Spring is a season of renewal — a time to care for ourselves and one another. At YouthLink, this “Spring into Health” season highlights a simple but essential need: access to menstrual hygiene products. Our Clothing Closet and Hygiene Closet are stocked solely through donations. And the need is constant and urgent. YouthLink’s Hygiene Closet Menstrual Health Is a Basic Need Menstrual products are not…
At YouthLink, education and career support isn’t a standalone service—it’s woven throughout everything we do. Across our Drop-In Center and Housing programs, case managers work alongside young people to identify goals, build stability, and take meaningful steps toward education and employment in ways that feel achievable and sustainable for each individual. For young people who have experienced homelessness, pathways to education and…
November is National Homelessness Awareness Month — a time to reflect, learn, and take action on one of our community’s most urgent and human issues. Homelessness is not simply a lack of housing — it’s a complex challenge shaped by rising costs just to meet our basic needs, systemic barriers, and a lack of truly affordable housing options. Across the nation, communities…
The holidays should be a time of warmth and joy, but for too many young people and families in our community, this time of year brings feelings of stress, worry, and loneliness. You can change that. YouthLink is gearing up for our busiest holiday party and Santa Shop yet, happening Thursday December 18, and we…
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…
At YouthLink, our goal goes beyond providing housing—we work alongside young people to help them build a foundation for a safe, stable, and fulfilling life. Nicollet Square, one of the two site-based supportive housing complexes where we provide services, embodies this goal every day. Located in south Minneapolis, Nicollet Square was built by Beacon Interfaith…
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…
At YouthLink, we believe that leadership should reflect the communities we serve. As a Black-led, youth-centered organization, our commitment to equity isn’t just a value—it’s a lived practice. With 93% of the youth who come through our doors identifying as BIPOC, it matters deeply that our leadership understands their journeys firsthand. Our CEO, Rich Melzer,…
At YouthLink’s Drop-In Center in downtown Minneapolis, young people experiencing homelessness can walk in for a hot meal, a shower, a clean outfit, a mental health appointment—and a doctor’s visit. Operated by Hennepin County’s Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) program, YouthLink’s onsite clinic is an essential part of the “one-stop-shop” model we’ve built to…
Mental Health Awareness Month At YouthLink, we know that supporting mental health is essential for youth experiencing homelessness. The journey to stability involves more than a roof overhead. It’s about healing from trauma, building trust, and navigating systems that are often confusing and intimidating. The reality is, accessing mental health care is not always simple—especially…