For Immediate Release: April 2, 2018 - Contact: Nannette Miranda (916) 319-2019 - Nannette.Miranda@asm.ca.gov
Larkin Street Youth Services Receives $2.5 million State Grant To Help Homeless Teens & Young Adults
(San Francisco) – Larkin Street Youth Services will be able to house more homeless teens and young adults in the City, thanks to a new $2.5 million state grant. On any given night, more than 1,300 youth in San Francisco don’t have a safe place to call home. That stunning number inspired Assembly Budget Committee Chair Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) to champion the effort last year to secure $10 million in state funding for the new Homeless Youth Emergency Services and Housing Program, which aims to provide rental assistance, transitional or supportive housing to those under 25 years old.
“It’s unacceptable to have so many kids on the streets,” said Ting. “Larkin Street has a proven track record of guiding clients toward productive lives. That’s a good investment to make, and I’m proud to have fought for this new funding.”
San Francisco leaders applaud the news and the impact the grant could have.
“We cannot allow our young residents to live on the streets—funding and creating additional opportunities for housing, shelter and other services are compassionate and effective ways to move at-risk individuals into stable living situations,” said Mayor Mark Farrell. “Assemblymember Ting has been a staunch advocate for homelessness initiatives in our City, and this funding support is just the latest example of those efforts. I look forward to continuing to work with Assemblymember Ting and Larkin Street on new and effective ways to support our transitional age youth in San Francisco.”
“I would like to thank Assemblymember Ting for his leadership and work to secure additional funding to help kids get off the street” said Jeff Kositsky, Director of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. “Larkin Street is a great partner, and we are proud to partner with them to make significant and sustained reductions in youth homelessness.”
Larkin Street is the largest non-profit provider of services for young people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco. Since 1984, it has helped more than 75,000. Its work to end homelessness for those in its care is internationally recognized, and the grant will help further their mission.
“We are thrilled about this critical funding and have named Assemblyman Ting as one of our award recipients this year for being in the forefront of the fight to end youth homelessness,” said Sherilyn Adams, Executive Director of Larkin Street Youth Services. “Statewide, the lack of investment in youth has been significant, so we are pleased to see this substantial grant, which ideally will act as an inspiration for additional funding.”
California has the second highest rate of homeless youth in the country, yet two-thirds of the state’s counties lack basic services for this specific population. The grants under the Homeless Youth Emergency Services and Housing Program are a one-time allocation to targeted counties in the 2017-18 state budget. In addition to Larkin Street, recipients of a $2.5 million state grant include:
- Bill Wilson Center of Santa Clara County
- Volunteers of America Los Angeles of LA County
- San Diego Youth Services of San Diego County
The organizations have until May 2020 to be reimbursed for the housing services they provide.
Watch the press conference by clicking here.
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