YouthLink MN

YouthLink helps young people ages 16-24 experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities, MN. YouthLink helps young people at all stages of their journey.

YouthLink helps young people ages 16-24 experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities, MN community. Our mission is to support and empower youth on their journey to self-reliance. Our Drop-In Center in downtown Minneapolis has basic needs like a hot lunch, showers, laundry facilities, clothing, personal care items, and bus passes. Case managers help youth get connected to housing, employment, and e

ducation. We offer specialized support for parents, the LGBTQ+ community, and victimized youth. We also have a clinic onsite through Health Care for the Homeless. YouthLink also staffs two supportive housing complexes in Minneapolis for young people ages 18-25 exiting homelessness or aging out of foster care (Downtown View and Nicollet Square). Onsite staff provides mental health counseling, help finding employment, help accessing community resources, and more to residents.

10/31/2025

🍁🎭🎃 Happy Halloween! Yesterday’s Fall Festival at YouthLink brought out Agent K, Elphaba, the White Rabbit, and more. Staff and youth loved taking time to celebrate together, share laughter, and enjoy community. 💛

10/30/2025

Mark your calendars! 🗓️ Youth poetry night with Kulture Klub Collaborative is happening Wednesday, Nov. 5 at Gigi Xo Studio (Seven Points Center). Come share your story or support your friends — all youth are welcome!

10/29/2025

You may have read the news that SNAP benefits will not be disbursed to Minnesotans in November due to the government shutdown. YouthLink is here for young people’s food needs, through our food pantry and daily hot lunches (Mon-Fri).

If you are in the position to support YouthLink’s food program, we are doing a fundraiser through this link: http://bit.ly/4oGt4v9

YouthLink purchases bulk food at discount through local food banks and other suppliers—often getting 1 pound of food for just $1 spent.

Check out our recent blog post by Chef Michael that talks about YouthLink’s food program: https://www.youthlinkmn.org/2025/10/feeding-hope-how-youthlink-fights-food-insecurity/

10/25/2025

Thank you to all the yogis who came out to support YouthLink today! 🧘‍♀️🧘‍♂️ We raised $1,075 to support youth experiencing homelessness. We couldn’t have done it without the generosity of Jeffrey at TaraNa Yoga studio in South Mpls for donating his instruction, time, and space for this event.

10/21/2025

🧘‍♀️ There’s still time to join us for Yoga for Good!
We’ve got a few spots left for this Saturday’s class at TaraNa Yoga Studio in South Minneapolis— come stretch, relax, and do some good for youth experiencing homelessness.

This rejuvenating class starts at Noon, and all proceeds will support young people on their journeys to stability and wellbeing.

Grab your spot here 👉 https://givebutter.com/ylyoga

10/10/2025

YouthLink’s Drop-In Center will be closed on Monday, October 13th in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. We will resume regular hours on Tuesday, October 14th. Thank you!

10/09/2025

Earlier this week, Delta Air Lines employees braved the chilly October night, giving up the comfort of their own beds to raise funds for and show solidarity with unsheltered youth. These incredible individuals raised $3,250 through their crowdfunding campaigns and secured an additional $5,000 from Delta Airlines to support YouthLink’s work. If their dedication inspires you, you can give their campaign one last boost here: www.givebutter.com/sleepout

According to Wilder Research’s latest Minnesota Homeless Study, unsheltered homelessness in the state has risen over the past decade. Teens and young adults—particularly women and LGBTQ youth—face significantly higher risks of violence and exploitation when unsheltered, making timely access to housing critical. YouthLink’s Street Outreach team meets young people where they are, from encampments to transit stations to public libraries, to build trust and connect them with YouthLink services and other community resources. Our Drop-In Center is often the first stop for unsheltered youth. Our team helps youth access and arrange transportation to a safe and age-appropriate shelter, and we can conduct a Coordinated Entry Assessment, the first step for longer-term housing programs in the county. We are so grateful to our community for making this work possible.

10/09/2025

This month, we’re excited to do something a little different on the YouthLink blog. For the first time, we’re featuring a guest writer from our own team — Chef Michael, the Food Services Manager who leads YouthLink’s kitchen and food program. Every day, Chef Mike sees firsthand how access to nutritious meals can change a young person’s outlook and sense of stability. In his post, “Feeding Hope: How YouthLink Fights Food Insecurity,” he shares his perspective on the growing challenge of hunger in our community and how YouthLink is working to ensure no young person faces it alone.

Read the full blog on YouthLink's website: https://www.youthlinkmn.org/2025/10/feeding-hope-how-youthlink-fights-food-insecurity/

10/07/2025

Join us on Saturday 10/25 for a yoga class to support youth experiencing homelessness. Thanks to TaraNa Yoga’s generosity, 100% of your $40 registration will directly benefit young people in our community.

Your gift can:
… provide Metro Transit rides for 20 youth so they can attend job interviews and vital appointments.
… supply two youth with a week’s worth of groceries from YouthLink’s food pantry.
… help a young person obtain a Minnesota State ID, an essential step for employment and housing opportunities

Your generosity gives Twin Cities youth the foundation they need to build brighter, more stable futures. Register or donate here today: www.givebutter.com/ylyoga

10/06/2025

💙 Huge thanks to the amazing volunteer group from USI who joined us in September!

It was such a big group that we split into three teams:
👕 Some sorted donations in the Clothing Closet
🧥 Some reorganized the shopping space and stocked kids’ clothing for young families
🍼 Others tackled two big projects—sorting diapers and prepping winter clothes (which will be going out before we know it!)

Your time and energy make a huge difference—volunteers make our work possible! 🙌

10/01/2025

🎃 It’s officially spooky season at Downtown View! 🕸️✨

Downtown View offers 46 units of supportive housing with YouthLink case managers onsite. Our team loves making it festive for residents! 👻🪄

09/26/2025

Our third annual Yoga for Good class is back!! Join us on Saturday, October 25 for a relaxing yoga class to support young people experiencing homelessness on their paths to stability and wellbeing. Thank you, for donating instruction and their beautiful studio in South Minneapolis for this event. 🧘‍♀️💙 Register here: www.givebutter.com/ylyoga

Address

41 N 12th Street
Minneapolis, MN
55403

Telephone

+16122521200

Website

http://www.youthlinkmn.org/, https://linktr.ee/YouthLink_MN

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Who We Are

At YouthLink, we have over 40 years of experience connecting young people with a community of resources and support. Whether it’s basic needs, like a hot shower or a warm meal, assistance with employment or educational goals, accessing mental and physical health resources, or finding supportive housing, we can help young people at all stages of their journey.

YouthLink is also the host site for the Youth Opportunity Center (YOC). The YOC is a unique collaborative model, bringing together a variety of organizations and agencies that provide resources young people experiencing homelessness may need – all in one location. Our one-stop-shop model helps deliver life-changing resources more effectively for the young people we work with.

On any given night in Minnesota, 6,000 young people will experience homelessness. But homelessness is not their final destination. Thanks to YouthLink, and supporters like you, we can open new pathways for young people facing barriers, and help them build more stable futures.

Our mission and vision At YouthLink, our mission is to support and empower young people on their journey to self-reliance.

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