Homeless Youth Alliance, Inc.

About Homeless Youth Alliance

Our Mission

Our mission at Homeless Youth Alliance (HYA) is to meet youth experiencing homelessness where they are at, to see all of them as individuals with unique experiences and life stories, and to help them to build healthier lives for themselves. We believe reducing harm is possible through the provision of accessible, non-judgmental relationships, services, information, and opportunities. We strive to empower youth experiencing homelessness to protect themselves, educate each other, reduce harm within the community, and, when they are ready, transition off the street.

Organization Background and Description

While many of our programs have existed in one form or another for decades, in 2006 these various programs coalesced under the umbrella of a single, stand-alone organization, Homeless Youth Alliance (HYA), making it the city’s only grassroots, harm reduction coalition designed for youth by youth experiencing homelessness. Our services consist of peer-based outreach, case management, medical care, mental health services, syringe access, workshops, HIV/HCV testing, and a buprenorphine clinic. We also have operated a transitional housing program and a temporary Safe Sleeping Village known as CAMP (Community Action Made 4 People). On average, HYA serves up to 120 youth per day, and additional people of all ages, through our various programs. Annually, we conduct more than 1,000 case management sessions, have 1,200 therapeutic contacts with 510 youth, broker 1,400 medical appointments, and connect approximately 370 young people to housing, drug detoxification, and residential treatment programs.

Current Organizational Structure

In 2019, HYA became our own 501(c)(3) after 12 years of operating with a fiscal sponsor. We have grown our programming significantly in the past two years to include a transitional housing program for transition age youth, and most recently began operating San Francisco’s 2nd Safe Sleeping Village in a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The size of HYA’s staff fluctuates based on programming, ranging from as few as 15 to as many at 40.