Communities for Functional Zero (C4F0) is a statewide movement to achieve functional zero on youth and young adult homelessness for ages 12-24. Our vision is to end, not just manage, homelessness for young people in our community and beyond, meaning homelessness is a rare, brief, and one-time experience, ideally housing youth and young adults in 30 days or less. Through systems change efforts which rely on accurate, real-time data through a monthly By-Name List (BNL); addressing disproportionality experienced by LGBTQ+ youth and youth of color; and including young people as meaningful decision-makers in this work, we believe solving youth and young adult homelessness is possible.

The Skagit Valley Family YMCA drives our local movement in close partnership with Skagit County Public Health, Skagit Northwest Youth Services, North Sound ACH, Volunteers of America of Western Washington, and many other local and state partners. We are part of a network of eight other communities committed to this movement in close partnership with the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Office of Homeless Youth. 

Anyone may get involved in this effort. A group of 10-25 individuals called the Core Improvement Team meets at minimum every other week to actively work through our collective systems change effort. We welcome for community members and service providers of all kinds (youth, young adult, family and individual, housing and non-housing alike) to join the Yes-to-Yes movement. When a young person in your community says, “yes, I need support,” they deserve to be met with a system that says, “yes, we are here for you.” Join us!