Social Advocates for Youth

Santa Rosa, CA
Executive Director: Matt Martin
Co-investor: The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation

Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) provides housing, counseling and employment services to youth throughout Sonoma County. 

SAY’s clients include children who have been physically, sexually or emotionally abused, runaway and homeless teens, former foster youth, as well as youth at risk of involvement in gangs, struggling in school or needing help finding jobs. The agency operates a teen shelter that provides drop-in services and short-term housing for runaway and homeless youth. It also offers affordable housing along with counseling, mental health services and peer support for young adults. Its workforce program teaches job-related skills and provides summer jobs for youth once they are prepared for these opportunities.