After having to wait for months to allow homeless youth to stay on their premises overnight at its new facility, Ryan’s House for Youth has been granted occupancy from the county.

Executive Director Lori Cavender announced the news on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at the homelessness discussion at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, held by Sno-Isle Libraries. She said the county granted occupancy “just in time for Christmas.”

Ryan’s House relocated from Freeland to the former Countryside Inn just south of Coupeville in the summer. The outreach program and shelter has been waiting for at-risk youth to be able to find overnight refuge on their new campus since it moved locations.