Safe Homes,
Hopeful Futures: Name for Separate Campaigns in Metro Area
and NE Minnesota
LSS
Seeks $400,000 for Twin Cities Homeless Youth
Programs
Teenagers without a home find a place to sleep sometimes on a friend's
couch, or under a bridge, or even, literally, on the street. The Wilder
Research Center estimates that on any given night in Minnesota 660
"unaccompanied youth" are without permanent shelter. Over the course of
one year, 10,000 Minnesota youth experience homelessness
LSS of Minnesota believes that
reality is unacceptable and has developed a full continuum of services to
help homeless youth find their way to safety. Street outreach workers
refer youth to available programs, including LSS's Safe House an emergency
shelter in St. Paul for homeless youth. LSS also operates Rezek House and
LifeHaven, both in St. Paul, that provide longer-term transitional living,
where youth learn independent living skills.
LSS is launching a $400,000
two-year campaign for its Twin Cities Area Homeless Youth programs. The
campaign is called "Safe Homes, Hopeful Futures."
Why hold a campaign now? To
replenish funding for Safe House which, in 2003, suffered budget cuts by
the State of Minnesota, resulting in LSS' closure of the program in
August, 2003. Then, Ramsey County committed $110,000 to Safe House,
allowing LSS to reopen the program.
Mark Peterson, President/CEO
of LSS of Minnesota, said: "The county's grant is generous, but it covers
less than half of the program's operating costs. By reopening Safe House,
we are stepping out in faith that others will come forward to help us
reach out to these vulnerable young people."
The McKnight Foundation
already has committed $75,000 for "Safe Homes, Hopeful Futures."
On August 4, as part of a
special event at the Metrodome called "Lutheran Night at the Twins,"
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will offer a $30,000 match for campaign
donations made to LSS' programs for homeless youth around the state. Check
out www.lssmn.org or
www.thrivent.com for details.
The Minneapolis and Saint Paul
Area Synods of the ELCA both passed resolutions at their joint assembly
June 3-5 to raise $75,000 in each of the next two years for LSS' Twin
Cities Area Homeless Youth Programs. Now, LSS seeks added support from
individuals, businesses, congregations, and foundations.
Campaign in
Duluth/NE Minnesota Off to Excellent Start
If you are a young person between the ages of
16 - 21 and find yourself homeless - for whatever reason - chances are you
are experiencing a heavy dose of anxiety and probably fear. At the same
time, programs like LSS Renaissance and Street Outreach, designed to reach
out to homeless youth, are experiencing their own challenges. Funding for
services to homeless youth were particularly hard hit in the 2003
legislature in Minnesota and then further dismantled with the loss of a
major grant from the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
Fortunately, communities in
northeastern Minnesota have recognized the needs of these youth and are
responding. Following the 2003 legislative session a joint LSS/Northeastern
Minnesota Synod campaign, "Safe Homes, Hopeful Futures," was launched. The
Campaign has had a dual focus: raising dollars and advocacy. The effort is
directed toward congregations and individuals, especially members of
congregations who wish to include LSS youth services in their personal
philanthropy. The advocacy effort is directed toward a coherent public
policy with respect to youth and insistence that the public, through
taxes, resume responsibility for funding these sorts of services for
at-risk young people.
Action taken at the 2003
Northeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly was a great start. Voting members
voted unanimously to support an effort to raise $56,000 in matching funds
for LSS Renaissance and Street Outreach. Since that time leadership from
the bishop's office, local clergy and other community residents have
stepped forward to lead the Campaign.
The results so far have been
quite encouraging.
-
Over $40,000 has been
contributed to the Campaign.
-
Voting members at the 2004
Northeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly passed a resolution to adopt another
$56,000 funding goal for the Campaign in the coming year.
-
A December ad in the Duluth
paper brought in over $7,000 if gifts and added to the visibility of the
issue of homeless youth in the community.
-
A committee of Duluth area
residents is approaching friends, neighbors and others within the
philanthropic community to ask for additional gifts for the Campaign.
-
Coverage in the local media
has been outstanding.
In the coming months, LSS
staff and area volunteers will work together to raise the dollars needed
to achieve the goal of preserving these critical services for homeless
youth. Congregations will conclude their efforts to honor the commitments
made at the 2003 and 2004 Synod Assemblies. In addition, LSS staff and
supporters will unite our voices in the public square to encourage renewed
support for our youth at the county, state and federal levels.
