What It Means to Be a Backbone Organization in Youth Homelessness Work

Ending youth homelessness requires more than individual programs—it takes a coordinated, strategic approach that aligns systems, amplifies lived experience, and centers equity. At Youth Services Network (YSN), we proudly serve as a backbone organization for Minnesota’s youth homelessness response. But what does that really mean? A backbone organization provides the infrastructure and coordination needed to drive collective impact. Rather than…