Skip to main content
DreamCatcher Youth Services

Emergency Sanctuary for youth ages 13-18 who are experiencing homelessness or human trafficking

Contact: Ashley Burns

1-800-379-1114 / 510-379-0929 ext. 935

Shelter

DreamCatcher’s short-term, emergency shelter feels quiet and homelike.

Here, DreamCatcher provides for each young person’s basic needs in a safe and relaxed environment. They receive meals, take showers with new hygiene products, receive new clothes and a warm bed to sleep in. Programming and activities are youth-driven and the environment is accepting and lowkey. This shelter is a place for youth to rest, catch their breath, and work with staff to determine their next steps.

Youth Wellness Center

DreamCatcher’s Youth Wellness Center is open daily and provides young people with a safe place to hang out until they are allowed to return to the couch where they are staying.

Others come to hide from domestic fights between the adults in their lives.

Youth Wellness Center staff provide life skills training and counseling through individual, group and family sessions. With the support of staff, youth create safety plans and learn how to make good decisions to increase their feelings of well-being, security and self-esteem. Older youth request help finding a job and filling out applications. All youth receive assistance with legal issues and finding a safe place to live.

All youth are given free hygiene products, basic clothing, and school supplies. Laundry and shower facilities are available, snacks are provided and dinner is served daily thanks to volunteer support.

The Dream Clinic

Immediate primary medical care.

Youth can receive immediate primary medical care without leaving the DreamCatcher campus at our onsite clinic.

Over 90%

of youth have been through DreamCatcher have moved directly into stable housing, further education or employment.

At DreamCatcher, we believe that basic needs must be met for the work of healing to begin. We are trauma-informed, youth-positive, and strength-based, using a low barrier, harm reduction model. We understand that a core need of all youth is for connection and from the first point of contact, building a trustworthy relationship is our focus. Over a third of our staff are graduates of our program who returned as adults wanting to give back for all they received, for the ways their lives changed.

Stay informed about DreamCatcher and the impact you're making.

Volunteer Opportunities

 

  •  Meal prep
  • Donation organization and processing
  • Basic maintenance and upkeep
  • Beautification projects
  • Tutoring
  • Job preparation support
  • Lead a life skills workshop – financial literacy, cooking, self-care, etc.
  • Lead a group activity – art, music, yoga, dance, creative writing, etc.
  • Hang out, play board games, do puzzles, throw a warriors or raider’s party, host an ice cream social, give makeovers or haircuts or host a holiday celebration!

We welcome creativity. If you have an idea come meet us and let’s talk about it!

Download a volunteer application. Email Amba Johnson for more information.