The Bridge for Youth

The need for The Bridge's services is urgent. The latest Wilder Research survey of homelessness in Minnesota recorded increases in homelessness across the board, but found that the largest jump occurred among youth. The 2009 single-night count of 1,268 homeless youth age 12-21 represents a 46 percent increase over 2006. According to Heading Home Hennepin, at least 1,800 youth run away in Hennepin County each year. The Minneapolis Public Schools reports that, from July 2008 through June 2009, over 5,500 children and young adults in our public school system were identified as homeless and highly mobile. The American Journal of Public Health has concluded that youth aged 12-17 are at a higher risk for homelessness than adults.

Once a young person runs away from home or gets kicked out onto the streets, they immediately become vulnerable not only to violence, but also to a host of risks which carry life-long consequences. Nationally, 80% of runaway and homeless girls report having been sexually or physically abused. In Minnesota, nearly one-quarter of homeless youth and one-third of homeless young adults report staying in an abusive situation because they had no other housing options. Half of homeless youth age 16 or older report having dropped out of school, having been expelled, or having been suspended. And 54% of homeless youth in Minnesota report having some type of mental health problem, which is often only exacerbated by the traumas of life on the streets.

Fortunately, experience shows that providing early intervention to youth and families in crisis can prevent youth homelessness and strengthen a family’s ability to cope with future crises. And engaging homeless youth through supportive housing and independent living skills development can enable them to escape homelessness, begin healing from its impacts, and successfully transition to long-term self-sufficiency. This is the work of The Bridge.

Our program achieves impressive results: In 2010 The Bridge 766 youth found a safe and supportive environment in our emergency shelter, one or more times; 314 youth received on-day walk-in services; 5018 crisis calls were answered on our 24-hour hotline; 2974 free counseling sessions were provided to youth and families; 77% of youth served at The Bridge were reunited with their family and 12% exited to a non-family, safe alternative.

Young people in our transitional and permanent housing programs find and maintain employment, complete their educations, and become self-sufficient, productive citizens, forever changing their life circumstances and possibilities.

Each year, we hear from countless adults who used the services of The Bridge ten, twenty or thirty years ago, and who let us know that the help they received at The Bridge made the critical difference in their lives, and was what allowed them to avoid a life of constant crisis and homelessness and become the people they are today. Since 1970, the support of the local community has made it possible for us to be there for our neighbors when they need us. For over 40 years we have offered youth in crisis a stable, hopeful, consistent, and safe place for young people to go when they’re in trouble. We invite you to join us in this important work.