YOUTHLINK

YouthLink is a Minneapolis-based, donor-facing 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves young people ages 16–24 who are experiencing homelessness across the Twin Cities. The organization operates a downtown drop-in Youth Opportunity Center, conducts street outreach, and provides case management, mental and chemical health services, employment and education supports, rental assistance, and eviction prevention. In the most recent reporting year, YouthLink reported operating at scale: the drop-in served 2,924 youth with 24,534 visits, supported 151 youth in supportive and offsite housing, and engaged about 450 youth with mental and chemical health therapists. YouthLink also staffs two supportive housing complexes (Downtown View and Nicollet Square) totaling 88 units. YouthLink uses a whole-person, strengths-based approach guided by locally developed principles for serving youth experiencing homelessness. The organization partners with research institutions and local funders to measure outcomes and refine its services, and maintains up-to-date annual community reports describing program impact and finances.