Hope Street for Youth in Minneapolis’ Hiawatha neighborhood will begin serving youth experiencing homelessness by the end of June. COURTESY DAN COLLISON, CATHOLIC CHARITIES
The largest emergency shelter for youth in Minnesota will open in a new location in Minneapolis by the end of June, with space for 30 young people experiencing homelessness and services to assist them.
Run by Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Hope Street for Youth is now in Minneapolis’ Hiawatha neighborhood. For more than 20 years the shelter was part of Catholic Charities’ St. Joseph’s Home for Children campus in south Minneapolis, with space for 28 youths ages 18 to 24. But the campus is closing and the Hope Street building no longer meets today’s needs, Catholic Charities officials said.
“For more than two decades, our team at Hope Street has helped thousands of youth find safety and support during life’s darkest and most challenging moments,” said Michael Goar, president and CEO of Catholic Charities, at a June 21 news conference at the new location. “This new facility will enable us to strengthen our impact, helping more youth on their path to a stable and rewarding future.”
In December 2021, Catholic Charities learned about a former assisted living facility at 4140 Cheathem Ave. Investments including $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds from the city of Minneapolis, $2.5 million from Hennepin County, and $1 million from a donor allowed the nonprofit social services organization to purchase the building in March, Catholic Charities officials said.
The need is greatEach night, nearly 5,000 young people across Minnesota are without a home, Catholic Charities said. Hope Street staff had to turn away almost 1,000 youth last year because of a lack of resources to support them. Young people experiencing homelessness face significant disparities in securing basic needs, officials said. They are statistically more likely to experience poverty, abuse, racism and homophobia — destabilizing traumas that can last into adulthood.
Last year, more than 80 percent of the youth who received services from Hope Street were Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Many homeless youths are fleeing unsafe situations, discrimination because of their sexual orientation, violence, substance abuse, neglect or rejection, or at age 18 have aged out of foster care and have no families to support them, Catholic Charities officials said.
Hope Street’s trauma-informed care reflects the need to create a safe space for youth to receive support as they work toward the goal of stable housing, officials said.
“Everyone deserves a place to call home, and Hope Street for Youth is an important part of that solution in Minneapolis,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “I am grateful to Catholic Charities for the strong partnerships they facilitated to make Hope Street a reality. Together, we can all work alongside our youth to build and sustain futures of possibility and success.”
The new building and its location are ideal for Hope Street’s programs, providing dignified shelter and the opportunity to find jobs in the area, as well as other support for young people working toward stability, Catholic Charities officials said. The average length of stay at Hope Street is 39 days.
Each of the new facilities’ 25 rooms, single and double, has a private bathroom. Indoor and outdoor commons areas provide space to build community and invite guests. Supportive services include food, clothing, laundry and medical care, as well as case management in mental and chemical health counseling, family reunification, parenting support and education, life-skills training and more to move youth forward in the housing continuum.
One of the bedrooms at Catholic Charities’ new location for Hope Street for Youth. COURTESY DAN COLLISON, CATHOLIC CHARITIES
“We are proud to support the new Hope Street for Youth facility, which is a critical investment in our efforts to support people facing housing instability,” said Commissioner Angela Conley with the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. “Housing is a fundamental human right, and youth should never have to worry about having a safe place to lay their heads. This new space will offer dignity and healing as youth build for their futures.”
“Hope Street is a model program that offers not only shelter but also an integrated safety net of support for young people experiencing homelessness,” said Jodi Harpstead, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services. “Committed staff walk alongside youth, supporting them as they learn life skills to thrive. This approach has the ability to change the trajectory of lives.”
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