Wanda Ascherl: Drop-in centers and street outreach
Ascherl describes eight drop-in centers with 24/7 borough coverage offering food, clothing, counseling, and referrals, plus street outreach teams engaging youth at known congregation sites six days per week.
DYCD's eight contracted drop-in centers are a safe place for LGBTQ plus youth and other young people to access essential resources such as food,
clothing, and hygiene supplies, alongside a wide range of supportive services, including counseling, educational and health workshops,
recreational programming, and referrals.
To additional services and shelter when needed.
Specialized staff, including housing navigators, financial coaches, peer navigators, and mental health clinicians work closely with young and young adults to help them identify goals
and take meaningful steps toward long-term stability and self-sufficiency.
To ensure accessibility, at least one drop-in center in every borough operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Our street outreach programs engage young people where they are, focusing on locations where runaway and homeless youth are known to congregate.
Outreach teams provide immediate support, information, safety planning, and connections to housing and other critical services.