Basic Center Program

The Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau support organizations and communities that work every day to put an end to youth homelessness, adolescent pregnancy, and domestic violence. The purpose of the Basic Center Program (BCP) is to provide 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 law enforcement, child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems. The 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 seeks to reunite young people with their families, whenever possible, or to locate appropriate alternative placements. Additional services may include: street-based services; home-based services for families with youth at risk of separation from the family; drug abuse education and prevention services; and at the request of runaway and homeless youth, testing for sexually transmitted diseases. The award process for FY2019 BCP allows for annual awards over a three-year project period, as funds are available.