On a single night in January 2015, there were 2,493 homeless teens on the streets of New York State. And that’s not including the thousands of kids who couch surf or spend some nights on the streets because they don’t feel safe at home.

Children’s Village operates a number of programs to get these teens off the streets, give them temporary shelter, and help them on a path to a safe living situation.

Children’s Village operates Maya’s Place in the Bronx and The Sanctuary in Westchester County. Both are  warm, inviting homes that offer safe alternatives to frightening and dangerous nights on the streets.

The Sanctuary welcomes all youth under the age of 18, including pregnant teens, space is available, and support is provided.

Youth can come to the shelter at any time, day or night. Our hotline is available 24/7 for support/referrals. While parents, guardians, or providers may call on a young person’s behalf, our staff must speak directly with the youth, as entering the shelter is entirely their choice.

Most teens come to the Sanctuary due to conflict with a parent or guardian. While here, they are in a therapeutic environment and receive comprehensive support through case management, individual counseling, group sessions, and recreational programming- all designed to meet their needs and promote healing.

The program is completely voluntary, and youth may choose to leave at any time.

Sanctuary Hotlines: 1-888-997-1583 or 1-877-540-7680

Maya’s Place Hotline: 718-583-2380

Victory House in the Bronx and Life’s Bridges in Westchester County provide shared apartments and support for homeless youth. Young people can stay for up to 18 months while they attend school, work, and save for their own apartments. Victory House is a center-based program that is home to young women, including those who are pregnant or parenting. Life’s Bridges, which is open to young men and women, provides both center-based apartments and apartments scattered throughout neighborhoods.

In July 2017, our partner Westhab  opened a beautiful new building in Yonkers called BAY House (Bruce Avenue Youth House), which is providing shared apartments for 16 young men and women as part of our Life’s Bridges Program.  This $3.2 million housing development is the first of its kind in Westchester County and was made possible with funding provided by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (HHAP).

In 2017, Children’s Village opened a new building in Harlem at 127th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. that features 60 affordable apartments. A unique aspect of the building is the designation of 12 studio apartments on the top two floors for young people aging out of foster care or at risk of homelessness. These are independent apartments, not supported housing. To be eligible for a studio apartment, residents must be working and able to afford the minimum rent of $167 per month.

Through private funding, we provide supportive services to the young residents to help them with budgeting, work, and education issues.

One of the residents, Miranda, has been in foster care since she was 14. Learn more about her.

Completed in June 2024, The Eliza is CV’s latest building development and brings 174 beautiful,  deeply affordable apartments to a desirable neighborhood in the Inwood community, alongside a 20,000 square-foot NY Public Library branch, a Universal Pre-K facility, and the Activities, Culture, and Training (ACTS) Center, which offers a teaching kitchen, STEM/Robotics learning center, sensory room and other job training and cultural programs. There are designated apartments that have been set aside for young adults who are transitioning out of the foster care system.