Avenues partners with youth experiencing homelessness to achieve their dreams.

For 25 years, Avenues has supported youth ages 16-24 in Hennepin County. Whether a young person needs someplace to stay for just one night, or a year and a half, Avenues empowers youth to find their path out of homelessness. We do that by providing a stable home, building trusting relationships, and navigating the youth’s education, career, health and wellness and housing goals.

At Avenues, we believe:

• Homelessness does not define a person. It is just one part of a journey that we are here to help young people navigate.
• All youth experiencing homelessness have or are experiencing trauma. Therefore, mental health is at the center of all our work.
• There is no one reason why youth experience homelessness – it’s intersectional. Systems of oppression, racism and poverty are of the root causes of homelessness. Without addressing these systems, homelessness will persist.
• Youth are resilient, inspiring, and the drivers of their own journey. With stability, trust and youth-centered supports, their dreams can become reality.

Avenues work is guided by the 9 Evidence-based, Guiding Principles to Help Youth Overcome Homeless and our core values: equity, community, respect and dignity, trust, liberation and anti-oppression.