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.

Temporary Shelter

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 boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 17, while Maya’s Place is for girls from 16 to 20. Both shelters have space for pregnant or parenting teens and are safe spaces for LGBTQ youth.

Teens can come to the shelters any time day or night. Youth can call the hotlines, speak to a Street Outreach worker, or ask for help from a police officer, guidance counselor, or other professional.

The most common reason for a teen coming to the shelter is a conflict with a parent or guardian, but teens come because they have been abandoned, are being trafficked, or have been living on the streets. The shelters are totally voluntary. Youth can stay up to 30 days, but can leave any time.

While at the Sanctuary or Maya’s Place, teens attend their regular school during the day and, after school, have counseling sessions, group meetings, recreation, trips, and chores. Our goal is to return teens to their families, but when that is not possible or advisable, we find a safe place for them to stay. Approximately 90% of the youth admitted to the shelters return to their parent or guardian with help to resolve future conflicts.

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

Maya’s Place Hotline: 718-583-2380

A Road to Independence

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).

Independent Apartments

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.

Change a child's life.