Dear Friends:

Community is at the heart of Avenues.  In the North Minneapolis shelter and transitional house, we work to build a community so the youth who live here experience belonging, warmth and support. In the greater Avenues community, so many supporters donate their time and resources to help homeless youth, and spread the word to their communities.

The two host home programs ARE community.  Through them, the community is truly taking care of its young people.

The GLBT Host Home Program and new Suburban Host Home Program are actively recruiting community members to become host homes.  This is the most personal and direct way you can support a homeless youth - by literally opening your home to provide transitional housing and support.  If you have considered this possibility (or just want to learn more about the programs), we welcome you to attend one of our six no-obligation informational sessions. 

Host homes are a community-based response to a growing need - supporting young people who are homeless so that they may pursue their personal goals and transition safely to young adulthood. 

Hosting is not a simple undertaking. But it can be life-changing for both you and the youth you host.  You'll find more information in this newsletter, on our website, and at the informational meetings.

Deborah Loon

Executive Director

P.S. An amazing young woman is on a 3,500-mile bike ride across America to raise money for Avenues.  Her journey is simply remarkable.  Please check out the story below.  Follow her blog, pass it along, and contribute if you are able!

Featured Articles 

Meet New Staff Member Jenny Lock

We welcome Jenny Lock to Avenues as the Program Manager for the Suburban Host Home Program.  In this position, Jenny provides overall program coordination to recruit, train and support host homes, in collaboration with the program's Action Council. 

Jenny has an MS in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University and a BA in fiction writing from Hampshire College.  In graduate school, her academic focus was on youth violence prevention and institutional racism as a major domestic conflict.

Jenny comes to Avenues from YouthLink, where she served as the Volunteer Coordinator and Development Associate, and also provided direct service to young people experiencing homelessness as a Youth Advocate and as coordinator of the Independent Living Skills program.  Jenny has also been a member of the Homelessness 101 steering committee and training team since 2009, and regularly leads trainings and workshops in the community on youth homelessness and conflict resolution.

Suburban Host Home Program

Avenues' newest program is quickly gaining momentum.  Program Manager Jenny Lock hit the ground running two weeks ago and is engaged with the hard-working Suburban Host Home Action Council to recruit hosts and community support.  Our goal is to have several host homes trained and hosting youth by the end of the year in the suburbs of Hennepin County! 

The program has been highlighted in a number of recent articles and news segments.  Below are a couple links to some of the great coverage we've been getting.  Please note the information sessions listed to the right!  If you are interested in hearing more about the program and learning what it's like to host a youth, be sure to attend one of these meetings.  Please also forward the information to friends you think may be interested.

Visit the Suburban Host Home Program website

Like the program page on facebook

Read the Sept 2 Star Tribune article 

Watch the Sept 12 KSTP 5 Eyewitness News segment

GLBT Host Home Program  

Avenues' GLBT Host Home Program has been helping homeless youth who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or

transgender since 1998.  Rocki Sim�es has led the program since its inception.  Many youth have been housed and helped throughout the years and the program has grown to include 20 host homes at any given time.  The blueprint of this successful program was used in modeling the new Suburban Host Home Program.  Both programs are actively seeking hosts.  Please attend one of the information sessions noted at the right if you are interested in learning more about hosting a youth!

Visit the GLBT Host Home Program website 

Like the program page on facebook 

Download the GLBT Host Home Program Brochure 

Read the Sept 2 Star Tribune article 

Avenues at Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN

Abbi Across America

Abigail Doyle is biking across America to raise money for Avenues and to heighten awareness of youth homelessness. Her solo trek began September 1 and will take almost three months to complete.  Abbi is biking all the way from San Francisco, California to Yorktown, Virginia - over 3500 miles total!  She is currently in Nevada.  You may follow her trip and read more on Abbi's blog.   Please demonstrate your encouragement by donating to Abbi's page on GiveMN.org.

Abbi has said EVERY donation gives her a thrill, no matter the amount.  Please contribute what you can to show your support of Abbi and her truly amazing journey!  And spread the word to folks you may know along her path! 

Coming November 6: IncrediBowl!

We are doing it again! A Sunday afternoon of pins, prizes and pizza at  The Park Tavern Bowling & Entertainment Center.  On November 6, we'll have the whole bowling alley to ourselves from 2-4pm!  Your $40 admission fee covers bowling, shoes, pizza buffet and beverages - and $30 goes directly to support Avenues for Homeless Youth!

There will be prizes awarded for high scores, most team spirit, and best costumes; plus raffle tickets for some great gift certificates and items donated by local businesses - including a Park Tavern bowling party certificate for 40 people valued at $520!

Rally up your friends and join us for this super fun fundraiser!  Fly solo, bring a friend, or set up a team of 5-6 people and claim one of the 20 lanes!  Contact Mike Meyer for more information.