homeless young people across the region.

“Golden 1 believes in the power of people helping people and how impactful this support can be for youth dealing with personal hardships,” said Donna Bland, President and CEO of Golden 1 Credit Union. “Wind Youth Services is meeting a critical need in our community and we are proud to support its efforts to reduce the number of youth without a safe place to call home. Working together, we can save kids and young adults from this crisis.”

The new Wind Youth Center embodies Golden 1’s overall community giving strategy, which seeks to make the communities it serves stronger.

“There is a lack of services in the Sacramento region designed to help youth and young adults struggling with homelessness,” said Suzi Dotson, Executive Director of Wind Youth Services. “Through Golden 1’s financial commitment and the support of the community, the Center can offer homeless youth a comprehensive and integrated range of options for getting healthy and off the streets.”

In addition to Wind, the Center will offer programs by Gateway Community Charters, Goodwill, JUMA, Lutheran Social Services, One Community Health, and Waking the Village. Together, the agencies will use an evidence-based approach to provide immediate access to safety services, mental health counseling, career and education services, and connection to permanent housing resources depending on individual needs. Wind is also funded by the Division of Behavioral Health Services through the voter-approved Proposition 63, Mental Health Services Act (MHSA).


About Golden 1 Credit Union

With more than $20 billion in assets, Golden 1 Credit Union is one of the largest credit unions in the United States, providing easy access to the financial solutions, resources, and support their members and communities need to improve their well-being. Golden 1 is committed to creating a more equitable and financially inclusive California and proudly serves all those who live or work there. Golden 1 is more than 1.1 million members strong and has over 2,100 employees. Visit golden1.com for more information.

About Wind Youth Services

Wind Youth Services provides supportive services and opportunities to youth experiencing homelessness as they pursue self-determined lives of stability and independence. Wind Youth Services is the only service provider in Sacramento County focusing solely on runaway, homeless, and transition-age youth. One out of every 50 American children are homeless, and our community is no exception.  Every day, Wind has a waiting list of more than 100 youth needing housing despite their three shelters being fully operational.  Nearly 40% of these individuals are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth who have been rejected by their families.

Contacts

Golden 1 Media Relations
mediarelations@golden1.com

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