Since 1991, Wilder Research has conducted a statewide survey every three years to better understand the causes, circumstances and effects of homelessness.

On a typical night in Minnesota, there are an estimated 600 youth under age 18, and even more young adults who are homeless and on their own. They are among the least visible and most vulnerable homeless people. Most have experienced serious upheaval in their lives; about half have been physically abused.

 

Take Action

You can make a difference by volunteering, donating, or helping with advocacy efforts.

Listen to high school senior Erica Skuta explain why she became passionate on ending homelessness and co-wrote A Student Guide to Ending Homelessness: What You Can Do to Make a difference

Volunteer:

Avenues for Homeless Youth
Provides emergency shelter, short term housing and support services for homeless youth. They offer a number of ways you can help from providing from tutoring, to decorating a room, to preparing meals.

The Bridge
Helps youth in crisis get off the street and into safe shelter, reunite with families and build skills for a better life. Volunteer opportunities include tutoring, wellness coaching, assistance with recreational activities, and help with administrative tasks.

Become an advocate:

Minnesota Housing Partnership
Provides an "advocacy toolbox" with information about state and local representatives and guidelines for writing to legislators, and definitions of terms. It provides advocacy alerts and tools to take action on housing issues of concern.

Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless
Provides a number of ways to raise awareness and take action as an individual, group, service provider or elected official.

Youth Moving Forward
Join the campaign to end youth homelessness! The focus of this coalition is to support prevention and intervention efforts to end youth homelessness in Minnesota. 

Partners and Funders

The documentary Homeless Youth: Finding Home  is a co-production of Wilder Research and tpt Minnesota channel, and a partnership of:

Ain Dah Yung Center
Avenues for Homeless Youth
The Bridge
Kulture Klub Collaborative
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Minnesota Spoken Word Association
Northside Artists’ Residence 
Streetworks Collaborative  
YouthLink

Funded by
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
The McKnight Foundation 
The Minneapolis Foundation 
Target