El Paso Center for Children continues to offer a Youth Emergency Shelter for kids in need

El Paso area youth who have run away from home or are experiencing homelessness can access a safe place to stay: the Youth Emergency Shelter at El Paso Center for Children.

The Center operates the only youth Runaway and Homeless Emergency Temporary Shelter in West Texas for youth ages 11-17. The shelter is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provides basic needs, such as hot meals and showers–as well as counseling and support–in a warm, all-inclusive environment.

All services at the shelter are free of charge.

“Youth come to our shelter for many reasons,” said Beatriz Marin-Olivarez, Youth Outreach and Housing Division Director. “They may have conflict a home, are living in the streets, feeling unsafe, unwelcomed, or they were a victim of a crime.

The shelter also offers clothing and personal care items, and access to a washer/dryer, phone, computer and email. The shelter’s staff is trained to provide crisis intervention, counseling, mediation with safe family members and support with education, job readiness, and street survival and safety tips.

“We hope everyone knows that the Youth Emergency Shelter is open, available, and free,” Beatriz said.

“This shelter can make all the difference at a very pivotal time in a young person’s life. They are why we are here.”

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At a glance:

• El Paso Center for Children’s Youth Emergency Shelter: 3710 Altura Ave., Building D, El Paso, TX 79930
• 915-330-9513 or epccinc.org
• Free of Charge
• Open to all youth 11-17 years of age
• Dedicated, trained, and supportive staff
• Basic needs: meals, showers, clothing
• Access to washer/dryer and personal care items
• Access to phone, computer, and email
• Access to counseling and mediation with safe family members
• Help with critical needs, such as identification, health care, and Social Security
• Education and job readiness support
• Street survival and safety tips

About El Paso Center for Center: The Center began as an orphanage in 1919 and continues to be a source of support and shelter for thousands of runaway, homeless, and exploited youth. Services are all free, all the time, to include Individual/family Counseling, Counseling for Victims of Crime, Parent Cafés, Parenting and Youth Life Skills, Early Childhood Services, Outreach and Housing (ages 18-24), and the area’s first and only Drop-in Center specializing in serving youth who are at risk of and/or experiencing commercial sexual exploitation/human trafficking.