In a monumental next step for our organization and the young people we are so honored to serve, Homeless Youth Alliance is proud to announce that we are now occupying the site of the historic Haight Ashbury Free Clinic full time!
A Tradition of Providing Aid to Those in Need
Like the famous neighborhood itself, the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic boasts a legacy of embracing and assisting those in need, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or ability to pay. Founded in 1967, this site was the home to the first free clinic in the entire country and served tens of thousands of individuals annually before finally closing its doors in 2019. Since then, HYA has been carrying the tradition forward part-time, using the Clinic to host our all-ages drop-in every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening, serving up to 280 individuals in a two-hour period. During these sessions, we offer free medical care, mental health services, hot meals, hygiene products, warm clothes, harm-reduction supplies, and other essentials to people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco. With HYA now occupying the entire space full time, we will be able to host our Tuesday-Thursday youth-only drop-in at the Free Clinic, as well.
Exciting Changes Are in Store for HYA and Our Participants This announcement is just the first in a series of exciting changes Homeless Youth Alliance has in store over the coming months! These changes truly will have a profound impact on our organization and our participants’ lives. Ever since we lost the lease on our full-time drop-in site in 2013, HYA has operated as a hybrid organization, reaching our participants via street outreach and pop-up locations. Taking over the former site of the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic will help to centralize our operations so that our dedicated staff can spend more of their time working directly with participants and less of their day transporting supplies among various locations. Further centralizing our activities also will make it easier for our folks to find us when they need us.
Our Donors Make It Possible Of course, none of this would be possible without the generous, ongoing support of our Homeless Youth Alliance donors, whose contributions make a real difference in the lives of young people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco. Too often, young people fall through the cracks of a homelessness services system centered around adults and families. This is tragic not only for the present reality of young people unable to access the services they need and deserve, but also because empirical research has demonstrated time and again that early interventions can be very effective in preventing young people living on the streets from experiencing chronic homelessness as adults. To support our mission and the young people we serve, please make a donation HERE. You can also help make a difference by spreading the word about Homeless Youth Alliance and our services among your personal and professional networks. |
