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Department of Youth and Community Development
The Department of Youth and Community Development was formed in 1996 through the merger of the Department of Youth Services and the Community Development Agency. DYCD invests in a citywide network of community-based organizations to alleviate the effects of poverty, funding programs such as afterschool care, Beacon and Cornerstone community centers, runaway and homeless youth services, and youth workforce development.
What's working
- How many participants in COMPASS NYC programs —School year are there?: 111,868 participants — beats target by 4,814 participants
- How many participants in Summer Youth Employment Program are there?: 97,004 participants — beats target by 2,004 participants
- How many programmatic reviews/contract monitoring cases are there?: 9,062
- and 2 more below
What's getting worse
- How many runaway and homeless youth served — Crisis services programs are there?: 1,187 programs — decreasing as longer average stays limit turnover in a fixed number of beds
- How many participants in immigrant services programs are there?: 3,204 programs — increasing mostly because DYCD took over programs previously run by HRA
- How many participants in DYCD-funded English literacy programs are there?: 10,628 programs — increasing overall; a FY25 dip reflected a contract-cycle transition
- and 2 more below
Critical indicators
With a numeric target
How many runaway and homeless youth served — Crisis services programs are there?
1,187 programs — decreasing as longer average stays limit turnover in a fixed number of bedsMisses target by 813 programs
How many runaway and homeless youth served — Crisis services programs are there?
1,187 programs — decreasing as longer average stays limit turnover in a fixed number of bedsMisses target by 813 programs
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 1,707 programs | 2,000 programs |
| FY23 | 1,827 programs | 2,000 programs |
| FY24 | 1,709 programs | 2,000 programs |
| FY25 | 1,421 programs | 2,000 programs |
| FY26 (YTD) | 1,187 programs | 2,000 programs |
DYCD has kept its runaway and homeless youth crisis shelter beds constant (753) for years, so this figure moves with how long youth stay rather than demand. DYCD attributes the Fiscal 2025 decline directly to a continued increase in the average length of stay combined with beds staying highly occupied, which together mean fewer new youth can cycle through the same fixed number of beds.
Researched July 16, 2026 — DYCD, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
DYCD was established in 1996 to give the city a dedicated agency for youth and family programming, and its core operating model is to invest in a network of nonprofit community-based organizations rather than deliver most services with city staff. Its Contract Development Unit formalizes the legally binding agreements that define program scope, budgets, timelines, and responsibilities for these providers. Because so much of DYCD's public-facing work, from afterschool programs to job training, is actually delivered by contracted nonprofits, the agency's contracting and oversight function is central to whether funded programs actually reach youth reliably.
How many runaway and homeless youth served – Transitional Independent Living support programs are there?
959 programsMisses target by 41 programs
How many runaway and homeless youth served – Transitional Independent Living support programs are there?
959 programsMisses target by 41 programs
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 1,101 programs | 800 programs |
| FY23 | 1,133 programs | 1,000 programs |
| FY24 | 1,188 programs | 1,000 programs |
| FY25 | 1,046 programs | 1,000 programs |
| FY26 (YTD) | 959 programs | 1,000 programs |
959 programs in FY26 — missed the City's own target for this indicator (41 programs below the 1,000 programs target), though it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
DYCD was established in 1996 to give the city a dedicated agency for youth and family programming, and its core operating model is to invest in a network of nonprofit community-based organizations rather than deliver most services with city staff. Its Contract Development Unit formalizes the legally binding agreements that define program scope, budgets, timelines, and responsibilities for these providers. Because so much of DYCD's public-facing work, from afterschool programs to job training, is actually delivered by contracted nonprofits, the agency's contracting and oversight function is central to whether funded programs actually reach youth reliably.
How many participants in COMPASS NYC programs —School year are there?
111,868 participantsBeats target by 4,814 participants
How many participants in COMPASS NYC programs —School year are there?
111,868 participantsBeats target by 4,814 participants
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 112,441 participants | 110,000 participants |
| FY23 | 117,179 participants | 110,000 participants |
| FY24 | 116,926 participants | 110,000 participants |
| FY25 | 111,868 participants | 107,054 participants |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 112,054 participants |
111,868 participants in FY25 — met the City's own target for this indicator (4,814 participants above the 107,054 participants target), though it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
DYCD was established in 1996 to give the city a dedicated agency for youth and family programming, and its core operating model is to invest in a network of nonprofit community-based organizations rather than deliver most services with city staff. Its Contract Development Unit formalizes the legally binding agreements that define program scope, budgets, timelines, and responsibilities for these providers. Because so much of DYCD's public-facing work, from afterschool programs to job training, is actually delivered by contracted nonprofits, the agency's contracting and oversight function is central to whether funded programs actually reach youth reliably.
