Nonprofits across the country are acknowledging Supportive Housing Week this week to draw attention to the needs and experiences of people experiencing homelessness and how supportive housing can be a solution to their crisis.The Wilder Statewide Homeless Study estimates that 13,300 youth under the age of 24 experience homelessness on their own every year in Minnesota. This is approximately 40%…
On Monday, managers from YSN partner agencies gathered at Scharr’s Bluff in Hastings to spend time together, to breathe, and to learn from our friends at the Irreducible Grace Foundation how to take a breath when things feel stressful. IGF operates the Black Youth Healing Arts Center, a space where Black youth learn to process their un/under processed historical trauma….
Check out this great video featuring YSN member 180 Degrees, Inc. and their President and CEO Dan Pfarr talking about the work that they do! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2pOsqwkQMQ
Our newest YSN member, Open Doors for Youth in Elk River, has expanded their programing to add a transitional housing program as a new option to help youth experiencing homelessness to gain stability. You can read more about this exciting new project in a local news report here and visit Open Doors’ website to learn more about this great organization!
We are always excited when we get to celebrate alongside our YSN partners when they open new programs and facilities. It is SO MUCH WORK to bring projects like these from concept to reality. We are so thrilled for Lutheran Social Services and Avenues for Youth for their new projects. Congratulations to both organizations for their amazing new spaces which…
YSN is excited to announce the release of the Legislative Report: An assessment of needs of pregnant and parenting youth experiencing homelessness in Minnesota.
NOTE: The author of this piece, Jason Garver, received support from a YSN agency during and after high school. As a high school physics teacher today, he reflects back on some of his story and how his experience shapes his approach to teaching
HUD’s Retreat from Transgender Protections A recent AP News article highlights a significant policy shift under the Trump administration, where the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has moved to halt protections for transgender individuals under the Equal Access Rule. This Obama-era policy was designed to safeguard LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination in HUD-funded housing. The rollback has led to…
In a time of federal funding uncertainty, increased ICE enforcement, and deepening political polarization, staying focused on our mission isn’t always easy—but it’s never been more essential. At Youth Services Network (YSN), our work is grounded in a clear, unwavering purpose: to end youth homelessness in Minnesota. That mission doesn’t pause when the headlines shift. It doesn’t weaken when resources…
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…