Become a Volunteer Outreach Team Member and help New York's homeless adults find their way home!

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One of New York City's largest and most comprehensive social services agencies, BRC serves men and women who are homeless, or at risk of becoming so, most of whom suffer from mental illness, substance addiction, or a combination. BRC gives our clients the knowledge and skills to stay sober and healthy and the sense of responsibility and value to find and maintain a home--in other words, the means to achieve permanent independence. BRC helps these neediest New Yorkers overcome the challenges of addiction, physical and mental illness, and poverty, and improves life in the community.

Outreach is BRC's program for homeless individuals living on the streets and in other unstable situations. It is the most extensive outreach program in New York City covering specific Manhattan based locations, i.e. Grand Central Station, Penn Station and Port Authority Bus Terminal, 5 days per week in vans and on foot. Outreach staff and volunteers engages homeless individuals with the goal of assessing each individual's situation and needs and providing each client with an accessible doorway to services they need. Clients are afforded referral, transportation and placement at the resource deemed most beneficial to the individual, and each is treated with respect, professionalism and informed guidance.

The Outreach Team encounters many individuals that are reluctant to use services or have found the available resources unmanageable and overwhelming. These clients are provided with counseling, information and advocacy in pursuing services, rights and resources. Every individual engaged is given the opportunity to access the services most suited to their needs. Working with Outreach staff, volunteers will help refer clients to assessment shelters, drop-in centers, drug and alcohol treatment, psychiatric and medical facilities, job training centers and entitlement offices.

Normally a staff-only position, volunteers are needed to help us continue in our Outreach efforts. All teams will be midtown Manhattan based specifically at the Port Authority Bus Terminal on either Wednesday of Thursday evenings from 7pm to 9:30pm.

This is the perfect opportunity for friends or co-workers who want to get involved together because teams will be comprised of a minimum of three individuals per shift, with a maximum of four each.

For more information or you would like to speak to someone directly, please contact Rick Akin, Director of Volunteer Services at BRC, at (212) 803-5720.

PLEASE NOTE: In order to insure the integrity of the BRC volunteer program, as well as the well being of the clients we service, all interested parties must complete a New Volunteer Registration form and attend an orientation, prior to reeciving an assignment. Apologies, but we are unable to accept walk-ins.