Dear Friends:

Thanks to your confidence and support, Avenues for Homeless Youth is expanding to support more homeless youth.  Please join us at an open house on May 23 to celebrate!  See details to the right.

Here is a snapshot of what's happening at Avenues:

• Expansion of the Shelter and Transitional Housing Program in North Minneapolis is complete.  We have added 5 beds and now can house and support 21 youth at a time, up from 16.  Youth and staff showed great patience and enthusiasm as they lived and worked through remodeling of most of the house. 
• Suburban Host Home Program is now 7 months old and keeps growing, thanks to tremendous community response.   We expect to have 15 host homes trained and ready to host youth in suburban Hennepin County by the end of the month.
• GLBT Host Home Program has grown to 28 host homes available to host youth, the most in its history.  And the program is proud to be supporting other communities around the country as they explore adapting the host home model.
• Minneapolis Host Home Program will be launched very soon, in collaboration with the Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness and Heading Home Hennepin.  We are hiring for the program manager position right now and recruiting volunteers to serve on the program's Action Council.  

We can't do our work without your support.  Please continue telling others about youth homelessness and our programs.  Thank you!  I hope to see many of you on May 23 at our open house. 

Deborah Loon 

Executive Director

Minneapolis Host Home Program to Launch 

Avenues is launching a new program to provide safe, supportive transitional housing for homeless youth of Minneapolis in volunteer homes.  The Minneapolis Host Home Program will recruit and train caring adults who are willing to provide secure housing and support.  The matching process is youth-driven and the adults receive no compensation - two program features that really matter to the youth.  The host home experience gives youth the time, space and support to stabilize, address immediate needs, and work on their personal goals. 

Avenues is recruiting volunteers for the program's Action Council and is hiring a program manager yet this month.  Informational meetings will start this summer. Those who are interested in learning more about homeless youth and ways they can help are encouraged to attend. Details will appear on the new program page. 

 
 
 

THANK YOU for a Very Successful Fundraiser!  

Special thanks to Senator Scott Dibble & Dick Senese, who co-hosted our annual GLBT Host Home Program fundraiser at the Midtown Exchange & Chicago Lofts March 10.  We had great attendance and the top floor party room buzzed with energy and excitement the entire evening.  Wine was generously provided by Solo Vino.  Photographer & designer Larry Barthel offered pro bono photography.  With the assistance of a challenge grant, we raised over $10,000 to support GLBT youth experiencing homelessness.  Thank you!

Shauen Pearce, a former GLBT Host Home Program participant, spoke at the fundraiser.  But she had lost her voice, so tried to whisper her comments to Program Director Rocki Simões to relay to the guests. (Photos by Larry Barthel, Triquetra Productions)

  

Host a Homeless Youth in Your Home! 

We are seeking new hosts for these vital, community-based programs.  Hosting is a beautiful and effective way to share resources and support a youth experiencing homelessness.  Attend an upcoming informational session to find out more! 

Suburban Host Home Program Info Sessions  

Tuesday, April 17, 6pm 

Edina, MN 55435

GLBT Host Home Program Info Sessions 

Tuesday, July 31, 6-8pm

Thursday, August 2, 6-8pm

Midtown YWCA

2121 East Lake Street

Minneapolis, MN 55407

Minneapolis Host Home Program Info Sessions

Coming soon!  We will post details on the new program page.