At The Village Family Services, our Street Outreach Team is often the first point of contact for young people experiencing homelessness. Their work is tireless, compassionate, and deeply human. It means long hours – boots-on-the-ground, four to five hours a day – building trust with youth who need a safe place, a hot meal, or just someone to listen without judgement. We sat down with Julio and Robert (Bobby) to learn more about what drives them, the challenges they face, and the moments that stay with them after the workday ends.
Julio: I’ve been with The Village since November 2024. I started as a travel escort for unaccompanied children through our Unaccompanied Minor Foster Care program. Currently, I work as a Street Outreach Specialist and go out into the community to let young people know about our services and provide support. I’ve always seen myself as a protector, and for a long time I thought I’d be a teacher working with youth. Before joining The Village,
Robert: I’ve been here for eight years. I started as a peer specialist, and now I’m an Outreach Specialist. What I love about this role is that I don’t have to wait for youth to walk into our Drop-In Center, I get to go out and meet them where they are. That means being present in places others might not think to look and connecting through word of mouth. Every week, we’re placing three to five youth into emergency shelters. That immediate response is life-changing.
Julio: There’s one young person who stands out. He had been staying behind a 7-Eleven. Through our work together, he found out, almost by accident, that he was an American citizen. That discovery unlocked opportunities for him, and now he’s about to get his own place. Seeing that journey, from surviving outside to preparing for stable housing, is something I’ll never forget.
Bobby: For me, it’s anytime I meet a youth who has a pet. Their dogs are the friendliest, most sociable animals you’ll ever meet. You can see how much love and care they put into those relationships, even when they themselves are struggling. It’s a powerful reminder of their resilience and capacity to care for others.
Julio: At this age, blending in is everything. Youth experiencing homelessness will do their best to look like anyone else because they don’t want to stand out. Many people assume homelessness always looks a certain way, but that’s not true. About half of the youth we meet come from families where parents are also unhoused. Others stay here because this is where their community is, where their friends or family are.
Bobby: Our clients are diverse. Some are unemployed or out of school. Others are fully employed and attending classes. They’re everywhere in between. In fact, in Los Angeles County, a significant percentage of students experience homelessness. It’s not always visible, but it’s happening all around us.
Julio: The hardest part is when we can’t get a client housed the same day. You want to be able to offer immediate safety, but sometimes the system doesn’t allow it. And for undocumented youth, the barriers are even greater. That’s really tough to see.
Bobby: What keeps me going is knowing that, even when we can’t solve everything right away, we’re still building trust and making connections. Sometimes that first conversation is the beginning of a life-changing journey.
Julio: We get incredible support from our managers and supervisors. Knowing that leadership has our back makes all the difference when we’re out in the field.
