Gateway Community Services - Street Outreach
Street Outreach is a program designed to find homeless youth on the streets and bring our services to them. The Street Outreach team, made up of staff and volunteers, traverses the tri-county area each week, bringing along Gateway brochures and information packets, as well as more tangible goods like blankets, clothes, food, hygiene products, etc. The Street Team also comes prepared to take homeless youth directly to the shelter if they do not have a place to stay that night.
The intent of Street Outreach is to bring our services directly to youth in crisis, instead of waiting for them to come to us. This now gives us the ability to expand our services by going to the youth in their spaces to target those we miss due to hurdles that keep them from coming into ours. Thus the Street Team is constantly going to places like community centers, parks, schools, malls, etc. to try and find youth in crisis. The Street Team hits the streets Monday through Friday from 4pm to 8pm and also can be found at community events (see the calendar below for upcoming events at which the Street Team will be present).
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The Gateway Street Team
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Visit Street Outreach @
 
Project SafeZone is another aspect of the Street Outreach Program that allows us to connect with local area businesses. Businesses that choose to partner with Gateway can become 'SafeZones' and will display the logo to the left. Any place with a SafeZone logo in the window is a safe place to stay and ask for help. These businesses will have Gateway promotional materials and a direct line to the Street Team in order to get help for any youth that requests it.
Youth homelessness is a community problem, and by including local businesses in our program, we are allowing the entire community to help pitch in on our effort to end youth homelessness. If you are a local business owner interested in having your business become a SafeZone, please contact our Street Outreach Coordinator Ashleigh MacLachlan at amaclachlan@gatewayservices.org.
Click here to view a list of all Gateway SafeZones
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Street Team Event Calendar
Look for the Street Outreach Team at these upcoming community events!
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September 30, 2010 - SOP Open House- tour our Youth Home! 6-8pm
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October 2, 2010 - SOP Open House- tour our Youth Home! 10am-12pm
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How Can I Help???
Like many of Gateway's programs, Street Outreach utilizes the skills and talents of volunteers and interns. Volunteers go out on the streets with the Street Team during the week, handing out Gateway promotional materials and other goods to youth in the area. Please read below for a desciption of Street Outreach volunteer positions:
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Part time hours, M-F, 4-8pm. (Sometimes weekend events.)
Under the supervision of the SOP Manager, meet with youth out in public to provide information, referrals and services to runaway, homeless and at-risk youth, and make follow-up contact with these youth when possible.
Build relationships with local community businesses who can help us identify geographic areas to reach out to these youth.
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. Work with emergency shelter staff for intake and assessment.
Distribute basic needs supplies, such as clothing, first aid supplies and hygiene products.
Replenish basic needs supplies, contact sheets, business logs, brochures and pocket cards as needed. Keep backpack organized
Complete SOP Log on computer after each shift. Turn in contact sheets and business logs at end of each shift.
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Street Team Volunteers and Interns
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For those that may not be interested in going out in 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 Community Services:
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 Community 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.
Have a meal or other 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 Community Services.
OR, bring us your idea of a way to help.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or intern for Street Outreach, please contact Street Outreach Coordinator Ashleigh MacLachlan at amaclachlan@gatewayservices.org.
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