THE LARKIN STREET GROWTH CAMPAIGN

HELPING KIDS GETOFF THE STREETS

FOR GOOD

NO YOUNG PERSON WANTS TO LIVE ON THE STREETS BUT TOO MANY GET STUCK THERE.

1,900 young people sleep on San Francisco’s streets every night. They’re fleeing from abuse and neglect. Without support, they face a dangerous future: poverty, jail, violence, death.

For over 30 years, Larkin Street Youth Services has helped homeless and runaway youth find a better path. Three out of four who complete Larkin Street programs exit the streets.

Today, it takes more to get off the streets, so we’re setting our bar higher, with bold new goals to make a permanent difference in the lives of the youth who need our help.

We’ve launched the $25 million Larkin Street Growth Campaign because homeless kids deserve the same opportunities we want for our own children: stable housing, a solid career path, health and happiness.

I was sleeping in the park when I met an outreach worker who told me about Larkin Street. From that day on, my life changed for the better.

Having a roof over my head and supportive staff has allowed me to see my potential. My main focus used to be finding my next meal. Now I’m focused on my education. Larkin Street gave me a future. -Elbert, formerly homeless young adult

TO CREATE A BETTER LIFE,

HOMELESS YOUTH NEED BETTER

OPPORTUNITIES.

What it takes to train and educate youth has changed: the skills they need are different, technology is constantly new, competition is dramatically higher. We’re responding to those changes to prepare for what comes next.

The Growth Campaign supports critical changes at Larkin Street Youth Services that are vital to the future of the young people we serve. -Phil Estes, Growth Campaign Chair

The Bay Area is booming, but not everyone is benefiting. San Francisco housing prices are the highest in the nation, and competition for jobs is brutal. Employers expect entry-level applicants to have at least two years of college. Today, the climb out of homelessness to a place of self-sufficiency is steeper than ever.

We are tripling our impact so that the new economy does not leave homeless youth behind.

Innovation has always been part of our DNA. Our new, intensive programs will connect more youth to counseling and services, increase the number who get college degrees and move into real careers, and make sure that more youth heal from the trauma of the streets to lead healthy, successful lives.

A MORE INTENSEFOCUS ON

EVERYYOUNG

PERSONWHO

NEEDSOUR

HELP

Getting young people off the street and into stable housing allows them to rebuild their lives. Once they start to feel safe, they can think beyond the immediate crises to their overall well-being and their plans for the future.

The Growth Campaign funds more counselors and specialized staff. We’ll spend more time in face-to-face meetings with young people, and more hours helping kids heal emotionally and physically from the streets.

Connecting young people to the help they need sets them on the path to a brighter future: they become healthy, productive, independent and able to advocate for themselves in the long term.

THE GROWTH CAMPAIGN DOUBLESTHE COUNSELING WE PROVIDE

Case management contacts with each youthFrom 3 to 6 PER MONTH

[1] [2]

Hours of client counseling and therapy sessions From 30 to 60 PER MONTH

[1]

[2]

WE’RE MAKING EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT FOR ALL

OUR NEW STANDARD

BETTER EDUCATED YOUTH

GEDs attained each year From 15 to 75

Youth enrolled in postsecondary education From 100 to 200

[1]

[2]

College scholarships From 30 to 90

[3]

MORE YOUTH WITH CAREERS

Youth completing our employment training program From 110 to 330

YouthForce day labor enrollment From 200 to 400 PER YEAR

[4]

[5]

Youth who maintain a living wage job for 3 months From 175 to 350

[6]

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

We are committed to ending youth homelessness, not just interrupting the cycle for a short while. Stable housing is the foundation. Counseling that helps kids heal from trauma comes next.

Education and employment will make a lasting, life-long difference. We’ve learned over 30 years that it’s not enough to put someone in a classroom—they need to complete their education. It’s not enough to give someone a job—they need careers.

The Growth Campaign supports new, intensive college and career readiness programming built upon research, evidence and evaluation. We’re working with experienced, proven partners like Sylvan Learning Centers, Outward Bound and UCSF to deepen our work and give young people the skills and tools they need to be educated and employed for life.

It’s crucial that every young person feels safe and welcome when they walk through our doors. That means giving them the best physical environment and the most beneficial interactions with our staff, every time.

We’ve made it a priority to invest deeper in technology and bricks-and-mortar facilities. We moved programming and administration under one roof to a new location on Golden Gate Avenue—including our Drop-In Center, Medical Center and the Larkin Street Academy—creating opportunities for stronger collaboration, with room to grow and adapt. We’re transforming our housing into sites where learning takes place, and we’re upgrading our technology in our classrooms and offices.

We want every young person who turns to us for help to know that they’re wrapped in support.

MORE.

OUR YOUTHDESERVE THE BEST.

WE’RE GIVING THEM

I had no clue what life was about or where to go. With Larkin Street’s help I passed the GED, graduated from college and now work full

time as a counselor helping young people.

