County Legislature Lauds OCO Street Outreach Team

OSWEGO – Oswego County Opportunities (OCO) Crisis and Development Services, and its Youth Emergency Services program (YES!) have provided assistance to hundreds of homeless youth throughout Oswego County.

In recognition of Youth Homeless Outreach Prevention Month (HOPE) the Oswego County Legislature honored OCO’s Street Outreach Team for its dedication to uplifting those in  need and strengthening the entire community by fostering understanding, reducing barriers, and promoting the well-being of all residents.

OCO’s Street Outreach Team connects and builds relationships with runaway and homeless youth to ensure that they have the information and support services needed to assist them in moving off the streets and adjusting to safe and appropriate living arrangements.

Through OCO’s Street Outreach Team youth have regular interaction with responsible, caring adults with whom they can build trusting relationships, and who will help them to connect with treatment, counseling, emergency shelter, community services and development opportunities so they can improve behavioral and physical health and make healthy choices about where they live and how they behave.

“Acting as a bridge to engage youth in services they may not be aware of, or are reluctant to seek, the Street Outreach Team provides street involved youth with information about services that are available to them and offers them the assistance they need to address their unique situation,” said Program Coordinator Ellen Lazarek.

Last year OCO’s Street Outreach Team and Runaway and Homeless counselors/advocates identified and provided outreach to 629 runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth and distributed more than 500 emergency supplies and basic needs such as food and clothing.

In addition to its Street Outreach Program, OCO operates the only youth shelter and transitional living program for runaway and homeless youth in the County. The Youth Emergency Services (YES!) Shelter is a temporary shelter certified by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. Youth up to age 18 who are homeless, runaway, or in an otherwise unsafe situation, can utilize our program and services for up to 21 days and know that they will be safe and find refuge in a home-like environment.

“Without the intervention of our Street Outreach Team, street youth are likely to engage in crime, prostitution, survival sex, drug dealing, and shoplifting to survive, added Lazarek. “The services of the Street Outreach Team ensures that youth have the opportunity to build a positive future.”

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