Youth Shelters & Family Services

Specialties

Youth Shelters and Family Services delivers life-​changing services to homeless, runaway, and in-​crisis youth in northern New Mexico by providing shelter and addressing health, safety, education, and workforce opportunities so they may lead independent and meaningful lives.

History

Established in 1980.

Youth Shelters and Family Services (YSFS) was established in 1980 by local residents concerned that children and young people in crisis and needing shelter had no alternative but to be taken to a juvenile detention facility. They were often escaping abusive or volatile home situations and were being punished when they needed support and a safe haven. The Youth Emergency Shelter offers a safe and nurturing alternative serving children ages 10−−16 for up to 30 days.

Youth Shelters provides shelter, transitional living, street outreach, counseling, case management, and life skills support to homeless, runaway, and in-​crisis youth. Over the years, YSFS has developed five programs and one initiative:

— Youth Emergency Shelter

— Transitional Living Program

— Street Outreach Program

— Access! Workforce and Training Community Collaborative

— Community Counseling Center

— Pregnant and Parenting Youth Initiative