New Service for Homeless Teens Opens in Brainerd
While the majority of
Minnesota's homeless young people can be found in the metropolitan area,
smaller communities also recognize that they must provide for the homeless
and vulnerable young people. To meet this need in the Brainerd Lakes area,
LSS was given federal funding to provide homeless youth with transitional
housing and training in independent living skills. The service is
available to serve homeless teens in Crow Wing, Cass, Morrison, Wadena,
Todd, Aitkin, and Mille Lacs Counties. This Transitional Living Service
will help between 15 and 20 young people each year.
"For kids aged 16 or 17,
the traditional foster care system does not work well. Often they are not
well served by a model that was designed for small children," explained
Kirsten Harris, the LSS manager of this service.
The service helps young
and homeless teens find appropriate housing - small apartments close to
where they work or attend classes. LSS works with the landlord and the
teen to assure a workable arrangement. Further, teens are enrolled in a
comprehensive series of training sessions aimed at mastering independent
living skills. These skills include everything from budgeting, shopping
and meal preparation to the equally important tasks of time planning, task
management, conflict resolution and getting along with other individuals.
"Setting homeless people
up in an apartment is only half the answer. We also have to help them
learn the skills so that they can succeed as tenants and as part of the
workaday community," Kristen explained.
In addition to Brainerd,
LSS offers similar services in Duluth, Willmar, and Minneapolis-Saint
Paul.
