• Homeless/run-aways/domestic violence/legal questions
     
    Shelter for adolescents or young adults
    Compass House 886-0935 (24 hour help-line) is a safe shelter for any teen under age 18 who needs a place to stay. Compass House also offers a resource center that supports and helps teens and young people under age 25.   
    Plymouth Crossroads 508-2121 or 393-3906 or 662-6985 offers support, counseling, skills training and longer residential options to young men between the ages of 16 and 20 who need transitional housing.
    The Franciscan Center 822-8017 or 886-0935 provides voluntary shelter for homeless and/or run-away males ages 16-21 with a maximum stay of 18 months.  Life skills, case management and counseling are provided. Residents are expected to work toward improving their lives while in the program. 
    The TRY Program 892-2814 is available for females ages 16-25 who are serious about rebuilding their lives after some trauma or difficulty. Residents must follow program rules and work toward goals while in the program. 
     
    Shelter and Support for those escaping violence
    Family Justice Center of Erie County helps victims of family violence (any age): 558-7233 (558-SAFE).  The center brings all services together under one roof including shelter service professionals, child care, support services, prosecutors, legal advocates, forensic medical professionals and others.   
    (Family Justice Center administration: 558-5272)
    Haven House provides shelter for individual victims and families of domestic violence: 884-6000 (24 hour hotline).
     
    Urgent Need is available for those in danger of becoming homelss due to the condition of their property. The New York State Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation (HHAC) http://www.otda.state.ny.us/main/contracts/2010/HHAP/ is authorized to provide grants and loans for the acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of properties in order to expand the supply of housing for low income persons who are, or would otherwise be, homeless. HHAC and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) will resume accepting applications for funding under the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP) after October 14, 2010. Call Ms. Colleen Salvagni 518-473-2529 for further inquiries.   
     
    Emergency Shelter call 858-6265 Erie County Department of Social Services
    Crisis Services Homelessness Emergency Helpline 835-6225 is available 24/7 for individuals and families who are homeless or are facing eviction. 
    Salvation Army Emergency Family Shelter 884-4798 provides temporary living accommodations and programs for individuals and families. Go to the center of the page and click on Emergency Family Shelter. Buffalo City Mission 854-8181 is helpful to homeless men, women and children. 
     
    Shelters for those of all ages are included in an Erie County listing.
    Western New York Homeless Coalition offers help and resources.
     
    Legal Issues for homeless school-age children and adolescents (including those not living in homes that may be available to them)  
    McKinney-Vento Act of 2002 defines the law that protects a student's right to an education when the student might be considered "homeless" or defined as temporarily homeless. Each school district is required to have a McKinney-Vento liaison who advocates for students in these difficult living situations. Students who are not living at home and have moved outside his/her district, may fall under this catagory and would be allowed to continue attending school within the original district (law also addresses transportation to and from school), or that student might choose to attend the school in the new district. 
    The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) describes the far-reaching outcomes of the McKinney Vento Act. 
    The McKinney-Vento Act is further described by wikipedia.
Last Modified on November 19, 2013