Events

Until the early 1970s, youth homelessness was a crime in Sonoma County. Young people who ran away to escape neglect and abuse were arrested and housed in the county juvenile detention facility with no interventions to address the issues precipitating their homelessness. In 1971, a group of local leaders established Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) to provide an alternative to incarceration and advocate to change laws related to youth homelessness.

Since our founding, SAY has served more than 50,000 children, youth and families with continuous, relevant, and research-based programming. Today, SAY serves Sonoma County’s most vulnerable youth through the foundational pillars of housing, counseling, and career and life readiness services.

During the tour of the SAY Dream Center, you will be able to learn more about how SAY helps young people get out of homelessness and find safe housing, receive mental health care, and become workforce ready. The tour will include an opportunity to walk through each of our three core programs areas and see our work in action!

*Please RSVP.

Until the early 1970s, youth homelessness was a crime in Sonoma County. Young people who ran away to escape neglect and abuse were arrested and housed in the county juvenile detention facility with no interventions to address the issues precipitating their homelessness. In 1971, a group of local leaders established Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) to provide an alternative to incarceration and advocate to change laws related to youth homelessness.

Since our founding, SAY has served more than 50,000 children, youth and families with continuous, relevant, and research-based programming. Today, SAY serves Sonoma County’s most vulnerable youth through the foundational pillars of housing, counseling, and career and life readiness services.

During the tour of the SAY Dream Center, you will be able to learn more about how SAY helps young people get out of homelessness and find safe housing, receive mental health care, and become workforce ready. The tour will include an opportunity to walk through each of our three core programs areas and see our work in action!

*Please RSVP.

One Cold Night is a county-wide movement of individuals, known as Sleepers, who accept the challenge to sleep outside for one night so that homeless and at-risk youth don’t have to.

This event harnesses the power of the individual, combined with the power of a community, to affect real change at a local level. Every dollar raised by Sleepers and their networks goes directly to getting young people off the streets, out of human trafficking, and connected with caring adults and supportive services.  

But you don’t have to sleep out to make a difference! Join us for One Cold Gathering to kick-off our One Cold Night event on December 7, 2018. One Cold Gathering is an opportunity to support our Sleepers before they embark on their night outside, learn more about current services and program happening at SAY, and show your support for the youth we serve. All community members are welcome!

We ask that attendees bring $10 gift cards for Target, Big 5, or Safeway to help SAY provide clothing and food for youth in our housing, counseling, and job readiness programs.

To learn more about One Cold Night and how SAY is working to end youth homelessness in Sonoma County, please visit onecoldnight.org