We Need Your Voice Today!
The Bridge for Youth (The Bridge) centers youth voice, justice, and equity in all we do, and empowers youth experiencing homelessness through safe shelter, basic needs, and healthy relationships.
Our vision is a community where all youth feel safe, accepted, and supported. Since 1970, over 50,000 youth have found safety and stability at The Bridge through emergency shelter and transitional housing for youth and has pioneered a national model of innovative homeless youth services across the nation.
Our 2026 Legislative Capital Request
A request of $7.5 million in state funds in fiscal year 2027, appropriated from the general fund to the Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development for a grant to The Bridge for Youth for land acquisition and to predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip a new multiuse facility in Hennepin County. The new facility shall include youth program and recreational space, administrative and program office space, and up to 45 new units of transitional and affordable housing and emergency shelter space for unaccompanied homeless youth and young families experiencing homelessness.
The Bridge’s new continuum of care vision includes:
Prevention
Community outreach & mental health services
Emergency Shelter
Gloria’s Place
Transitional Living Program (TLP)
Expansion of Marlene’s Place from 5 to 15 units
Non-Time Limited Supportive Housing
New portfolio of 20-24 units
Aftercare Services
Continuation of wholistic supports
The Need for Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Youth
In 2024, over 5,000 youth representing more than 1,930 young families were served by the homeless prevention, assessment, shelter, and housing system across all parts of Minnesota. These families included 2,900 children who were with their youth parents.
For youth who are pregnant or parenting while experiencing homelessness, their family’s need for support is critical and impacts two generations for a lifetime. The trauma they have experienced and the ongoing stress of having no safe or stable place to live with their children requires a tailored and timely response.
Project Milestones
Jan 2021 – Project Completion
The Bridge’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB) – Consulting, informing, and advising on all phases of the project.
Jan 2021 – July 2021
John Paul Chaisson Cardenas – Strategic plan prioritizes program and housing expansion for young families by centering youth voice.
Sept 2021 – May 2022
Dunwoody College of Technology – Youth and staff engagement, project goals, and trauma-informed design and conceptualization by 5th-year architecture students.
Sept 2021 – Present
Joy Collaborative – Project consultation through all phases.
Dec 2022 – Aug 2023
Healthcare Reparations Cooperative (MN Housing capacity building grant) – Youth and community engagement, young families program design, input into ideal housing infrastructure and amenities.
Oct – Nov 2023
Capital Investment Committees – The Bridge for Youth hosted the committee members and staff on the bonding tour and presented our strategic housing expansion for young families.
Jan 2024
Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan – In January 2024, The Bridge hosted Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan to meet and hear from our young families and to learn about our strategic growth.
Jan – May 2024
The Bridge for Youth (BFY) requested $3.5 million in state funds for pre-design, design, property acquisition, project management, construction, and occupancy for new housing units in Hennepin County for youth (ages 16+) who are pregnant and/or parenting and have experienced homelessness. This request was not fulfilled because the Minnesota Legislature did not pass a bonding bill.
June 2025
The Bridge for Youth (BFY) was awarded $250,000 during the 2025 Minnesota Legislative Session specifically restricted to begin predesign work on the expansion of The Bridge’s young families housing plan. This expansion is a significant step toward meeting the increasing need for trauma responsive, youth informed, and culturally focused housing for youth and their children. We extend our deepest gratitude to our legislative champions, Senator Scott Dibble and Representative Katie Jones, whose unwavering support made this possible.
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The Impact
By providing immediate housing stability for young families in crisis, this investment addresses the unique needs of young families and expands opportunities to secure safe and stable long-term housing; and empowers youth to increase their levels of safety, well-being, connections, and self-sufficiency, disrupts to multi-generational and adult homelessness, maintains family unification, and prevents systems involvement.
For 56-years, The Bridge for Youth has been a leader in supporting youth experiencing homelessness, and has evolved to meet the needs of our community. In 2025 alone, our impact included:
- Supporting youth in 22% of Minnesota’s counties.
- 10,575 youth supported in prevention services, including outreach, crisis calls and texts.
- 92% of youth progressed in their personal goal plans.
- 84% youth either attended school, were employed, or both.
- 268 young fathers supported through mentorship, access to holistic health supports, parenting education, legal advocacy, other resources.
More About The Bridge for Youth
What started as one of the first programs in the nation to provide refuge from child abuse, teen prostitution, drug abuse, and domestic violence, is today one of the most respected nonprofits in the country serving youth experiencing homelessness. The Bridge is committed to the most vulnerable youth in our community – minor-aged, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, sexually exploited, abandoned, and pregnant/parenting youth (PPY). Last year, The Bridge engaged 6,960 youth through emergency shelter, housing, holistic health supports, mental health, outreach, and other supportive services. The Bridge owns two buildings in south Minneapolis with two (2) emergency shelters (10-17 years old; PPY 15-17 years old and their child ages 0-3); a Transitional Living Program (PPY 16-20 years old and their child ages 0-3); and a 12-unit supportive housing (18-22 years old).
