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Drop-In Center
The young people who come to Larkin Street Youth Services for help have many difficulties to overcome before they can rebuild the lives that have been interrupted by life on the street. Before they can benefit from the full range of programs Larkin Street offers, they have the most basic needs that must be met. Showers to wash off the grime of the street. Nutritious food and basic medical attention to replenish their energy and their health. Clothing to keep them warm. And a safe haven to give them respite from violence and exploitation. They can find these basic services at the Larkin Street Drop-In Center, our flagship program, which opened in 1984 and serves hundreds of homeless young people every year. It is a safe haven, staffed by caring professionals who provide immediate intervention and short-term counseling to prepare kids to start their journeys toward productive adulthood. The Drop-In Center is more than just a place to hang out. It also houses a fully accredited school where kids can continue their education, and offers recreational activities where they can connect with peers and adults. Through groups, outings and one-on-one conversations, Drop-In staff support youth with a variety of special needs such as education, family reunification, legal matters, and sexual identity issues. It also serves as a portal to further services. Each new visitor to the Center receives an individual assessment to determine what other services—such as medical care, counseling, or housing—would best suit their immediate and long-term needs. For some young people, the Drop-In Center is just a place to get away from the streets for a little while. But for most, it is a stop on the way to continued recovery, offering a chance to rebuild their lives and leave the streets for good.
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