Street Outreach Program
The Street Outreach Team provides homeless youth access to services. The Team, made up of staff and volunteers, traverses the tri-county area each week, distributing Gateway brochures and information packets, as well as blankets, clothing, food, hygiene products, baby supplies, etc. The Outreach Team also comes prepared to take homeless youth directly to the shelter if they do not have a place to stay. The intent of our Street Outreach Program is to bring our services directly to youth in crisis instead of waiting for them to connect with us. It allows us to overcome hurdles that may prevent a connection. The Team visits community centers, parks, schools, malls, and other places youth might gather. We provide crisis intervention services to individuals, youth, and families when a youth accepts our services, or there is a critical need placing youth at risk for running away or becoming homeless. We work with emergency shelter staff for intake and assessment.
- The team distributes basic supplies, such as clothing, first aid, and hygiene products.
- We replenish basic supplies, contact sheets, business logs, brochures and pocket cards as needed.
- The team completes the SOP log on the computer after each shift. Contact sheets and business logs are turned in at end of each shift.
For those who may not be interested in going into the community as described above, but would still like to be part of the Street Outreach Program, here are some additional ways you can support Gateway Youth Services:
- Volunteer: find out ways you may be able to volunteer by contacting the main office at (517) 882-4000 or email Quinn at Quinn@childandfamily.org.
- Research homeless issues with your friends and family to help others understand the problem as it relates to your community and the efforts of Gateway Youth Services.
- Hold a non-perishable food drive in your neighborhood or community and/or collect clothing, hygiene supplies, blankets, first aid supplies, etc. to give to our youth on the street.
- Hold a benefit to raise money for runaway, homeless, and struggling youth.
- Notify us of a business that would like to donate or provide services to Gateway Youth Services.
Your group can donate a hygiene kit!
Hygiene Kit List (*essential items)
- Travel-size bottles of *shampoo, *body wash/soap, *toothpaste, lotion, *sunscreen, first aid kit
- *Toothbrush (SOFT)
- *Granola Bar and other small snack
- Small comb or comb/brush set
- *Hand wipes and hand sanitizer (small)
- *Small bottle of Water
- White comfortable socks (standard size women’s/men’s
- For Women: personal hygiene products
- For Men: Razor
- Gift card to local fast food ($5)
- Place all supplies in individual gallon-sized Ziploc bags for individual use.
All donations can be dropped off at the Child and Family Charities main offices: 4287 Five Oaks Drive, Lansing, MI 48911. Or if you need a pick-up of the donations, contact the main office at (517)882-4000.
.png)
