Safe futures: empowering youth through shelter, support, and stability - the basic center program (BCP) (CY) provides temporary shelter and counseling services to youth who have left home without…

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) awarded County of Bergen $272,891 under the Basic Center Program (CFDA 93.623) on September 30, 2025, with a completion date of September 29, 2028. This three-year Project Grant funds emergency shelter and crisis intervention services for youth under 18 years of age experiencing homelessness or housing instability in Bergen County, New Jersey. The program provides up to 21 days of temporary shelter, food, clothing, counseling services, and health care referrals to runaway and homeless youth, including those who have left home without parental permission, been forced to leave home, or lack safe alternative living arrangements.

The funded services prioritize family reunification whenever safe to do so, while also identifying appropriate alternative placements when necessary. County of Bergen's Treasury Division administers this award as part of the county's comprehensive portfolio of youth-focused and homelessness prevention programs. The Basic Center Program operates as a community-based initiative designed to prevent youth from entering the law enforcement, child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems by addressing immediate shelter and support needs while simultaneously working to resolve family issues through counseling and case management services.

Safe futures: empowering youth through shelter, support, and stability - the basic center program (BCP) (CY) provides temporary shelter and counseling services to youth who have left home without permission of their parents or guardians, have been forced to leave home, or other homeless youth who might otherwise end up in the law enforcement or in the child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems. Bcps work to establish or strengthen community-based programs that meet the immediate needs of runaway and homeless youth and their families. Bcps provide youth under 18 years of age with emergency shelter, food, clothing, counseling and referrals for health care. Bcps can provide up to 21 days of shelter for youth and seek to reunite young people with their families, whenever possible, or to locate appropriate alternative placements.