Larkin Street Youth Services

Larkin Street Youth Services provides an array of health, housing, employment, and education services for San Francisco youth experiencing homelessness. Each year, the organization reaches over 1,600 youth. Its multidisciplinary arts programs cultivate self-expression, wellness, and career development, and are among its most popular offerings. Guided by arts educators, youth engage in performing arts, music, creative writing, videography, and visual arts workshops, and participate in internships at partner organizations. This grant for Larkin Street Youth Services’ Art Program advances the Performing Arts Program’s Youth strategy and Program Delivery substrategy.

Larkin Street Youth Services (LSYS) provides programs that support homeless young adults in their move toward independence, and its Arts Program has always played a critical role in positive youth development. With funding over the past six years, LSYS has been able to strengthen its infrastructure, and both youth clients and organization leadership recognize the Arts Program as one of its most important assets, often bringing in the hardest-to-reach youths. With renewed funding, LSYS plans to deepen the integration of the Arts Program throughout its other services, increasing the organization’s effectiveness in reaching the most marginalized homeless youth and moving all of its clients toward stable housing and independence.

This grant will provide continued support to the 3rd Street Youth Center and Clinic, which offers teen pregnancy prevention services in the context of a comprehensive youth center and health clinic in San Francisco’s Bayview Hunters Point community. The clinic provides comprehensive primary care, mental health, community outreach, and development services to youth in the community.