A Day in the Drop-In Center

A youth’s first visit to YouthLink  

When a young person comes to YouthLink’s Drop-In Center for the first time, they’re usually carrying more than just a backpack. 

They might be running on no sleep after a night in a car. Their phone might be dead, their stomach empty, their mind racing with questions: Where am I supposed to go? What do I ask for? Is this even a place for someone like me? 

Most of the time, before a word is spoken, their body language says it all—cautious, reserved, unsure. 

Jervase, YouthLink’s Welcome Center Coordinator, notices this every day. “I can usually tell when it’s a youth’s first time visiting the Drop-In,” he says. “They’re more reserved, cautious, and curious.” 

You may also see Jervase up at the front desk if you are dropping off in-kind donations!

First Things First: Safety, Respect, and a Warm Welcome 

The first thing a youth will hear is a welcome—no judgment, no paperwork, no pressure. YouthLink doesn’t require an ID, proof of income, or insurance to access basic services. Youth just need to be between the ages of 16 and 24. That’s it. We’re a no- to low-barrier space, intentionally designed to remove obstacles that often prevent young people from getting the help they need.  

Then, Jervase explains the expectations: no weapons, no drugs, no hate speech or slurs. Everyone deserves to feel safe here. And that’s not just talk—staff enforce these rules with care, not punishment. 

Then comes a tour. Not the stuffy kind. The kind where someone walks alongside you, pointing out the places that matter: where to shower, do laundry, grab a meal, charge your phone, pick up a clean pair of socks. 

Because that is what matters on day one: getting through the day. 

Meeting Basic Needs Is the First Step Toward Stability 

YouthLink offers an impressive array of programs—mental health services, education and career readiness, arts and creativity through Kulture Klub, and of course, housing resources. But those are hard to focus on when you haven’t eaten or had clean clothes in days. 

That’s why the Drop-In Center is designed to be a one-stop-shop for essential, daily support. Here’s just a sample of what a youth might access on that first visit: 

• Showers and Laundry — Clean clothes and a hot shower aren’t luxuries. They’re dignity. 

• A fully stocked Hygiene Closet — Free socks, underwear, toothbrushes, razors, menstrual hygiene products, deodorant, and more. 

• The Clothing Closet — A free boutique-style space for young people to find seasonally appropriate clothes that fit and feel good. 

• Hot meals — Chef Mike serves nutritious, delicious lunches daily, no questions asked. 

• The Food Pantry — For grab-and-go groceries, snacks, and essentials to take on the road. 

• Phone charging and computer lab access — So youth can reconnect with friends, apply for jobs, finish schoolwork, or just catch their breath. 

• On-site Healthcare for the Homeless Clinic — A full service clinic open multiple days a week for physical and mental health needs. 

• Mental health and chemical health counseling — On-site and tele-health options, available to all youth. 

• Specialized case management — For those ready to take steps toward long-term stability, such as housing, employment, or education. 

One Visit at a Time, One Relationship at a Time 

After the tour, a youth might sit down for a hot plate of food. They might head straight to the showers. They might visit the Hygiene Closet, then disappear for the rest of the day. That’s okay. 

Many youth come to YouthLink several times before they decide to open up about what they’re going through. 

“This place is all about meeting them where they’re at,” says Jervase. “Not all of them are ready to start that process. It’s about building trust. It helps to see people in the building and get to know them before opening up and talking about challenging, traumatic situations the young person has experienced—or is still experiencing.” 

If and when they’re ready, they’ll complete an intake with a YouthLink staff member. This usually takes about 15 to 25 minutes. From there, they might be referred to Coordinated Entry to get on the Hennepin County housing referral waitlist. Depending on their answers and situation, a specialized case manager can help determine what housing and resources they qualify for. 

But again—it all starts with basics. Jervase puts it simply: “In order of what’s used most urgently? Hygiene closet, clothing closet, food.” 

“I Didn’t Expect It to Feel Like This” 

Many youth are surprised to learn that YouthLink has an on-site clinic. Or that we can help them get a phone. Or that we can receive their mail while they’re couch-hopping or sleeping in shelters. Others are surprised to find out that this space—full of other young people just like them—feels…normal. 

“It’s a very safe and welcoming space,” Jervase says. “It’s a very diverse space, and we have a variety of all kinds of different people in the Drop-In. Many youth are surprised when they come in. They’re shocked to see people here that they can identify with. Homelessness isn’t just one thing—it can look a lot of different ways.” 

More Than a Building 

YouthLink’s Drop-In Center is more than a physical location. It’s a lifeline. A place to land when you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure where to go next. It’s often the first stable point of contact in a young person’s journey toward safety, self-sufficiency, and growth. 

We can’t begin to talk about job training, self-esteem, or personal development without first offering a shower, a hot meal, a listening ear, and a little bit of breathing room. 

Because in order to imagine a future, you first need to feel safe in the present. 

Want to support the Drop-In Center? 

Through June of this year, visits to YouthLink’s Drop-In Center have increased over last year by 34% (12,116 visits in total). Especially given the growth, your donations of hygiene items, clean clothing, food, or financial contributions make a direct impact. Visit our Amazon Wish List or learn more at YouthLinkMN.org. 

To schedule a donation drop off, contact us at donations@youthlinkmn.org.  

To make a financial contribution or start up monthly giving to support ongoing needs, please visit the secure page on our website. 

Your support helps youth experiencing homelessness take their first step toward stability — you are letting them know they don’t have to take the next steps alone.