Larkin Street Youth Services stands as a beacon of hope in San Francisco, offering a comprehensive suite of programs designed to empower young people to leave the streets behind for good. Recognizing the multifaceted challenges faced by homeless youth, Larkin Street provides wraparound care encompassing outreach, health and wellness, housing, education, and employment opportunities. Their approach is intentionally accessible, meeting young people where they are and fostering an environment that encourages engagement and long-term success, equipping them with the vital skills for independent adulthood.
Outreach and Engagement: Building Trust on the Streets
Larkin Street’s outreach and engagement services form the crucial first step in connecting with vulnerable youth. The Street Outreach team actively navigates San Francisco’s streets, distributing essential resources like food, socks, and harm reduction kits, alongside offering crucial referrals to further assistance. These initial interactions are about building trust and establishing a connection. Complementing street outreach are the Haight Street Referral Center (HSRC) and Engagement and Community Center (ECC), welcoming drop-in spaces where young people can access immediate necessities such as nutritious meals, hygiene supplies, showers, and laundry facilities. Beyond basic needs, these centers foster a sense of community through group activities, offer individual and group counseling, and provide comprehensive case management, acting as gateways to Larkin Street’s broader spectrum of services.
Health and Wellness: Prioritizing Holistic Well-being
Recognizing that health is foundational for stability, Larkin Street Youth Services prioritizes the physical and mental well-being of the young people they serve. The Medical Clinic delivers free, comprehensive primary care, encompassing sexual health services, and vital HIV and Hepatitis C prevention and testing. This accessible healthcare removes significant barriers for youth who may otherwise lack access to medical attention. Case Management ensures that each young person receives personalized support, navigating them through Larkin Street’s diverse programs, connecting them with behavioral health services, and linking them to crucial community resources. Addressing mental health needs, Behavioral Health services offer both brief and extended therapy, empowering young people to understand and effectively manage behavioral health challenges. Extending support beyond program completion, Residential Aftercare provides ongoing case management for up to a year after youth exit Larkin Street’s housing programs, ensuring sustained progress towards their personal goals.
Housing: Providing Safe and Supportive Homes
Housing instability is a core issue for homeless youth, and Larkin Street addresses this through a range of shelter and housing programs tailored to different age groups and needs. Diamond Youth Shelter provides crucial emergency shelter for youth under 18, a particularly vulnerable population, while Lark-Inn Shelter offers San Francisco’s only emergency shelter specifically for young adults aged 18-24. These shelters offer immediate safety and respite from the streets. For longer-term supportive housing, Geary House and 1020 Haight provide two-year congregate living programs. The Castro Youth Housing Initiative (CYHI) delivers two-year scattered-site housing, with a specific focus on LGBTQ youth, including a pioneering program dedicated to transgender youth. Assisted Care/After Care (AC/AC) programs offer both congregate and scattered-site housing, alongside specialized on-site HIV care, for young people living with HIV. Former foster youth find stability through LEASE, a scattered-site housing program. For long-term support, Edward II, Ellis Street Apartments, and Routz offer permanent supportive housing with on-site case management, with Routz specializing in serving youth with mental health conditions. Finally, Pathways provides a graduated rental subsidy program, assisting young people in transitioning to independent living and affording their own apartments.
Education and Employment: Larkin Street Academy – Building Futures Through Opportunity
Larkin Street Academy represents the organization’s commitment to empowering youth through education and employment, recognizing these as key pillars for long-term independence. YouthForce offers immediate paid work opportunities on supervised work crews, providing crucial entry-level experience and income. For those seeking to complete their high school equivalency, GED Tutoring provides personalized one-on-one and small group support. Career Readiness programs equip youth with essential job-seeking skills through individual and classroom-based counseling and training in resume development, interview techniques, and career exploration. Financial Literacy training builds essential life skills in budgeting, credit management, saving, and debt reduction. Bridge Academy prepares youth for higher education through a classroom-based college readiness curriculum. Learning Centers offer intensive six-month, classroom-based training programs focused on careers in high-growth industries, providing pathways to sustainable employment. College Success counseling provides individualized support with college enrollment, credit transfer, financial aid, and scholarship resources. Internships offer invaluable real-world work experience, bridging the gap between training and employment. The Art Program fosters creativity and self-expression through hands-on training in visual and performing arts and design, alongside professional community engagement opportunities. Finally, the Youth Advisory Board empowers young clients to become agents of change, working collaboratively with staff to influence policy within Larkin Street and the wider community.
Larkin Street Youth Services delivers a transformative continuum of care, effectively addressing the complex needs of homeless youth in San Francisco. Through their integrated and accessible programs, Larkin Street empowers young people to not just survive, but thrive, building brighter futures and exiting homelessness permanently.
