Youth Empowerment Team
You've "YET" to find out!
About the Youth Empowerment Team
The Youth Empowerment Team (YET) is a group of young leaders dedicated to helping end homelessness for youth and young adults in Northeast Minnesota and making a positive impact in our communities. YET is the NE CoC's Youth Action Board, leading our efforts to end youth homelessness.
YET's mission is to support homeless youth and create more youth homeless leaders. We are dedicated to empowering youth by providing them with the resources and support they need to build stable, successful futures.
Our Work
What We Do
-
Meet regularly to give input on program and system design, oversee the NE CoC youth initiatives (e.g. needs assessment, strategic planning), share resources, and learn leadership skills.
-
Advocate for better housing and services for youth.
-
Create outreach materials to help youth connect to resources.
-
Share our stories and ideas with the NE CoC and community partners.
-
Lead the NE CoC Youth Homeless Systems Improvement (YHSI) project.
Youth Homeless Systems Improvement (YHSI)
The Youth Homeless System Improvement (YHSI) grant from HUD aims to enhance services and coordination to prevent and address youth homelessness. It supports efforts to create better access to housing, education, employment, and healthcare for youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The grant encourages collaboration between communities, service providers, and youth themselves to develop more effective, youth-centered solutions. Overall, the goal is to create long-term improvements in homeless response systems for young people.
​
The NE CoC is partnering with the Northwest MN Foundation/NW CoC and the MN Tribal Collaborative on a YHSI project
​
YET leads YHSI planning and activities in the NE CoC. Key activities include:
​
-
Establish a Youth Action Board (YAB) comprised of youth who have experienced homelessness.
-
Conduct a needs assessment and gaps analysis to better understand how youth experience homelessness and access services.
-
Co-design solutions to improve the homeless response system to ensure solutions are reflective of actual needs and preferences of youth.
​
Youth Needs Assessment
YET is leading a needs assessment to better understand the experiences of youth facing homelessness and how they access resources in Northeast Minnesota.
​
As part of this work, we’ll host focus groups with youth (ages 24 and under) who have experienced homelessness at any point in their lives and with community partners, including housing and service providers, businesses, local government, and others.
​
We will also conduct surveys to gather more input.
Please support our efforts by joining a focus group or completing a survey!
More details about upcoming events and surveys will be posted here soon.
​
Questions? We’d love to hear from you. Please reach out!
Join the Youth Empowerment Team!
Are you between 16 and 24 years old and have experienced homelessness or housing instability? Want to use your voice to create change and support other young people in Northeast Minnesota?
​
YET is looking for new members to join our team!
​
Why Join?
-
Make a difference for youth in your community
-
Share your ideas to improve housing and services
-
Build leadership skills and connect with others
-
Get paid for your time and input through stipends ($25/hour!)
​
No experience needed
We welcome all backgrounds and perspectives. If you care about youth homelessness and want to help, we want to hear from you.
​
How to Apply
Click below to fill out a short application. We'll reach out with next steps!
​
​
​
​
Questions? Reach out to Cara at CLundquist@live.com or 218-525-4957.