Hetrick-Martin Institute

Hetrick-Martin Institute is the flagship LGBTQ+ youth empowerment organization and the nation’s oldest and largest social service agency dedicated to serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth and their families. Founded in 1979 by psychiatrist Dr. Emery Hetrick and professor Dr. Damien Martin following the tragic suicide of a young gay teen in a group home, the institute has spent nearly five decades providing life-saving basic needs, mental healthcare, academic guidance, and community belonging to thousands of young people each year at its multi-story center on Astor Place in Lower Manhattan.

The organization’s cornerstone drop-in center represents a vital frontline sanctuary for runaway, homeless, unstably housed, and foster care LGBTQ+ youth across the five boroughs. Open every weekday evening, the center provides hot, nutritious family-style dinners, a well-stocked clothing and hygiene pantry, private showers, laundry machines, and emergency transit assistance. Dedicated youth advocates assist members with emergency housing navigation, shelter referrals, public benefit enrollment, and crisis de-escalation, creating a dependable foundation where young people can regain stability, safety, and self-confidence.

Mental health wellness and trauma recovery form another essential pillar of the agency's wraparound methodology. A dedicated team of licensed clinical social workers, psychologists, and mental health counselors delivers completely free, culturally responsive individual psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and specialized support groups addressing family rejection, gender identity navigation, racial trauma, and depression. Therapeutic case managers also provide continuous emotional support and connect youth with psychiatric evaluations when needed. The institute also works with biological and chosen families through affirming family counseling designed to repair relationships and prevent youth homelessness.

Educational equity, workforce development, and creative enrichment empower youth to achieve lasting self-sufficiency. The institute serves as the community partner to Harvey Milk High School, an accredited New York City Department of Education transfer high school housed in the same building that offers a safe, academically rigorous environment for LGBTQ+ students. Through its Center for Education and Career Development, the institute delivers high school equivalency tutoring, college application mentoring, financial literacy classes, and paid workforce internships that connect young adults with corporate careers. In addition, the agency coordinates vibrant youth arts programming, including music recording studios, visual arts labs, dance showcases, and Kiki ballroom community sessions.

Through advocacy and capacity building, the institute also trains educators, child welfare workers, and youth service professionals nationwide on best practices for supporting LGBTQ+ adolescents. Youth ages 13 to 24 can access all services for free by walking into the Astor Place facility during weekday intake hours or contacting staff online. No insurance or parent permission is required for initial services. Community members, corporate allies, and philanthropic donors can advance the mission by serving as volunteer career mentors, hosting workplace tours, or making tax-deductible financial contributions to support youth empowerment programs across New York City.