Street Outreach Program

Today, in communities across the country, young people are living on the streets after running from or being asked to leave homes characterized by abuse, neglect, or parental drug and alcohol abuse. Once on the streets, such youth are at risk of being sexually exploited or abused by adults for pleasure or profit. In addition, such youth may engage in shoplifting, survival sex, or drug dealing in order to provide for their basic needs. Since 1996, SOP has been aiding this population by funding grantees to provide street-based services to runaway, homeless, and street youth who have been subjected to, or are at risk of being subjected to, sexual abuse, prostitution, or sexual exploitation. These services, which are provided in areas where street youth congregate, are designed to assist such youth in making healthy choices regarding where they live and how they behave.