About Los Angeles Youth Network (LAYN)
Founded in 1984, LAYN is the leading rehabilitative shelter for homeless youths under 18 in all of L.A. County. The numbers are difficult to track, but it has been estimated that between 10,000 and 15,000 homeless youths live on the streets of LA. There is a mistaken idea that street life is romantic and preferred by the youths, but our research shows this to be untrue. On the streets they fall victim to pimps and drug dealers. HIV/AIDS and other diseases and infections are constant threats.
“Squats,” where the youths live, under freeways or in abandoned buildings, are filthy and violent beyond belief. On the streets, these youth miss learning the basic tools for successful functioning in society. They often find themselves in trouble wherever they go. They are too volatile for foster homes, too disruptive for schools. They often end up in police custody. Their problems with institutions and authorities become chronic. If no one intervenes, they grow up to become welfare burdens at best. At worst they become criminals.
LAYN intervenes! We work with the most difficult of these chronic youth, the ones who have failed in other programs and have been labeled incorrigible. Over 82% of LAYN’s youth exit our program to live successfully with their families, in foster or group home placements, or independently.