Sanctuary provides runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth between the ages of 12-21 with counseling; crisis intervention,
and short-term emergency housing. Sanctuary’s programs include:
An Independent Living Skills Program, Family Social Work Program, Runaway Program, Host Home Program, the 24 hour Huntington Hotline, a volunteer Advisory Board, an Anger Management Group, a Divorce Group and vari
ous other counseling groups. Funding for Sanctuary is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Suffolk County Youth Bureau, and the Town of Huntington. Independent Living Skills Program:
Young people, between the ages of 16-21, who are either living independent of their parent(s)/guardians(s), or may face a situation in which they will have to do so, work individually with Sanctuary Staff. In this program, youth will be able to develop a sense of self and will learn the skills necessary to make appropriate, healthy and responsible decisions. Sanctuary can assist youth in seeking employment & housing; accessing medical care, transportation and community resources; and learning valuable skills, such as budgeting, home management, decision-making and communication skills. All of our services are confidential and free of cost for all Town of Huntington residents. If you can answer “yes” to any of the questions below and you are between the ages of 16 and 21, Sanctuary may be able to help you.
• Are you currently living on your own?
• Has your family asked you to leave?
• Do you live with your friend’s family and feel
you need to move on?
• Do you often wonder if you’ll be able to pay
your rent? Family Social Work Program:
The family social work program which helps youth between the ages of 12-21 and their families includes family counseling which can help family members learn to communicate more effectively with one another, as well as. The family is assisted in identifying problems and strengthening the family unit. This program also provides crisis intervention and preventative services to at-risk/runaway/homeless youth and their families. Mediation, if appropriate, is provided in order to maintain a safe and stable home environment. If this is not an option, temporary shelter to best meet the needs of the young person may be arranged. If you can answer “yes” to any of the questions below and you are between the ages of 12 and 21, Sanctuary may be able to help you.
• Are you frustrated with your home life and wish your family got along better?
• Do members of your family sometimes find it difficult to talk to each other?
• Has there been a recent change in your family that has created tension or high stress?
• Is there a youth in the family who is between the ages of 12 and 21? Runaway Program:
Sanctuary’s Runaway program works with youth between the ages of 12-21 who have runaway and/or are homeless or at risk of running away and/or becoming homeless. The counselors at Sanctuary are available to meet with youth and help them sort out the many conflicting feelings they might have. If a youth has already run away from home and has nowhere to go, Sanctuary may be able to help them find a safe place to stay. Sanctuary’s counselors are experienced in working with runaway and homeless youth and will work hard to give them the help that they need. If you can answer “yes” to any of the questions below and you are between the ages of 12 and 21, Sanctuary may be able to help you.
• Have you ever run away from home?
• Are you thinking about running away?
• Do you feel as though your family doesn’t
understand you?
• Do you sometimes feel like you need to talk
with an adult who can understand you? Host Home Program:
Host Homes are voluntary families that provide temporary shelter to youth experiencing crisis with their family of origin. A typical stay is one or two nights with a maximum stay of 21 days. Placement of a youth in a Host Home provides an opportunity for the youth and his or her family to have a “cooling off” period. The Host Home program keeps youth who run away in their community, while providing compassionate and professional assistance to their families. This program gives a strong message that our community members do care and are willing to extend their generosity to those in need. The goal of this program is to work toward reconciliation for the youth and his or her family. This service is provided by highly qualified counseling staff. Huntington Hotline:
The 24 hour a day Huntington Hotline provides crisis counseling, referrals and information to youth and families in the Town of Huntington. This service is free, anonymous, and confidential and is available 365 days a year. To access the Huntington Hotline, call (631)549-8700. Anonymous online counseling is also available at www.licconline.org. Advisory Board
A group of committed community members volunteer to participate in an advisory capacity to Sanctuary’s Project Director on the concerns of runaway and homeless youth in the Town of Huntington. Sanctuary’s Advisory Board has produced the Youth Yellow Pages, a directory of services for youth in the Town of Huntington.
