The Erie County Youth Bureau serves as the coordinating entity which administers NYS OCFS funding and oversight and coordinates services for runaway and homeless youth in Erie County. The Youth Bureau Executive Director is the Runaway and Homeless Youth Coordinator for Erie County.
Currently, Erie County funds two agencies which serve this population. Both are certified by OCFS to provide residential services:
- Compass House Emergency Shelter and Resource Center: Our mission is to provide runaway, homeless and street youth with safe shelter and services, through a voluntary and mutually agreed-upon process, in an environment that supports dignity, respect and self-reliance. We serve approximately 300 youth at our shelter annually and an additional 300 youth at our Resource Center.
- Emergency Shelter: 370 Linwood Avenue, Buffalo NY 14209
- 24 Hour Crisis Line (716) 886-0935
- Resource Center: 1451 Main Street, Buffalo NY 14209 (716) 884-3066
- Plymouth Crossroads Transitional Independent Living Program: To provide residential supports for runaway and
homeless males 16-20, in an atmosphere supporting the dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency of each youth.- Shelter: 3566 Clinton St, West Seneca, New York 14224
- (716) 393-3906
Resources for Youth
- TXT 4 HELP: If you're in trouble or need help, text SAFE and your current location (address/city/state) to 69866
- TXT 4 HELP is a nationwide service offered by National Safe Place to help teens connect to the closest location where they can get immediate help and safety. They'll text you back the address of the nearest Safe Place site and contact number for the local youth shelter. Within that same message you'll receive a prompt that says, "reply with 2CHAT for more help." Once you reply with 2CHAT, you'll be connected with a professional for more help.
National Safe Place: http://nationalsafeplace.org
- TXT 4 HELP is a nationwide service offered by National Safe Place to help teens connect to the closest location where they can get immediate help and safety. They'll text you back the address of the nearest Safe Place site and contact number for the local youth shelter. Within that same message you'll receive a prompt that says, "reply with 2CHAT for more help." Once you reply with 2CHAT, you'll be connected with a professional for more help.
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TEXT 211: Western New York has a quick answer to your needs and questions! You can call or text 211 about a wide range of circumstances, and they'll work with you to help you find a solution fast! They help with food, housing, utilities, clothing, legal aid, literacy, transportation, substance abuse, child care, senior issues, disability information, mental health, health care, and volunteer opportunities.
- Safe Space - Best Self Behavioral Health
- What is Safe Space? It is exactly what sounds like, it is a safe space that is specifically for Transition Aged Youth (TAY). It’s a protected place for them to drop in and is for individuals who are homeless or temporarily displaced. We have security and support staff here overnight from 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. Our guests can get a hot meal, take a shower, wash their clothes, watch television and play video games. This is not a shelter therefore we do not have beds, however we do have a sensory room, blankets, and comfortable chairs available.
- Anyone who comes to Safe Space will have access to all our services that are available through ClubWest. It is not a requirement and no formal process is required, but if guests are interested in further services, they can receive counseling as well as access to peer services. Safe Space is now open 7 days a week.
- Safe Space Location: 1050 Niagara Street Buffalo, NY 14213 Phone: 716-566-1870