New Pilot Program for Ending Youth Homelessness Launches in Minneapolis, Applauds Governor's Commitment to End Youth Homelessness

ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A group of non-profits are launching a new pilot program aimed at ending homelessness for LGBTQ youth in the Twin Cities. The organizers of the new program, called conneQT, a Point Source Youth Pilot, applaud Governor Mark Dayton's commitment to implementing solutions to end homelessness for thousands of youth that sleep on the streets or in shelters every night.

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conneQT is a collaboration between three Twin Cities organizations, The Link, RECLAIM!, and Avenues for Homeless Youth, and the national organization Point Source Youth.  conneQT will implement and evaluate a unique combination of three interventions to end youth homelessness: family reconnection, short-term host homes, and rapid rehousing.

"Ending Youth Homelessness is possible.  In Minneapolis, the conneQT Point Source Youth Pilot is an example of what we can do.  Point Source Youth is bringing together foundations, individual donors, and three highly regarded service providers, The Link, Avenues for Homeless Youth, and RECLAIM! to create a system to end homelessness for 40 youth, this year alone.  We need more efforts like the conneQT Point Source Youth pilot, and we need to continue bring additional resources to the table to prevent the long-term negative consequences homelessness has on our young people," said Mary Tingerthal, State Commissioner, and Co-Chair of the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Larry Cohen, President of Point Source Youth, said, "Minnesota is in a position to become the first state in our country to end youth homelessness with data-proven success. This new pilot program will ensure local organizations build capacity to meet this challenge today and in the future. Having the backing of Governor Mark Dayton's administration indicates that this is a priority at the highest level of government in Minnesota."

About conneTQ, A Point Source Youth Pilot

ConneQT is a collaboration between Point Source Youth, Avenues for Homeless Youth, The Link, and RECLAIM! in the Twin Cities.  ConneQT will demonstrate that we can prevent and end homelessness for LGBTQ youth through intensive case management, family strengthening and reconnection, short-term host homes and rapid rehousing.

Media Contacts
Colin McSwiggen
Vice President, Point Source Youth
513-382-5434
Email 
www.pointsourceyouth.org

Autumn Brown
Executive Director, RECLAIM!
Email 
www.reclaim-lgbtyouth.org

Beth Holger-Ambrose
Executive Director, The Link
Email 
www.thelink.org

Deb Loon
Executive Director, Avenues for Homeless Youth
Email 
www.avenuesforyouth.org

SOURCE Point Source Youth