12
Nov
Metro Homeless Youth Services
There are many exciting things happening in our services that support children and youth across the Twin Cities metro area. Below are some highlights from the past few months, and ways you can help by volunteering or contributing items to support youth in your community.
What’s New
- StreetWorks received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to support the purchase and distribution of Narcan, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. It will also allow training for outreach workers and community partners. 32 individuals attended the first training in September.
- StreetWorks also received a grant from the Pohlad Family Foundation for Housing Affordability to create two new full-time outreach worker positions. They will provide targeted outreach and case management to youth disproportionately represented in our homeless response system.
- One young woman at Safe House has shown remarkable growth in the past few months. From the beginning of her stay, she set high standards for what she wanted to accomplish. She recently received a promotion at her job and never stops looking for ways to get involved in her community. She is taking steps to enroll in Saint Paul College and is on her way to living independently.
- LifeHaven expanded two basement bedrooms in the winter of 2018 – 2019 in order to increase our capacity to serve up to eight children and six mothers. This means that a mom who has two children can continue receiving the service. The expansion also allowed us to update our basement play area, which is an inviting space that gets a lot of use now!
- Irreducible Grace Foundation spent three weeks leading inspiring workshops on self-care with youth at LifeHaven and their staff.
- Two youth living at Rezek House started classes at Saint Paul College. Two others are attending high school and working towards graduation next year.
Winter Gear Needed
As the weather chills, we are gathering essential winter items for youth experiencing homelessness. You can make a difference for youth by donating or coordinating a winter donation drive. The youth we serve need items that will last, so we can only accept new items.
- Winter coats for men, women, toddlers & infants
- Snow suits for toddlers & infants
- Boots for men, women & toddlers
- Sweatshirts, sweaters for men & women
- Thermal shirts, long underwear for adults
- Hats, gloves and scarves for adults & children
- Hand warmers
- Gift cards for safe shelter at 24- hour/late night locations during freezing temperatures such as McDonald’s, Perkins, Denny’s or Metro Transit bus cards (sold at Cub Foods).
Holiday Meals, Donations & Volunteer Opportunities
- LifeHaven
- Childcare volunteers are urgently needed.
- Sponsor a meal for the Thanksgiving celebration.
- Rezek House
- 13×9 inch cake pans.
- Two Santa volunteers for our holiday parties.
- Make-a-Meal Volunteers for LifeHaven and Rezek House.
- Unloading volunteers are needed for our Sponsor A Youth gift donations this year. (More details about Sponsor A Youth will be coming soon.)
To stay connected and informed on news and events for LSS Metro Homeless Youth follow them on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/MetroHomelessYouth/, or visit their web page at: www.lssmn.org/blog/youth-homelessness