Department of Youth and Community Development
Runaway and Homeless Youth Services
Introduction:
The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) runs a range of services for Runaway and Homeless
Youth that includes Street Outreach and Referral Services, Drop-in Centers, Crisis Shelters, Transitional Independent Living
programs.
DYCD’s Runaway and Homeless Youth services are designed to protect runaway and homeless youth and reunite them with their
families whenever possible. We also offer specialized programming for runaway and homeless pregnant and parenting youth,
sexually-exploited youth and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) youth. We are committed to providing
all runaway and homeless young people with the resources they need to get off the streets and stabilize their lives.
Street Outreach and Referral Services:
DYCD Street Outreach program serves as a point of entry into the wider DYCD RHY system. Street Outreach focuses their efforts on
locations where homeless and at risk youth are known to congregate in the evenings and at night, on weekdays and weekends. Street
Outreach services are geared to target public spaces, subway stations, and transportation hubs such as those in Jamaica, Queens,
Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, and the Port Authority bus terminal in Manhattan.
The role of Street Outreach is to distribute information about RHY services; provide resources, materials, referrals, and transport
youth to their homes, shelters, or other safe locations. By developing rapport with youth in the streets and elsewhere, outreach workers
directly inform RHY and youth at risk for homelessness about available services and refer youth in need of services to the Drop-In
centers and other RHY programs.
Borough-Based Drop-In Centers:
Drop-In Centers are located in each of the five boroughs of New York City. The Drop-In Centers provide youth ages 14-24 with
essentials needs such as food, clothing, access to counseling, support, and referrals to shelter and relevant services.
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Crisis Shelters:
Crisis Shelters offer emergency shelter for runaway and homeless youth aged 16 to 21 for thirty (30) up to sixty (60) days. These
voluntary, short-term residential programs provide emergency shelter and crisis intervention services aimed at reuniting youth with
their families or, if family reunification is not possible, arranging appropriate transitional and long-term placements. Services offered
at crisis shelters include:
 Educational programs
 Vocational training
 Job placement assistance
 Counseling
 Basic life skills training
Transitional Independent Living:
Transitional Independent Living (TIL) facilities provide homeless youth aged 16 to 21 with support and shelter as they work to
establish independence. A young person in need of these longer-term residential services should first visit our Crisis Shelter and obtain
a referral to Transitional Independent Living facilities. Youth may stay in the Transitional Independent Living facilities for up to 18
months. Services offered at TILs include:
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Educational programs
Vocational training
Job placement assistance
Counseling
Basic life skills training
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DYCD RHY FLOW CHART
Street Outreach Program –Vans Travel throughout boroughs
seeking out homeless/runaway youth providing referrals, other
necessities and transportation. If identified, and the youth is
interested in receiving services, the youth is transported to the
Drop-In center or nearest Crisis Shelter.
Walk – In Services
Youth can self-refer
and access services
through the Drop-In
Centers and Crisis
Shelters by walking in.
Drop-In Centers – One located in each borough providing
youth 14 to 24 with essentials like food, clothing and
immediate shelter as well as access to counseling, support,
and referrals to relevant services.
Crisis Shelters – There are 226 Crisis beds throughout the 5
boroughs providing youth between the ages of 16 to 21 with
temporary (30 days up to 60 days) shelter. Counseling is
provided as well as seeking out stabilized housing, entitlement
assistance, job search mental health referrals, etc.
Transitional Independent Living (TIL) Programs – There are 227
TIL beds throughout the 5 boroughs; providing shelter for youth
up to 18 months. Youth are provided with housing assistance,
entitlements, educational assistance, employment search,
counseling, mental health services, independent living skills,
etc.
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Youth are transported to areas
identified or needed such as home,
hospital, friend’s house, family
member, Drop-In Center or Crisis
Shelter.
Referrals are made to supportive
housing, reunified with parents, non
DYCD TIL programs, family members
and/or DYCD TIL Programs.
Youth are usually discharge to the
following: own apartment, friends
relatives, reunified with parents or
PATH.
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