Larkin Street Youth Services – Paving the Way Gala – March 14, 2014
Paving the Way, now in its twelfth year, raises critical funds for San Francisco’s most vulnerable homeless and at risk youth ages 12-24. Since 2003, this annual gala has raised over $6.3 million to benefit Larkin Street’s twenty-five housing, education, job assistance and medical programs. Donor funds directly benefit the thousands of youth who Larkin Street serves and supports their homeless and in transition youth services. Three out of four of the youth who complete Larkin Street’s comprehensive programs exit street life.
History of Larkin Street Youth Services
In the early 1980s, residents, businesspeople, and social service providers in San Francisco’s Polk Gulch began to notice that there were many youth living on the streets in their neighborhood. For various reasons, these young people had nowhere to live. They also had no way to survive without resorting to theft, prostitution, or the drug trade. So in 1984, members of the community decided to take action: they opened a Drop-In Center on Larkin Street to help homeless youth find a supportive and safe place, off the streets of San Francisco.
Over time, as the issues affecting homeless youth changed, Larkin Street evolved to address them. In 1988, Larkin Street added a peer-based substance abuse treatment program that allowed youth the opportunity to help other youth recover from drug use. Five years later, the organization opened the 16-bed Diamond Youth Shelter to provide safe temporary housing for young people who were resorting to sleeping on the streets. Shortly afterward, Larkin Street expanded their outreach services with their Haight Street Referral Center and opened their Avenues to Independence transitional living program. In 1997, Larkin Street opened the nation’s first comprehensive housing program for HIV+ youth, named Assisted Care. More organizational growth followed in concert with their Strategic Plan, which guided their addition of other housing programs and employment services.
Today, what was once the original Larkin Street Drop-In Center has grown into the 25 youth programs delivered over 15 sites now operated by Larkin Street Youth Services. They give youth more than just temporary respite from life on the streets. They give them the tools they need—through housing, medical care, education, and job training—to permanently reclaim their lives.
A Legacy of Success
For nearly 30 years, Larkin Street Youth Services has built a robust continuum of care to help homeless youth get off the streets. They are a pioneer organization in their field and their achievements are significant: there is no other agency in San Francisco—and few nationwide—who offer a similar breadth of services with comparable results.
Upcoming Project – Edward II Project
The Edward II project a collaboration between Larkin Street Youth Services and Community Housing Partnership – will provide youth ages 18 to 24 with 24 units of safe, clean and affordable housing at a site in San Francisco’s Marina/Cow Hollow Districts, formerly known as the Edward II Hotel. In addition to housing, services for the young people will be provided both on this site as well as through Larkin Street’s existing education and employment programs.
Special Guests at the Gala
Brad Webb – Owner USA 76 & Member ORACLE Team USA
Harris Barton – Former San Francisco 49er & Super Bowl Champion
Mark Buell – Civic Leader
Milt Seropan – The J. Milton Seropan Co.
Norbert Bajurin – Golden Gate Yacht Club