Get involved

Make a Donation

Make a Financial Gift

Your financial support helps provide overnight shelter, case management, meals, clothing, and individualized care to over 500 young adults each year. Unrestricted gifts allow ROOTS to respond quickly to urgent needs and ensure young adults receive consistent, dignified support.

Ways to give

Mail a Check

ROOTS Young Adult Shelter
4541 19th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98105

Give in-kind

In-kind donations help meet immediate, practical needs for young adults staying at ROOTS. Because our needs change frequently, we coordinate all in-kind donations in advance and do not accept unsolicited drop-offs.

To find out what items are currently most needed, please visit our wishlist, which is updated weekly, or complete the in-kind donation form to connect with our team.

Shop the Wishlist

Learn more

In-Kind Donation Form

form submission

See Our Financial Statements

Learn more

Stay Connected

Sign up for our newsletter to learn how your support makes a difference, hear directly from staff and community partners, and stay connected to opportunities to get involved.

Volunteer with ROOTS

Help create a safe, welcoming space
for young adults each night.

Volunteers are essential to ROOTS. Each evening, our goal is to have one volunteer or staff member present for every three guests we serve. Volunteers support daily shelter operations while also building community and offering consistent, compassionate presence to young adults experiencing homelessness.

Whether serving a meal, helping set up our space, or simply sitting and talking with a guest, volunteers play a critical role in creating stability, dignity, and belonging.

Volunteer Shifts

ROOTS offers several in shelter volunteer shifts. Volunteers are encouraged to commit to a consistent weekly shift when possible to help provide stability and continuity for our guests.

Evening Shift

7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

Support evening shelter operations, including serving dinner, distributing supplies, setting up the space, and building community with guests.

Morning Shift

6:45 AM to 8:30 AM -
Sunday through Friday

7:15 AM to 9:30 AM - Saturday

Help guests start their day by supporting morning routines, assisting with laundry, helping with clean up, and fostering a calm, welcoming environment.

Saturday Lunch
Program Shift

Saturdays late morning
to early afternoon

Support meal preparation, serving, and clean up during our Saturday Lunch Program. Volunteers help create a welcoming, community centered meal experience for guests.

Apply to volunteer

Training & Requirements

To ensure a safe and supportive environment for guests, volunteers complete required training and paperwork.

Requirements

• Volunteers must be at least 18 years old
• Background check required prior to first shift

Questions

If you have questions about volunteering or need help finding the right fit, please contact our Volunteer Team.

contact volunteer team

Join our team

Working at ROOTS means joining a small, committed team that believes relationships matter, harm reduction saves lives, and systems should bend toward people, not the other way around. Our staff bring curiosity, empathy, and a willingness to learn. We value lived experience, cultural humility, and a shared commitment to equity and justice.

At ROOTS Young Adult Shelter, our work is grounded in safety, dignity, and belonging. We support young adults ages 18 to 25 who are navigating homelessness, and we do so with compassion, consistency, and deep respect for each person’s autonomy.

If you are looking for meaningful work, a strong community, and an organization that cares about its people as much as its mission, we invite you to explore opportunities with ROOTS.

Why Work at Roots

Mission driven work that makes a real impact in young adults’ lives
A collaborative, supportive team culture
Ongoing opportunities for learning, growth, and leadership
Clear boundaries that support sustainability in direct service work
A commitment to equity, inclusion, and trauma informed care

ROOTS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage people with lived experience of homelessness, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and others from historically marginalized communities to apply.

Employee Benefits

ROOTS is committed to supporting the wellbeing of our employees. Benefits include:

12 paid holidays
Paid Time Off accrued by hours worked
Health Related Leave
Employee Assistance Program
Health, dental, and vision coverage offered to full time employees after their first full month of work

Health Insurance Options

HMO plan with 100% of premiums paid by ROOTS
PPO plan with employees responsible for paying 100% of the cost difference between the base plan and the PPO plan

Transportation Benefit

Agency subsidized ORCA Pass through the ORCA Business Passport program, providing unlimited access to regional transit

Retirement Plan

401k retirement plan for eligible employees
ROOTS provides a matching contribution of up to 3% of employee compensation, in accordance with plan guidelines

See Our Current Openings

Events

Events are one of the ways we build community, raise critical funds, and invite people into the work of ROOTS Young Adult Shelter. From signature fundraisers to small gatherings, our events center connection, storytelling, and shared commitment to young adult housing stability.

Whether you attend, volunteer, sponsor, or share with your networks, your participation helps make our work possible.

Upcoming Events

Rise Up is ROOTS Annual Fundraising Event

For years, Rise Up has been the heart of ROOTS annual fundraising efforts. It is more than a single night. It is a gathering of community members who believe that young adults deserve safety, dignity, and belonging.

Each year, Rise Up brings together supporters, partners, and advocates to fuel the critical work happening every day at ROOTS Young Adult Shelter. The funds raised through Rise Up directly support overnight shelter, meals, case management, and the relationships that help young adults move toward stability and housing.

Rise Up 2026 Is
Just Around the Corner

Rise Up 2026 is happening on
Friday, September 25th, 2026.

This annual celebration will once again bring our community together to uplift young adults and invest in a future where no one is left without a safe place to sleep.

Save the date and check back soon for more details about tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and how you can be part of this powerful night.

Thank You for Making Rise Up Monumental

Rise Up would not be possible without the generosity and commitment of our community.

Thanks to our supporters, sponsors, volunteers, and guests, Rise Up 2024 and Rise Up 2025 were truly monumental. Together, you helped raise vital funds, amplify the voices of young adults, and strengthen the safety net that ROOTS provides every night.

Your belief in this work makes a real and lasting impact. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has shown up, given generously, and stood alongside young adults through Rise Up.

Community Events and Engagement

Throughout the year, ROOTS hosts and participates in community events that build awareness, deepen relationships, and create opportunities to learn more about young adult homelessness. These may include open houses, tabling at community gatherings, donor events, and partner-hosted programs.

Check back often as new events are added.

Get Involved

Interested in supporting an event as a volunteer, sponsor, or host? Hoping to volunteer with your co-workers directly at our shelter? We would love to hear from you.

Get involved

Make a Donation

Make a Financial Gift

Ways to give

One Time or Recurring Donations Online

paypal giving

Employer gift matching

Gifts of stock

Vehicle donations through CARS

Volunteer hour grants from your employer