There’s no one-size-fits-all definition of young people experiencing homelessness. When they arrive at our doors, they are in need of a supportive community that understands what they face every day and can guide them through rebuilding their lives. HOPE 4 Youth is that place! Every day, 20-25 young people walk through our Drop-In Center doors and we work hard to help them by meeting their basic needs such as a hot, nutritious meal, food from our food pantry, hygiene products, clothes from our clothing closet, a hot shower and laundry facilities. Then we guide them towards their future by helping them secure housing, find employment, finish their education and access health services including on-site health care at HOPE Clinic, as well as meeting their faith needs via HOPE TreeHouse. When the doors of the Drop-In Center close, many of the youth find themselves couch-hopping or back on the streets. In response to this, HOPE 4 Youth opened the doors to HOPE Place, our transitional housing program located in Coon Rapids. HOPE Place gives homeless youth the chance to develop the skills needed to leave their status of homeless behind them and become independent, self-sustaining adults.