Northwest Youth Services has received a $385,200 federal grant to provide street outreach to youths who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless in Whatcom County.

The money for the three-year grant comes through the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act.

Those dollars will be used to help youths 21 years and younger, according to Riannon Bardsley, executive director of Northwest Youth Services.

The nonprofit started its street outreach effort three months ago, thanks to a volunteer who went out 20 hours a week.

But the grant will allow Northwest Youth Services to provide street outreach seven hours a day, seven days a week, year-round once the program fully gets going in about three months, Bardsley said.

In addition to helping homeless youths, the goal is to help prevent kids from becoming homeless if possible.

Reach KIE RELYEA at kie.relyea@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2234.