Since 1996, the Street Outreach program has been making connections with homeless, runaway and vulnerable youth and encouraging them to come into the Shelter and access healthcare, substance abuse and mental health counseling, and education/vocational supports.

 

Peer Outreach Workers (POWS!), an adult coordinator and a health worker typically comprise the outreach team. Trusting relationships are built with young people on the street by using direct and honest communication, meeting them “where they are at” and distributing basic needs like warm clothing, sleeping bags, hygiene kits, bottles of water, and food.

 

The Outreach program also provides counseling, testing and referral for youth who are concerned about exposure to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

 

Last year these items were distributed by our Street Outreach team to more than 650 homeless youth living on the streets: 2340 bottles of water, 204 hygiene kits, 2000 sandwiches, 3000 snack bars, 300 pairs of socks, 15 tents, 128 sleeping bags, 125 jackets, 156 pairs of gloves, 66 hats, 200 handwarmers, 45 tarps, 145 sterno cans.