Offering free case management, financial assistance for homeless teens, young adults

Catholic Charities Supportive Housing for Youth Program (SHY) offers housing counseling and financial assistance for young people, ages 16 to 24, who are experiencing homelessness, near-homelessness, or aging-out of foster care. This specialized program, offered at no cost to youth, helps youth build stability in their lives and maintain affordable housing.

Advocacy and mentorship to struggling young people

Catholic Charities SHY Program assists qualifying youth experiencing a crisis in housing to:

• Build a success plan for independent living.
• Find and maintain affordable housing.
• Network with valuable community resources.

An experienced Independent Living Skills Counselor (ILSC) works one-on-one with each youthful client, assuring that he/she receives the training needed to become successful at living independently. The amount of direct staff contact may vary throughout the course of the enrollment, depending upon the specific needs of the youth at any given time. Youth may participate in the program for up to six months or as arranged with their counselor.

With the help of the ILSC, youth set individual goals in various topic areas. Click here>> to view a complete list.

Opportunities for financial assistance

Financial assistance is available to youth. It may cover the costs of moving in, rent, basic household necessities, or items necessary to maintain employment or education.

Because each funding source has somewhat different guidelines, the amount and duration of the assistance may vary. Funding options are offered by an Independent Living Skills Counselor. Typically, funding is provided by the Otto Bremer Foundation, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (Family Homeless Prevention Assistance Program), as well as the Department of Human Services SELF and / or Youth in Transition programs.

Assessments help youth track progress

A variety of measuring tools are used by the program to ascertain the progress of its youthful clients.

• The Ansell-Casey Lifeskills Assessment
• Exit survey
• Follow-up surveys at three-month intervals

The Ansell-Casey Lifeskills Assessment is given at the onset and at the completion of the course in order to help the client (and Independent Living Skills Counselor) determine his/her level of independence and self-sufficiency. An Exit Survey is also given upon completion of the program; it collects current contact information and uncovers the client's level of satisfaction with SAIL's services. Follow-up Surveys are sent to the program's 'graduates' at intervals of three, six, and 12 months. This survey gains important client feedback in these areas:

• Degree to which the youth's housing situation has stabilized
• Degree to which his/her educational/training level has improved
• Degree to which employment has stabilized and / or improved for him/her
• Degree to which the youth has increased his / her connection to the community

Eligibility, Fees, Referrals

When a young person, age 16 to 24 years old, living in Anoka, Benton, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, or Wright county is identified as needing Supported Housing for Youth services, the referring agency may use the following online forms:

There are no fees for this program. Referrals are not required.

Admissions Forms

• Program Referral / Entry Information (Fill-in-the-blank Word document)
• Program Referral / Entry Information (PDF)

Contact the Program Supervisor with questions.

Supportive Housing for Youth (SHY)

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  • About SHY
  • Brochure (PDF)
  • Related Links
  • Map to SHY office
  • Testimonial
  • News