The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a grant of $149,500 to Redmond-based Friends of Youth.

Friends of Youth run emergency youth shelters in Bellevue and Kenmore providing at-risk youth care with support and assistance in family reconciliation. The $149,500 grant will provide Friends of Youth with three years of operational funding.

“It was an honor to write a letter of support for the Friends of Youth program,” explained Rep. Jay Inslee (WA-01) who wrote HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in June of this year. “Friends of Youth plays a critical role in our community by providing a comprehensive continuum of care for at-risk youth. Through their safe shelters and support, troubled teens are reconciled with their families without losing their connections to their schools and the community.”

“This award provides critical funding for our work supporting runaway and homeless youth in our community,” said Terry Pottmeyer, President and CEO of Friends of Youth. “Our homelike facilities give youth a safe place, counseling and support while they resolve the challenges that confront them and move to safety and stability.”

The $149,500 grant comes from HHS’s Administration for Children and Families and provides funding for three years of operation.