To help end youth homelessness, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is awarding $43 million to 11 local communities across the country, including nearly $1.41 million to the Inter-County Community Council in Oklee, Minnesota through its Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP). This HUD program supports a wide range of housing interventions including rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, and host homes.
Inter-County Community Council was awarded this grant on behalf of the Northwest Minnesota Continuum of Care (CoC). The CoC leads a coordinated, community effort to make sure everyone has a place to call home across the Northwest Minnesota jurisdiction region including 12 counties and three Tribal Nations.
In preparation for the grant application, all 12 counties in the region became members of the Northwest MN CoC, youth focus groups were held, and various homeless, tribal and county representatives came together to develop a framework to end youth homelessness in the region.
“Young people who are victims of abuse, family conflict, or aging out of foster care are especially vulnerable to homelessness,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “We’re working with our local partners to support innovative new approaches to help young people find stable housing, break the cycle of homelessness and lead them on a path to self-sufficiency.”
“The Youth Homelessness Prevention Demonstration grant will build upon existing efforts to end youth homelessness in the northwest Minnesota area,” said HUD Midwest Regional Administrator Joseph P. Galvan. “It will go a long way in keeping youth on a trajectory towards independence and opportunity in an area where this assistance is most needed.”
Cheri Goodwin, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Executive Director of Family & Children Services indicated, “What an honor for Red Lake Nation to be a part of this collaboration to create innovative healthy living environments for our youth."