HOPE 4 Youth Is Helping Twin Cities Youth during COVID-19, and You Can Help

Minnesotans are stepping up and making a difference during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I want to make sure people know about all the organizations out there doing great work and helping during this crisis and beyond. I’m profiling a different nonprofit each day to share their information and their story.

Today’s entry is HOPE 4 Youth, led by my friend and colleague Linda Bryant, began as a grassroots effort growing out of a series of news articles in November 2012 about young people in Anoka County in need of basic resources. The article sparked an immediate reaction from the public, and activists helped raise awareness and launch a community effort to combat youth homelessness. Less than six months later, HOPE 4 Youth opened its doors and became the first drop-in center for homeless and at-risk youth in the north-metro suburbs.

The name HOPE represents the organization’s four key focus areas: Housing, Outreach, Prevention, and Education/Employment. Through its programs, it connects youth to the resources they need to find and maintain housing (shelter, permanent, affordable, transitional); meets youth where they are in the community and provides them with assistance in real time and on their terms; partners with community providers and resources to connect youth to prevention services; and assists youth with finding career pathways and the education and employment opportunities to move forward.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, HOPE 4 Youth’s administrative offices, donation center, and resale shop are temporarily closed, but the HOPE Place transitional housing program remains open for residents. The drop-in center is open by appointment only, but staff continue to answer general calls Monday through Friday the crisis line 24 hours a day.
HOPE 4 Youth continues to do great work during this crisis, and you can learn more about it and how you can get involved on the organization’s website.

Volunteers at a HOPE 4 Youth event. HOPE 4 Youth