Downtown Outreach Center & Shelter

Shelter for runaway and homeless youth, ages 15-20

Provides a critical service for homeless adults, 15-20 years old - a group that is too old to be in children's programs and often not comfortable about entering an adult program. The program is located on Fifth Avenue in the lower Hill Disctrict and provides safe shelter, meals, clothing, a free medical clinic.

Therapy groups are part of the daily structure for all clients, as are assigned chores. In addition, the young adults meet with their primary counselor on a bi-weekly basis to have their progress monitored. Needs that can't be met at the DOCS site are referred to other FamilyLinks programs - mental health, drug and alcohol, medical attention, transportation - or outside agencies. Because DOCS is one of the FamilyLinks programs that is designed to fill in social services gaps, most of its costs are underwritten by private funding.

Some of the items our DOCS Program is in great need of:

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