How many participants in community anti-poverty programs are there?
9,724 programsMisses target by 971 programs
How many participants in community anti-poverty programs are there?
9,724 programsMisses target by 971 programs
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 12,521 programs | Not available |
| FY23 | 9,647 programs | 9,951 programs |
| FY24 | 10,051 programs | 11,550 programs |
| FY25 | 9,724 programs | 10,695 programs |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 10,467 programs |
9,724 programs in FY25 — missed the City's own target for this indicator (971 programs below the 10,695 programs target), and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The Beacon Community Centers initiative began in 1991 under Mayor David Dinkins as a complement to his 'Safe Streets, Safe City' anti-crime campaign, with the idea that safe, resourced neighborhood gathering places for both children and adults help stabilize communities. By 2017 the program had grown to over 90 sites citywide, hosted in public schools and open during afternoons, evenings, weekends, and school breaks. DYCD frames Beacons and similar community-based programs as tools for broader community revitalization, especially in neighborhoods with concentrated poverty or large immigrant populations, not just as youth programming.
Beacon Programs - DYCD, Beacon Community Centers - CAMBA, Inc.
How many participants in immigrant services programs are there?
3,204 programs — increasing mostly because DYCD took over programs previously run by HRAMisses target by 682 programs
How many participants in immigrant services programs are there?
3,204 programs — increasing mostly because DYCD took over programs previously run by HRAMisses target by 682 programs
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 1,323 programs | 1,563 programs |
| FY23 | 1,262 programs | 1,533 programs |
| FY24 | 3,073 programs | 3,648 programs |
| FY25 | 3,204 programs | 3,886 programs |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 3,325 programs |
The near-tripling of participants from Fiscal 2023 to Fiscal 2024 is explained by DYCD in its own reporting: the agency took over additional immigrant-services programs that had previously been run by the Human Resources Administration, which added participants to DYCD's count rather than reflecting organic growth in a single program.
Researched July 16, 2026 — DYCD, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
The Beacon Community Centers initiative began in 1991 under Mayor David Dinkins as a complement to his 'Safe Streets, Safe City' anti-crime campaign, with the idea that safe, resourced neighborhood gathering places for both children and adults help stabilize communities. By 2017 the program had grown to over 90 sites citywide, hosted in public schools and open during afternoons, evenings, weekends, and school breaks. DYCD frames Beacons and similar community-based programs as tools for broader community revitalization, especially in neighborhoods with concentrated poverty or large immigrant populations, not just as youth programming.
Beacon Programs - DYCD, Beacon Community Centers - CAMBA, Inc.
How many participants in Summer Youth Employment Program are there?
97,004 participantsBeats target by 2,004 participants
How many participants in Summer Youth Employment Program are there?
97,004 participantsBeats target by 2,004 participants
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 74,884 participants | 75,000 participants |
| FY23 | 91,270 participants | 90,000 participants |
| FY24 | 95,563 participants | 95,000 participants |
| FY25 | 97,004 participants | 95,000 participants |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 95,000 participants |
97,004 participants in FY25 — met the City's own target for this indicator (2,004 participants above the 95,000 participants target), and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), funded through DYCD, is described by the city as the nation's oldest and largest youth employment program, with a history stretching back more than 60 years. It connects New Yorkers ages 14 to 24 with six weeks of paid summer work and career-exploration activities, aiming to teach workplace habits, expose participants to career paths, and provide income to their families. DYCD frames the program as part of a broader strategy to build transferable skills and pathways to long-term economic opportunity, not just a summer job.
Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) - DYCD, About SYEP - DYCD
How many participants in DYCD-funded English literacy programs are there?
10,628 programs — increasing overall; a FY25 dip reflected a contract-cycle transitionMisses target by 3,492 programs
How many participants in DYCD-funded English literacy programs are there?
10,628 programs — increasing overall; a FY25 dip reflected a contract-cycle transitionMisses target by 3,492 programs
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 13,983 programs | 16,062 programs |
| FY23 | 16,520 programs | 12,120 programs |
| FY24 | 18,191 programs | 17,310 programs |
| FY25 | 13,429 programs | Not available |
| FY26 (YTD) | 10,628 programs | 14,120 programs |
DYCD attributes the Fiscal 2025 drop in English literacy program participants to a new multi-year contract cycle: awards to providers weren't finalized until partway through the year, new providers needed time to start up, and some providers shifted into a separate pilot program not counted in this total. DYCD's preliminary Fiscal 2026 report shows enrollment recovering as that contract cycle settles in.
