Our Story
YouthLink works with young people, ages 16-24, experiencing homelessness. We are located in downtown Minneapolis and serve youth across the Twin Cities.
At YouthLink, we have over 45 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 help young people at all stages of their journey.
Through our Youth Opportunity Center, YouthLink collaborates with values-aligned community partners to provide resources to young people – all in one location to break down time and transportation barriers. This one-stop-shop model helps deliver life-changing resources more effectively for the young people we work with. Our outreach team provides resources and referrals to unsheltered youth at encampments and other sites in the community.
YouthLink also staffs two supportive housing complexes with a combined 88 units, Downtown View and Nicollet Square. Onsite case managers connect youth to resources including employment opportunities and mental and chemical health care. We also provide rental assistance and eviction prevention.
Our Mission
At YouthLink, our mission is to support and empower youth on their journey to self-reliance.
Our Vision
Our vision is a community in which all youth, without regard to their living situation, have an equal opportunity to pursue their goals and dreams, and an equal likelihood of achieving them.
Our Approach
At YouthLink, we have nine guiding principles that shape the way we work with young people experiencing homelessness. We also utilize a whole person, strengths-based approach.