What We Do
Helping Youth Experiencing Homelessness
A Continuum
of support for youth
The Link’s Housing and Homeless Services Division offers street outreach, homeless prevention, a drop-in center, emergency shelter, housing, and wraparound support for youth and young families experiencing homelessness. The Link works one-on-one with youth to move from crisis to safety to stability. When a young person no longer has to worry about where they are going to sleep at night or how they are going to find their next meal, they are empowered with the resources and opportunities to pursue their goals for a healthy and hopeful future.
Crisis and Initial Contact
Outreach
The Link’s Street Outreach team works to identify youth experiencing homelessness across the Twin Cities metro, offering basic supplies to help keep youth safe, and providing connections to shelter and housing.
Drop-In
The Link’s Drop-In Center, located in Apple Valley, provides a safe space for youth to “drop in” for assistance with resources like food, clothing, showers, and hygiene products. Beyond meeting basic needs, youth work with a case manager to navigate and access safe housing.
Safe and Stable Housing
Emergency Shelter
Youth and young families without a safe place to sleep have a room of their own, their basic needs met and support finding long-term housing.
Supportive Housing
The Link offers housing programs tailored to meet the needs of youth most impacted by homelessness. Youth and young families are connected with high-quality housing and supported in maintaining stability through rental assistance, life skills development and much more.
Homelessness Prevention
In addition to providing shelter and housing, The Link works to prevent homelessness whenever possible. We offer direct financial assistance and stable housing support to primarily Black youth and families at risk of eviction or those who may be couch hopping.
Supportive Services
Youth in our housing programs receive wraparound supportive services to help build stability and connections to community including:
- Youth-driven case management
- Mental and chemical health and wellness services
- Educational and employment support
- Family and early childhood programming
- Life skills training including financial literacy, decision-making, food preparation, and more
Case Managers also work to build relationships and provide education to landlords in the community, ensuring that youth with barriers (like criminal records or lack of credit histories) can access housing. They also provide tenant rights’ education, help youth clear criminal backgrounds, build positive rental and credit histories, and more to help youth develop stability.
Housing Advisory Committee
Youth who have lived experience of homelessness help to oversee our Housing & Homeless Services Division and join us as leaders in the movement to end youth homelessness.