Researched July 16, 2026 — DYCD, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, DYCD, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
The Beacon Community Centers initiative began in 1991 under Mayor David Dinkins as a complement to his 'Safe Streets, Safe City' anti-crime campaign, with the idea that safe, resourced neighborhood gathering places for both children and adults help stabilize communities. By 2017 the program had grown to over 90 sites citywide, hosted in public schools and open during afternoons, evenings, weekends, and school breaks. DYCD frames Beacons and similar community-based programs as tools for broader community revitalization, especially in neighborhoods with concentrated poverty or large immigrant populations, not just as youth programming.
Beacon Programs - DYCD, Beacon Community Centers - CAMBA, Inc.
What percent of agency assessments completed for the prior fiscal year as a percent of total agency contracts?
93%Beats target by 23%
What percent of agency assessments completed for the prior fiscal year as a percent of total agency contracts?
93%Beats target by 23%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | Not available | 70% |
| FY23 | Not available | 70% |
| FY24 | 86% | 70% |
| FY25 | 93% | 70% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 70% |
93% in FY25 — met the City's own target for this indicator (23% above the 70% target), and it has trended toward improvement over the past 1 year of reported data.
Why this is tracked
DYCD is a contracting agency more than a direct service provider: it invests in a citywide network of community-based organizations rather than running most programs itself. This service area covers the administrative functions, budget management, and contract oversight needed to responsibly manage an agency with roughly 600 employees and a fiscal year 2026 budget of $1.53 billion. It doesn't deliver services to the public directly, but weak management here can translate into delayed payments, poor oversight of contracted nonprofits, or programs that don't launch on time.
About - DYCD, New York City Department of Youth and Community Development - Wikipedia
Without a numeric target
How many programmatic reviews/contract monitoring cases are there?
9,062
How many programmatic reviews/contract monitoring cases are there?
9,062
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 6,716 |
| FY23 | 8,179 |
| FY24 | 8,555 |
| FY25 | 9,062 |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
9,062 in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
DYCD is a contracting agency more than a direct service provider: it invests in a citywide network of community-based organizations rather than running most programs itself. This service area covers the administrative functions, budget management, and contract oversight needed to responsibly manage an agency with roughly 600 employees and a fiscal year 2026 budget of $1.53 billion. It doesn't deliver services to the public directly, but weak management here can translate into delayed payments, poor oversight of contracted nonprofits, or programs that don't launch on time.
About - DYCD, New York City Department of Youth and Community Development - Wikipedia
How many young people involved in DYCD-funded programs are there?
378,445 programs
How many young people involved in DYCD-funded programs are there?
378,445 programs
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 306,921 programs |
| FY23 | 336,202 programs |
| FY24 | 365,345 programs |
| FY25 | 378,445 programs |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
378,445 programs in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Rather than running a single intake office, DYCD funds and coordinates a decentralized network of nonprofit community-based organizations across the five boroughs, including the Beacon program, which turns public schools into evening and weekend community centers offering programming for both youth and adults. The Beacon model was launched under Mayor Dinkins in 1991 as part of the 'Safe Streets, Safe City' initiative and has since grown to dozens of sites citywide. This decentralized, multi-site structure is meant to give New Yorkers several accessible entry points into services like afterschool care, job programs, and family support, rather than a single bottlenecked point of contact.
How many adults involved in DYCD-funded programs are there?
113,503 programs
How many adults involved in DYCD-funded programs are there?
113,503 programs
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 73,338 programs |
| FY23 | 80,066 programs |
| FY24 | 114,711 programs |
| FY25 | 113,503 programs |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
This indicator has swung sharply within the lookback window — a simple up/down label would oversimplify it, so no trend badge is shown here. See the chart and table above for the full picture.
Why this is tracked
Rather than running a single intake office, DYCD funds and coordinates a decentralized network of nonprofit community-based organizations across the five boroughs, including the Beacon program, which turns public schools into evening and weekend community centers offering programming for both youth and adults. The Beacon model was launched under Mayor Dinkins in 1991 as part of the 'Safe Streets, Safe City' initiative and has since grown to dozens of sites citywide. This decentralized, multi-site structure is meant to give New Yorkers several accessible entry points into services like afterschool care, job programs, and family support, rather than a single bottlenecked point of contact.