Homeless youth, many of whom have suffered at the hands of adults entrusted with their care, often refuse to seek refuge at shelters. A recent study confirmed what lead researcher Natasha Slesnick has seen in her two decades of work with homeless youth: Drop-in centers tailored to their needs and age are more effective.

Eighty percent of youth in the study who were encouraged to visit a drop-in center did so. Only 18 percent encouraged to visit a shelter did so. Instead, 30 percent of that group went to the drop-in center.

Research by Natasha Slesnick
Professor
Human Development and Family Science