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Christy—An End to Exploitation
June 11 2009
After accessing drop-in services and working toward her GED at YouthCare’s Orion Center, staff referred 17-year-old Christy to the The Shelter, Seattle’s only emergency shelter for youth under 18. Her mother had died several years earlier, and her relationship with her father was very strained. Christy was surviving by living with friends and being sexually exploited.
By the time Christy got to The Shelter, she had a strong desire to make positive changes in her life. She no longer wanted to live with friends and wanted to quit prostitution and be independent. While living at The Shelter, Christy obtained her GED and got into a job training program. She applied to YouthCare’s Transitional Living Programs and was accepted into Pathways. She was able to move into Pathways once her 30 days at The Shelter expired and planned on moving into an over-18 facility after her birthday. With this increased independence and stability, Christy was able to reconnect with her father and start repairing their relationship.
