Prince George's County Opens Homeless Youth Shelter

Prince George's County runaway and homeless youth will now have a safe haven where they can receive help and support.

County and community officials gathered Thursday to officially open "Promise Place," the county's first publicly supported shelter for youth.

County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III said the county's partnership with the  Sasha Bruce Youthwork, Inc.—"a proven provider of youth services to provide federally supported management and operation of the 24-hour facility"—will give these youth a place to receive case management, food, medical attention, and other crisis intervention services.

“This initiative represents several years of dedication and hard work from so many committed individuals,” Baker said. “I have to commend those who worked tirelessly to ensure that this “safe haven” for youth has become a reality. It is important that we provide all the necessary resources to support those youth that are vulnerable in our County—for that, I thank you.”

Funded by local, state, federal and private dollars, the shelter's goal is to partner these youth with a caring adult in their lives as soon as possible, though they can stay in the shelter for up to 21 days.

The shelter has 20 beds and is open to homeless youth ages 12 to 24.