Larkin Street invested so much in me. Now I have my own apartment, am paying my bills, working hard and saving money.

-Janelle, Larkin Street alum

Look around. Every day you read another article about the affordability crisis in our city or about opportunities closing down for young people. The Larkin Street Growth Campaign addresses this reality head-on.

We’re pushing ourselves further so that homeless youth who come to us for help can reach their potential. When we’re all in, that potential is unlimited. -Sherilyn Adams, Executive Director

Larkin Street Youth Services is proud of our 30-year history of fiscal responsibility.The Growth Campaign will fund

Strategic Initiatives: $10 millionExpand our education and employment model $4.5 millionExpand case management, behavioral health services, and advocacy $2.6 millionInvest in technology and staff infrastructure $1.3 millionInvest in facilities $1.8 million

Ongoing Operations: $15 million Operating support required to sustain essential services $5 million x 3 years

The $25 million Growth Campaign makes a deeper impact for homeless youth todayand sustains our work for years to come.

Let’s join together to make an impact, not just for now. Forever.

BOLD STEPS TODAY MAKEA LONG-TERM DIFFERENCE

TOGETHER WE CAN HELP HOMELESS YOUTH GAIN INDEPENDENCE FOR LIFE We all want the best for the children in our lives: a good school, good jobs, health and happiness. The young people who come to Larkin Street deserve no less. They’ve been thrown off track by bad situations, but they remain resilient and capable of great things.

DONATE TODAY! Your financial contribution to the Larkin Street Growth Campaign helps more young people stay off the streets, meet the challenges of adulthood, and create independent, self-directed futures.

To make a pledge, contact our Chief Development OfficerKathie Lowry(415) 673-0911 ext. 301klowry@larkinstreetyouth.org

Or visitlarkinstreetyouth.org to learn more.

RAISING EXPECTATIONS. RAISING OUR STANDARDS.RAISING HOPE.

KEEPING KIDS OFF THE STREET FOR GOOD

134 Golden Gate AvenueSan Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 673-0911

LARKINSTREETYOUTH.ORG

MISSION Larkin Street Youth Services’ mission is to create a continuum of services

that inspires youth to move beyond the streets. We will nurture potential, promote dignity, and

support bold steps by all.

INVOLVEDDONATE

VOLUNTEERHIRE AN INTERN

TAKE A TOUR

GET

OUR CHALLENGENo single profile exists for homeless youth, but the majority share histories of abuse and neglect, often followed by difficult experiences in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Estranged from their families and distrustful of official support, they can be reluctant to access basic emergency care or health care services for substance abuse and mental health. Those who have run away from a foster care or group-home placement are afraid of being turned in. As a result, they are one of the hardest to reach segments of the homeless population.

When mental illness goes undiagnosed and untreated, homeless youth are more likely to access crisis services requiring institutionalization. Their ability to stabilize and rebuild their lives is limited. Without timely and comprehensive intervention, they are at risk of becoming San Francisco’s next generation of chronically homeless adults.

OUR SOLUTIONSJust like any good parent, Larkin Street knows that young people need support in all areas of their lives in order to develop into productive, contributing, and self-sufficient members of our community. Our current expansion, funded by the Growth Campaign, puts a more intense focus on each youth we serve.

Behavioral Health Services. We’re increasing the amount of individualized support we provide. We’re putting each youth in contact with a case manager every week—supporting goals, dealing with setbacks, and promoting individualized progress—which helps them improve their external circumstances and their overall wellbeing. We have begun integrating behavioral health services, including proven-effective interventions, across our entire continuum of care. Growth Campaign funds will be used for:

Providing more timely and individualized one-on-one support and therapy by expanding our case management program. Hiring and training more specialized staff to strengthen mental health, substance abuse, and housing services.

Youth Advocacy. We’re putting a stronger emphasis on bringing youth voices into our public policy and advocacy efforts. Empowering young people to engage with their community helps them create a better future for themselves. The Growth Campaign allocates funds for:

Strengthening the Youth Advisory Board to develop youth leadership, increase peer advocacy, and influence policy. Hiring a Director of Public Policy to work with legislators on changing and improving the policies that impact homeless youth.

OUR GOALRaise $2.6 million to expand case management, behavioral health services, and advocacy.

To learn more and pledge your support, contact Kathie Lowry at(415) 673-0911 ext. 301or visit larkinstreetyouth.org

SAVINGLIVES

CHANGINGLIVES

OUR CHALLENGEAs income inequality gets more entrenched, a young person with only a GED is often just one paycheck away from homelessness. Evidenceshows that today’s bachelor’s degree is yesterday’s high school diploma. Employers expect entry-level applicants to have at least two years ofcollege, but tougher educational standards in the Bay Area make a high-school diploma or GED harder to attain.

