Safe Horizon's Streetwork Project Harm Reduction Program for Homeless Youth - Project Abstract
Project Title: Safe Horizon Streetwork Project Harm Reduction Program
Project Summary: The Streetwork Project will implement a three-year program to enhance access to critical harm reduction services among homeless young people ages 16-25 in New York City. Youth in this population are among the highest risk of developing substance use disorders (SUDs) and co-occurring disorders, including PTSD, major depression, and anxiety. At least 39% of target youth experience SUDs, which is at least twice the rate of stably housed young people individuals and 4x the rate of the general population. The program’s priority populations include LGBTQ+ youth and youth of color, with a focus on enhancing access and addressing behavioral health disparities experienced by transgender and gender non-conforming young people. Based on needs across multiple socioeconomic indicators of health, these youth experience multiple barriers in accessing harm reduction services to prevent SUDs and other infectious diseases.
The harm reduction program will enhance youth access and program capacity through a wide range of harm reduction services and supplies at Streetwork’s two Drop-In Centers. To implement the project, funding will support a Project Director, Peer Support Worker/Navigator, two Case Managers, a Supervising Social Work Trauma Therapist, and supervisory and quality assurance staff. This team will strengthen internal capacity to implement harm reduction services (develop a strategic action plan, policies and procedures, and a sustainability plan), uplift voices of survivors and individuals with lived experienced (hire a Peer Support Worker/Navigator and launch a youth-led Harm Reduction Advisory Council), distribute harm reduction supplies (safe sex kits, safe smoking kits, testing kits, naloxone kits, sharps disposal, syringe exchange, and fentanyl test strips), and provide harm reduction counseling and supportive services to support young people on their next steps. Project goals are to: (1) enhance Streetwork’s capacity to implement harm reduction services and reduce high-risk behaviors among youth at risk of SUDs; (2) increase youth knowledge, sense of empowerment, and ability to make informed choices related to substances and harm reduction resources available at Streetwork’s Drop-In Centers; and (3) promote access to harm reduction supplies and services at Streetwork’s Drop-In Centers, with a focus on LGBTQ+ youth and youth of color at risk of SUDs. Goals will be assessed across multiple measurable objectives for evaluation throughout the grant period.
The Project Director and Research Analyst will implement evaluation activities to assess the number of youth encountered, the number of individual referrals to support services, the number of individual linkages, the list of harm reduction materials purchased by grant funds, and evidence-based interventions implemented across the Streetwork community. This data will be reported to SAMHSA and assessed internally with the Harm Reduction Advisory Council to support continuous quality improvement efforts, which are guided by youth voices.
Number of People to Be Served Annually and Through the Lifetime of the Project: The grant will reach 120 per year and 360 through the lifetime of the grant.
