On December 7, I will be spending the night outside with only a sleeping bag and a tarp as a demonstration to homeless youth that we can’t stay inside for one more night while so many remain outside. Tonight, and every night, 515 youth age 12 to 24 will sleep outside in Sonoma County. Social Advocates for Youth helps those youth by providing housing, counseling, and career services to Sonoma County youth to build resiliency and self-sufficiency. 

For those ages 18-24,88% percent are unsheltered and will sleep on the streets tonight. 

The young people I’m sleeping out for may be escaping years of physical abuse, a dangerous human trafficking ring, a drug-addicted parent, a house overflowing with rage, or may have “aged-out” of the foster care system with little to no resources for self-sufficiency. And guess what? Most young people experiencing homelessness are unseen by me and you every day. They are sleeping on couches, they’re sleeping in a broken down car, or they’re trying to stay safe in remote places of the county that are unfit and dangerous for humans, especially young people, to live in.

As a Sonoma County mental health professional for almost 40 years, I've long appreciated the many different ways SAY has served our community, and the SAY Dream Center is especially dear to my heart. My work puts me in contact with at-risk teenagers and young adults on an almost-daily basis, and I see how homelessness and trauma intertwine. SAY's programs offer opportunities for our youth to meet crises with resilience and optimism, and to create better futures for themselves and those they love.

I have committed to raising money so that SAY can continue to offer these youth support, opportunities and hope to empower them to thrive and positively engage with our community. Every dollar donated will go directly to getting young people off the streets, out of human trafficking, and connected with caring adults and supportive services.

With your help, we can make a meaningful impact on our community and affect real change at a local level. Please help me reach my goal to #endyouthhomelessness by making a donation to my One Cold Night campaign. You can donate via my personal fundraising page by clicking the link personal page.

For the kids,
Laura Doty
#OneColdNight2018