When kids on the street are ready to rebuild their lives, Larkin Street Youth Services is there. With the Haight Street Referral Center, Larkin Street has a presence in the very neighborhood that has been known as a destination for transient youth for generations.

The Haight Street Referral Center is a hub for outreach activities in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood, where homeless youth still gather, years after the influx of the 1960s. The Referral Center is an important resource for kids who need basic assistance — including food, hygiene supplies, and referrals to Larkin Street programs and other community resources. It is a safe place to hang out with peers, attend groups focused on substance abuse and HIV prevention, and begin to develop relationships with caring adults.

The Haight Street Referral Center serves as a gateway to the programs and services homeless youth need to rebuild their lives. Young people who frequent the Referral Center are encouraged to work with staff members to identify their individual needs and determine short- and longer-term goals towards exiting street life. A case manager and counselors are available to help the youth begin their journey off the streets by referring them to shelter, employment and educational services, and medical care through other Larkin Street Youth Services programs.

• The Referral Center is Larkin Street’s most highly utilized program, with more than 1,500 youth accessing services there each year.

“Most of the youth that come to the Haight Street Referral Center are extremely disengaged from society and this might be one of the few places where they feel comfortable. Staff are trained to handle the various needs of the youth, whether it be housing, substance abuse, or simply by offering a friendly ear to listen.  The impact in the Haight community is immense.  For one, youth have a safe place to come.  Most of our neighbors know of us and refer youth to the Center.   Staff also attend regular community meetings to understand the needs and concerns of our Haight Ashbury neighbors.”  – Ed, Manager, Haight Street Referral Center

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