Dear New Horizons Community, 

After intensive deliberation and on-going attentiveness to the information being shared about best public health practices for preventing the spread of Novel Coronovirus (COVID-19), New Horizons has made the decision to postpone our 42nd Anniversary Benefit scheduled for April 25th at the Seattle Aquarium. 

This decision was not made lightly, but with deep concern for the health of each of our community members in mind. After a week and a half of very thoughtful engagement with the latest information available to us about COVID-19 — we thought of many of you by face and name — and the decision was not hard.

In this and all our decisions, we chose the best health of the young people we serve, and you, our partnering community as our highest priority. 

We have not yet landed on a future date for the event, but will continue to act based on the best public health practices being shared by government and health authorities in the coming days. We recognize that this decision prioritizes the health and well-being of the people who really matter to us, you, our supportive community and staff who serve the youth and young adults that we serve.

Friends, we anticipate some difficult days ahead. But the way of caring guides us to maintain these best preventative practices and to do our utmost to preserve the health and well-being of each New Horizons community member: youth and young adults, staff, volunteers, and cherished partners near and far.

Please stay tuned for future updates on our Anniversary Benefit plans. It is no small thing to honor 42 years of serving young people experiencing homelessness! So we look forward to honoring and celebrating those who have made it possible one day soon. Until then, during these uncertain times, when those experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable with no place to rest and few places to turn if they need support, New Horizons will be here as we have been for over four decades.

King County has requested all shelters remain open and keep regular services going as long as possible. Our staff has risen to the occasion with dedication . Our team has been preparing with extreme diligence for as many contingencies as we can anticipate. We plan to keep our doors open, continue vital meal service, and maintain case management support for each young person that walks through our doors. New Horizons is determined to find the best ways to continue to meet the needs of the young people we serve for their sake, and the sake of the wider community that we are so closely connected with.

As you can imagine, cancelling our major fundraising event at a time when funding is critical has serious implications to the kinds and quality of services we can deliver. In the coming days we will be working very diligently to discern the best ways to raise the kind of support we will need in order to continue providing the critical services of shelter and basic support needed to support the young people we serve and our wider community through this public health crisis. We will be welcoming supportive donations and looking for the best ways to sustain our necessary services. 

We remain deeply grateful for the power of community during these uncertain times, and invite you to stay connected in wise and life-giving ways. If you find yourself moved and would like to know the best ways to support our work, don’t hesitate to be in touch.

Gratefully
Rob Stewart
Executive Director, New Horizons
Robs@Nhmin.org
For more information on Novel Coronavirus, the steps being taken by the City of Seattle, as well as steps taken by shelters that serve those experiencing homelessness, please visit: 
 
 
Per the King County Novel Coronavirus Call Center: 
 
If you are in King County and believe you were exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19, or if you're a healthcare provider with questions about COVID-19, contact our novel coronavirus call center: 206-477-3977. The call center will be open daily from 8 AM to 7 PM PST. 
 
For general questions about COVID-19 or Washington State's response, please call the Washington State Novel Coronavirus Call Center at 800-525-0127. 
2709 3rd Avenue | Seattle, WA 98121 | (206) 374-0866 | nhmin.org