Homeless youth are resourceful, but need our help

2/11/24 Park Rapids Enterprise. A letter to the editor was written by Founder/Director Kori Nelson.

As founder and director of Youth Emergency Shelter & Supports (YESS), the biggest statement I hear people say when I am talking to them about it is “Where are these homeless youth? We don't see them.”

They generally won't ask me directly, but I’ll overhear them ask their group. I believe, upon learning the numbers, they are truly shocked and have a hard time grasping youth who are homeless in our communities.

You’ll not generally find youth living in a tent on the side of a street, under a bridge or in a park. Now to answer the questions so many people have, including our Hubbard County commissioners.

Youth are resourceful, and they will find what they need to meet their current need (shelter). Homeless youth often will participate in couch hopping, which may include one night at a friend's house, another night at a friend's house and so on.

Why not just stay at that friend's house if it's a safe place to stay? If the friend lives in an apartment, the lease they are under may dictate how many nights visitors can stay over. They may not want to overstay their welcome to ensure the friend's family has space. The family they are staying with may not be able to feed another child, due to food insecurities. This can even happen if they are living with familial members where they can only stay for a certain amount of time until they need to find a different place to stay.

Youth may also stay in their vehicle, if they have one. They will turn the vehicle on periodically in the wintertime to stay warm, but ensure they aren't using up all the gas in the vehicle. They will park in places that won't draw attention, such as schools, grocery stores, and sometimes, apartment complex parking lots.

Are you thinking about how they clean themselves up if they live in a vehicle? Well, if they are in school, most schools open up early and have locker room showers to use. They may have a friend that will let them come in and clean up, but they may not be able to sleep inside for one reason or another.

Youth may also participate in activities that may not be in their best interest to meet the basic need for shelter. In 2019, the Minnesota Student Survey results showed that northwest Minnesota had the highest rates of students trading sexual activity to meet one or more of their basic needs, which includes shelter.

Sexual exploitation is illegal for those exploiting the youth; however, this youth is doing what they need to do to survive. Survival mode is a real thing!

Lastly, youth may stay in places not meant for human habitation, such as condemned housing units, sheds, garages and more. Can you imagine living without a shower? No way to cook food? Lacking a toilet? No ability to keep your food from freezing or getting hot during the summer?

The mission of YESS is to help support some of these youth that you are not seeing!

Even if we only have a building to meet the zoning codes (six residents), that is six youths now with a safe and supportive place to stay until resources can get them housed.

As we move forward, your support will be critical as far as general support, donations, fundraising and resources for the youth.

There are several ways to donate, including www.yesshubbard.org, Paypal, Zeffy (free no charge donation platform), mail to YESS or direct donation at any TruStar Federal Credit Union. You can also now find donation boxes at Knob & Kettle and Wine Not.

If you have a business that would like to host a box, let us know, and as soon as one becomes available we can get it to you.

Email youthmatterinhubbardcounty@gmail.com for more information or check out our website!