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http://www.keprtv.com/news/42236607.html?video=YHI&t=a

By Molly Kelleher KENNEWICK - Homeless youth will have a place to stay on the county's dime. It's a first And this could be the start of a bigger push to get kids off the street.

Vista Youth Center opened two years ago with a plan to provide a safe space for kids both gay and straight. But as the center grew, a bigger problem and a bigger need came to light.

"We'd ask do you have a safe place to live and what we'd get was that a lot of kids were couchsurfing not at home because they don't feel safe," said Mark Lee.

Director Mark Lee asked Benton County for help. And this week they said yes.

The county will spend nearly $6000 on an emergency voucher program.

It will let a young adult stay for free in a hotel for about a week and get a case manager's help.

But vouchers can't help kids under 18, that's the next step. "My Friend's Place" just got its non-profit status.

Organizers are scouting sites for the first youth homeless shelter in the region.

"When I see the statement of work signed by the county commissioners that says we're supporting lesbian gay bisexual and trans gender youth it makes me cry. It's incredible where we came from a place where these kids don't exist to okay at least we'll do something," said Lee.

The vouchers expire at the end of the year, but Vista Youth Center hopes to have the shelter started by then.