The Answer For Youth (TAFY) is a drop-in center run by a small core of dedicated volunteers whose main goal in life is to give hope to those who have none.
For seven years, we have served the homeless and those at risk for homelessness in Clallam County up to the age of 35.
Thirty-five, you might ask?
Given our name, why that old?
One thing we all know is that the emotional age can be stagnated by outside problems that happen to youths, whether raised in a healthy, balanced home or a dysfunctional one.
These issues cause the brain to not mature, thus creating “kids in an adult” body.
Add to that the abuse of alcohol, marijuana, medications, methamphetamine and heroin and/or other drugs, and we get adults with limited brain performance.
TAFY’s goal is to help both the homeless and their children.
With the age limit of 35, we are able to work with marginalized single parents who have young toddlers and “tweens,” thus creating the possibility of stabilizing them and their family.
TAFY does not have funding restrictions that dictate what ages we can serve, which allows for flexibility and change when needed.
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) says, however, age is the easiest way to define this group, particularly in relation to education and employment.
Therefore, what defines “youth” is often indicated as a person between the age at which he or she may leave compulsory education, and the age at which he or she finds first employment.
This latter age limit has been increasing, as higher levels of unemployment and the cost of setting up an independent household puts many young people into a prolonged period of dependency.
Susan Hillgren,
Port Angeles
Hillgren is the executive director of TAFY.