Youthlink

Ashley’s mother had addictions, and her behavior was unpredictable. When her mom lost her parental rights, the little girl’s world became desperately fragmented. In spite of everything, she loved her mom – but found herself living with her grandparents.

Rich was just three years old when he was taken out of his home for his own safety. It's a blurry memory, but a powerful one.

Adrienne is a YouthLink "alum." Now 23, she's making her way in the world, studying online, holding down a job, and renting an apartment in South Minneapolis. Her easy conversation and ready smile show that she's comfortable in her skin - but she's the first to say it wasn't always that way. Adrienne, or RieRie, as she was known at YouthLink, had a long, hard journey toward true independence.

Brittney has had a rough year. Just 19, she was hospitalized last fall, underwent surgery, dealt with painful and frustrating complications and tried to get her head around what had just happened to her body. But even before her illness, Brittney was homeless. The day after her graduation from high school in June 2009, her mother evicted her. With no support from home, or family, Brittney knew she needed more education and resources to help her create a future.

On any given night, an estimated 2,500 Minnesota youth, just like Ashley, Rich, RieRie and Brittney, experience homelessness.

At YouthLink, our mission is to build healthy relationships with youth and the community to address youth’s urgent needs so that doors of opportunity are opened to futures of empowerment, connectedness, and self-reliance.

We recognize that there are many resources available for young people experiencing homelessness, including public and nonprofit social services, yet the system is complex, making it difficult for youth in crisis to navigate. Rather than competing with these services, YouthLink collaborates. Recent selection as the site of the Youth Opportunity Center by Hennepin County and the city/county plan to end homelessness in 10 years (Heading Home Hennepin) has resulted in a strengthened network of services under one roof. YouthLink has brought together partners, key community agencies and services to provide a stable, safe environment for young people to move past immediate survival to engage in development of skills and tools needed to achieve healthy and sustained self-sufficiency in life.

It’s your support that makes our mission achievable! Thank you for helping us provide youth with a safe, supportive, respectful and responsive community!