OUR SOLUTIONSHelping homeless youth make educational progress and training them for today’s job market is the key to creating long-term, independent housing solutions—a top priority of the Larkin Street Growth Campaign. Larkin Street Academy: Whether a young person is taking the very first steps off the streets or has entered into one of our long-term housing sites, the Larkin Street Academy builds skills, character, and confidence, and guides homeless youth toward sustainable adult independence. The components of the Larkin Street Academy include our Engagement Programs and our Advanced Programs.

Engagement Programs: Young people living on the street or in one of Larkin Street’s emergency shelters need structure, skills, and counseling to help them move up to our transitional living programs. Engagement programs afford access to YouthForce (day labor), tutoring, GED preparation, an Employment Training Program, and education and employment counseling. These programs help youth take initial steps toward longer-term goals and prepare them for the rigors of Larkin Street’s integrated housing programs.

Advanced Programs: Once a young person is housed in one of Larkin Street’s 24-month transitional living programs, they are expected to work diligently toward their education and employment goals. Larkin Street supports post-secondary success and living-wage employment through:

The Learning Center, a six-month, structured, blended learning environment that combines academic instruction, career-based learning, outdoor experiential education, and Mindfulness practice. This first-of- its-kind program for homeless youth accelerates college- and career-readiness.

College Success is a system of supports to help young people prepare for post-secondary programs and stick with them. An eight-week Bridge Academy introduces youth to the rigors and benefits of post-secondary education, including scholarships, academic tutoring, and mentors.

Career-Track Internships give young people paid opportunities to explore the world of work in employment sectors with high potential for a living wage and long-term sustainability.

OUR GOALRaise $4.5 million to expand our education and employment programs.

To learn more and pledge your support, contact Kathie Lowry at(415) 673-0911 ext. 301or visit larkinstreetyouth.org

MOREDIPLOMAS

BETTERCAREERS

OUR CHALLENGEEvery time a young person walks into our facilities or interacts with a staff person, we want them to know they are valued. That means we have to be at our best as an organization, too. Maintaining a healthy, efficient, up-to-date organization requires constant diligence. As we implement important, comprehensive changes to our case management, education, employment and youth advocacy programs, we must back that up with a stronger, more efficient infrastructure.

To give young people the attention they need to heal and thrive, our classrooms, technology, and staff support systems need attention too.

OUR SOLUTIONSWe have made upgrading our physical environment and technology a priority of the Larkin Street Growth Campaign. Better classrooms, state-of-the art technology, and efficient in-house systems will lead to better outcomes for the youth we serve.

Under One Roof. Larkin Street recently moved several program sites and our administrative offices to a new location on Golden Gate Avenue. Bringing all of this together allows for deeper engagement among our programs, better collaboration among departments, and the space to think big about our future. Agency-wide, we’re investing in strategic improvements to enhance our life-saving work:

Strengthening our electronic case management system to improve the way we interact with and support each young person we help.

Providing state of the art technology for our youth and staff.

Continuing to develop our new hub of programs at the Golden Gate Avenue location.

Upgrading our residential facilities to make them better places for learning.

OUR GOALRaise $3.1 million to invest in technology, staff infrastructure,and facilities.

To learn more and pledge your support, contact Kathie Lowry at(415) 673-0911 ext. 301or visit larkinstreetyouth.org

HEALTHYORGANIZATION

HEALTHYYOUTH

YES!I WANT TO MAKE AN IMPACT. This pledge helps Larkin Street expand programs and services that help youth off the streets and on the path toward healthy, productive, independent lives.

I / we pledge $_________ to the Larkin Street Growth Campaign. This pledge will be paid over a period of ☐ 1 / ☐ 2 / or ☐ 3 years,beginning with my/our first gift on [date] ______________________.

Please send reminders ☐ annually/ ☐ semi-annually/ ☐ quarterly.

My / our gift will be paid via: ☐ cash / ☐ stock*/ ☐ other* / ☐ electronic funds transfer (EFT)* / ☐ check, payable to Larkin Street Youth Services.

*For information on making stock gifts, and gifts other than cash, contact Kathie Lowry: 415-673-0911, ext. 301, orklowry@larkinstreetyouth.org

Please designate my/our gift toward:☐ No restriction ☐ Case management, behavioral health services, & advocacy☐ Facilities ☐ Education and employment☐ Technology and staff infrastructure

All gifts to the Growth Campaign will be publicly acknowledged in our Annual Report and online at larkinstreetyouth.org ☐ For recognition purposes, please list my/our name(s) as: __________________________ ___________________________☐ I (we) wish to remain anonymous.

This pledge is given ☐ in memory of / OR ☐ in honor of: _______________________________________________________Please notify ____________________________ at this address: _______________________________________________________

☐ I would like information about including Larkin Street in my Legacy Planning

Please complete your pledge with the following: Name ____________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________City __________________________ State ____ Zip ______________Home / cell phone ________________________________________ Work phone _______________________________________________ Email _____________________________________________________

Signature _____________________________ Date _______________Signature _____________________________ Date _______________

Thank you for your generous support!