Fondly referred to as LOP, the shelter program accepts children and youth who are:

• Homeless and/or runaway
• NM Children Youth and Families Department clients who are at risk of abuse or neglect
• Referred by Children’s Court
• In transition between residential programs
• Otherwise at risk

The state licensed program provides 12 beds with one additional emergency bed, in case a young person needs shelter in the middle of the night. On any given night, there are 8-10 youth staying at the shelter. The shelter program’s license permits youth to stay up to 120 days, but the average stay is 30 days. As soon as young people arrive at the shelter, staff works hard to help young people find a more permanent living arrangement.

The shelter provides more than meals and a bed. As in all YSFS programs, life skill building is integral to the program’s effectiveness. Art projects, money management, First Aid/CPR and a weekly volunteer-run cooking class called Kids Can Cook are some examples of life skills development at the shelter.

The shelter is not a lock-down facility. Children and youth must sign a written agreement that they want to stay in the shelter. Written Guardian or Parental Consent is also required within 24 hours of admission.

“At YSFS we work with youth from a strength-based and youth development perspective rather than from a perspective that the young people who stay with us are ‘bad kids’ who have problems. For self-destructive or inappropriate behaviors, we use a harm reduction approach rather than a zero tolerance one.”

-LOP Shelter Program Director