For 30+ years, Avenues for Youth has helped young people move from homelessness to home. More than shelter, Avenues provides spaces where youth can belong, heal, and dream about what’s next. With your support, many of our programs reach 100% housing stability — proving that community truly changes lives.
How does our community step up and add to the web of support for youth in Avenues' programs?Last year a host home with Avenues' ConneQT program had a severe plumbing issue that forced the home to be gutted and rebuilt. Both the hosts The situation was further complicated by the fact that the youth was an asylum seeker from another country and did not speak English. The ConneQT team quickly coordinated appropriate translation services and engaged an immigration legal team to address pressing concerns. A partnered care team provided medical and emotional health support, while the ConneQT manager, Ryan Berg, worked closely with the host to process their stress and provide one-on-one support. Although the displacement was traumatic, the youth stabilized in the respite host home, ultimately staying longer than expected and building a strong connection with their respite host. In this supportive environment, they felt affirmed and safe enough to find a job and complete a Coordinated Entry System (CES) assessment, which led to securing a housing voucher. This experience demonstrated the need for creativity and flexibility in mobilizing community support during crises so that youth feel secure enough to continue pursuing their personal goals. |
Each night in Minnesota, over 4,000 youth experience homelessness. As a state, we don't have nearly enough beds to keep all youth safely housed. Avenues' programs are at capacity and we're growing to meet the need. For instance, because of a rapidly increasing need for shelter, we are erecting a new building in our Minneapolis community that will better meet the needs of youth in trauma-informed ways and lead to higher rates of youth securing safe and stable housing after leaving programs at Avenues. Your action within this community will provide Avenues the flexibility and creativity it takes for us to support youth in the ways that are proven to be most effective.
Soaring costs of essentials such as food and basic supplies have made it more challenging to meet the need for youth shelter—in addition to uncertainties with federal funding. We are committed to offering not just a bed, but a web of supportive community where every young person can find hope and a path forward in their journeys.
This is where you come in! Your gift—and all gifts—will go toward our annual general operating fund. Each dollar raised means Avenues for Youth can remain flexible and creative, lending additional strength to each young person who enters one of our four programs.
Your gift will help strengthen community connections and offer a sense of belonging and healing to youth. Additionally, each gift will make transitional housing for youth feel like home as they heal, grow, and begin dreaming about their futures.
Community support allows us to build meaningful relationships with young people and partner with them on their journeys to stable housing and joyful lives.
Avenues for Youth is highly rated for financial health, accountability, and transparency by:
Organization name
Avenues for Youth
Tax id (EIN)
41-1765140
Categories
Children & Family
BIPOC Serving
BIPOC Serving
LGBTQ+ Serving
LGBTQ+ Serving
Address
1708 Oak Park Avenue North