C.O.R.E. Drop In Center

About C.O.R.E. Drop-In Center

C.O.R.E. (Community, Outreach, Resources and Empowerment) Drop In Center provides a place where youth who are at-risk of or are currently experiencing homelessness in Dakota County can get help with basic needs (food, clothes, shower, laundry, etc.) and connections to case management and longer term services such as housing.

Some of the services and programming available at C.O.R.E. include:

• Assistance with benefits and public assistance applications
• Transportation assistance
• Meals
• Referrals and access to shelter and housing
• Hygiene kits and other basic needs
• Laundry and showers
• Use of phone number and mailing address for job applications

Youth can drop in without an appointment Monday-Friday 2:00pm-5:00pm. 

C.O.R.E. Drop-In Center is located inside Grace Lutheran Church located at: 7800 W County Road 42 Apple Valley, MN 55124.

Continuum of Services in Dakota County

The C.O.R.E. Drop-In Center serves as the hub for The Link’s continuum of services for youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability in Dakota County. Additional services based out of C.O.R.E. include: Street Outreach, Dakota County Coordinated Entry, Future Independent Pathways, Hotel Emergency Shelter case management, Suburban Rapid Rehousing, and Cairn Housing. Through this continuum, The Link is able to support youth in every step of their journey to safety and stability.

Dakota County Housing Hub (Formerly known as Coordinated Entry)

The Link is the youth provider of Housing Hub for Dakota County. We have a staff member that is housed out of C.O.R.E. that works in partnership with Dakota County to help youth complete a Housing Problem Solving Assessment as well as the Housing Needs Assessment that are needed to qualify for supportive housing. Ongoing support is provided by staff at The Link to help youth stay as safe as possible and ensure they are ready to move into housing when it becomes available. Contact the Dakota County Housing Advocate for eligibility and resources at (612) 946-0274.
 

Future Independent Pathways Program

The Link’s Future Independent Pathways Case Managers work closely with Dakota County schools to provide case management services to students and families at risk of/or currently experiencing homelessness. The Link’s staff builds trust with students through regular, youth-centered meetings at school and in the community. Through this program, The Link aims to prevent and reduce homelessness while supporting students and families in building housing stability.

Future Independent Pathways services include:

• Housing search
• System navigation and support
• Family outreach
• Case management services
• Connection to benefits
• Application assistance
• Direct financial assistance

The Future Independent Pathways Program is available to unaccompanied students ages 16-24 and/or families with school-aged children in Dakota County. Students can self-refer or school personnel can contact C.O.R.E. Drop-In Center to refer clients.

Hotel Emergency Shelter

The Link’s Dakota County Hotel Emergency Shelter program, originally a COVID-response program, continues to provide hotel vouchers to youth and young families experiencing homelessness. As the need for shelter and housing units exceeds available resources, the program helps fill an important gap in services in Dakota County. Youth who are waiting for access to affordable housing units can stay in the hotel emergency shelter and receive case management services until they are able to transition into a housing program. Each night, The Link’s Hotel Emergency Shelter Program provides 15 units of shelter to Dakota County youth and families.