Larkin Street Youth Services' HIRE UP Program

The HIRE UP Education and Employment Center is located in San Francisco's Tenderloin District and houses staff and counseling offices, a resource library, classroom space, meeting rooms and study space and a computer laboratory. HIRE UP offers youth access to a broad array of educational and employment services intrinsically linked to LSYS' housing and case management services. The initiative has 6 separate but integrated components, each with separate but interrelated sets of activities and an individual name. The components focus on temporary employment, employment development training and educational services, and job placement. Youth may enroll in the components individually or consecutively, depending on needs, abilities, and preferences.

Larkin Street Youth Service's mission is "to create a continuum of services that inspires youth to move beyond the streets. We will nurture potential, promote dignity, and support bold steps for all." HIRE UP's mission is: "to provide homeless and runaway youth with an educational foundation and marketable skill set that will greatly increase their chances of progressing into an independent, productive adulthood."

During 2001, HIRE UP served 319 youth.
• 152 youth obtained work documents
• 72 completed the job readiness component
• 23 obtained their GED
• 22 enrolled in and completed one post-secondary course
• 85 obtained unsubsidized employment, with 28 retaining employment for six months.