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Dr. Mike Toohey, a psychiatrist who worked with HYA for many years, developed his own icebreaker for group sessions with HYA kids. “I start off by asking, ‘Who came here for the free love?’” he says. “Almost every hand goes up. They need love—unconditional love, love that doesn’t cost anything—because it was never given to them.”
Haight Ashbury has become an international destination for youth who come seeking refuge from abusive families, alienating foster care and group home situations, and juvenile justice system involvement. However, Haight Ashbury does not always provide the relief they’ve sought. These homeless young people encounter constant threats to both their physical and mental health while on the streets.
HYA provides a sanctuary for homeless youth, ages 13-29, who find themselves in Haight Ashbury and Golden Gate Park. Most homeless youth service providers in San Francisco rely on a strict series of rules and top-down imposed goals for their clients. While these goals have helped many homeless youth transition off the streets, there are still many who are unable to fit the rigid set of rules enforced by well-meaning but out-of-touch case workers, most of whom have never been through any of the things they are so readily giving advice about.
HYA reaches out to these youth who fall through the cracks, and lets them know that they have a home at HYA. HYA’s participants, the most “hard-core” subset of homeless youth in San Francisco, access medical and mental health services, harm-reduction education, and referrals in a safe and non-judgmental environment. Most of HYA’s outreach staff has personal experience with homelessness and addiction, and so are able to connect more deeply and honestly with Haight Ashbury’s homeless youth.
MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 170427 San Francisco, CA 94117 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LINE 415-565-1941 OUTREACH COUNSELORS LINE 415-565-1943 PARTICIPANT LINE 415-565-1942 FAX LINE 415-565-1945 STREET ADDRESS FOR DROP IN 1696 Haight Street STREET ADDRESS FOR NEEDLE EXCHANGE 584 Cole Street