The participants included 52 street youths who were contacted during the fall and winter of 1995-96 and who did not engage in squeegee cleaning or any other form of systematic self-employment, plus 52 youths who were contacted in the summer of 1997 and were involved in squeegee cleaning. The second group of youths worked at major intersections and received spare change from the motorists who used their services. Results revealed that homeless youths engaged in squeegee cleaning reported higher levels of psychological well-being than did a group of street youths who were not involved in this activity and who had no access to regular income. The youths reported an average income of $50 per day. Results also indicated that squeegee work is associated with a reduction in criminal activity and with improved housing tenure. Findings indicated that squeegee work offered a source of immediate income required to survive, as well as a viable alternative to both panhandling and crime. Further research should examine the long-term consequences of this activity, including whether it has an impact in terms of taking youth off the streets. Tables and 24 references