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YouthLink Executive Director, Heather Huseby

A little over a year ago, a special new housing complex was opened in downtown Minneapolis. The St. Barnabas Apartments were the result of a bold vision and a unique partnership, whose members included the Central Community Housing Trust, Allina Hospitals and Clinics, YouthLink, and the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota. How have things been going since that time? Carol Gronfor, Development Director for YouthLink, has provided this update.

St. Barnabas Apartments, a supportive housing program serving homeless or precariously-housed youth, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, marking the day when 39 new homes were opened to the community. YouthLink is the primary onsite service provider, offering 24-hour desk coverage and case management services at St. Barnabas. Central Community Housing Trust (CCHT) is the property owner, and managed the recent rehabilitation of the property.

In a little over twelve months, the project has quickly progressed. All units are currently leased, and there is a waiting list for youth entry. St. Barnabas now has an active group of residents who have overcome personal circumstances to create a home in addition to contributing to a cooperative spirit within the program. The Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota was a key partner in the redevelopment of the property, and YouthLink is excited to share the accomplishments of the resident youth at St. Barnabas with your community.

Building a healthy environment
Through individual and group services, YouthLink has made asserted efforts to create an environment where youth will thrive and feel a sense of community. Every youth is required to participate in individually-based case management services that help youth establish and focus on goals for education, employment, housing, independent living skills, and emotional and physical health. Additionally, community events and group learning opportunities are hosted monthly, like Saturday morning breakfasts or group academic tutoring sessions. To ensure the youth feel a sense of ownership to the program, a resident advisory group was formed with approximately eight youth contributing to ongoing feedback about services and housing rules and regulations. The youth are responding well with a high level of attendance in program events and youth are expressing a sense of belonging and place.

St. Barnabas’ services are linked with the broader YouthLink resources to provide expertise in working with youth dealing with trauma and other mental health issues. The housing program has created a culture and community that openly promotes positive attitudes towards mental health. A meditation room has been developed for quite independent reflection for youth. Various topic groups are hosted throughout the year, addressing healthy relationships and mental health. Further, St. Barnabas services are currently being enhanced to include formalized mental health treatment plans incorporated into ongoing case management services. This will include medication education and monitoring and mental health symptom management.

The

Guests speaking with Jamie in her apartment at St. Barnabas

real measure of success
The positive response to programming has been reflected in strong program outcomes. The youth have worked hard at meeting expectations for employment and education. Forty-nine youth were served during 2005. Of these, 70% of total move-ins received a six-month rental history or moved to an apartment where they were on the lease. An incredible 68% of these youth increased their education level and 94% increased their income!     

While the demographic information and outcomes data reveal some level of program success, the true success story belongs to the youth. The participants in St. Barnabas are primarily self-referred. This means there is a basic level of motivation to succeed. The staff often only needs to explore options and opportunities for housing, stability, and learning and the youth themselves work towards success. YouthLink is inspired by their desire to succeed. An individual youth’s story demonstrates the level of success she accomplished in her own life:

Renee, a young immigrant woman from Ethiopia, was one of the first residents to move in. She came to the United States to stay with her grandparents and start a new life with the opportunities for education in America. Unfortunately, her start in the new country was marred by tragedy. Her grandfather was physically abusive to the point where living with her family was no longer an option. When she entered the program, Renee was incredibly shy, but motivated to gain an education. She has worked part time and gone to school since the minute she moved in over a year ago. She completed high school and is now going part time to the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul. She plans on becoming a nurse. Renee is always happy and in a great mood. She is a wonderful young woman who just needed a safe place to stay.

About the St. Barnabas Apartments

June 19, 2006 - Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota

Compiled from material by Susan Barksdale, Joe Bjordal, Gordon Thomas, and the Rev. Michael Hanley

On April 7, 2005, Episcopalians, civic leaders and members of the Community joined together to celebrate the grand opening of St. Barnabas Apartments, which would serve homeless and at-risk youth. Dreams for this day had begun in 2000, when Allina Health Systems, which owned the building — then vacant for over 20 years — approached Bishop James Jelinek about donating the property back to the Episcopal Church (the original St. Barnabas Hospital had been founded by the Church of Gethsemane, Minneapolis). A plan was soon developed to use the old hospital for affordable housing, specifically for homeless youth.

The Diocese of Minnesota was instrumental in the early stages of setting the stage for making this dream become a reality. As plans for St. Barnabas developed, a coalition was formed with leaders in the affordable housing and youth social service provider industry, including Central Community Housing Trust (CCHT), Allina Health Systems, YouthLink, and Hennepin County.

As a partner in this coalition, the Diocese of Minnesota provided $400,000 in seed money. This money helped to leverage additional funding from private and public sources, according to Gina Ciganik, senior project coordinator for St. Barnabas. “In a number of cases, having a faith-based organization as a partner is what made the difference in the final decision to fund the project,” she said. The seed funds, an outright gift, were provided “up front” thanks to a loan from the Trustees to the Diocese of Minnesota. That loan has been repaid through private gifts by Episcopalians throughout the diocese.

An outpouring of generosity
While renovations were underway, congregations, corporations, and individuals added their gifts of money, furnishings, and household supplies to prepare the apartments for their first occupants. In addition, the Minnesota Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) selected St. Barnabas Apartments as its 2004 Community Service Project.

At the grand opening, Bishop Jelinek spoke of how St. Barnabas has brought people together in so many ways, sharing their resources, time and energy to help fulfill a dream. “The dream has come to fruition, and I offer congratulations to all of us,” he said. Other speakers included Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, also an Episcopalian, who had been born at the old hospital.

Further honors
Recognition of the St. Barnabas Apartments did not stop with their grand opening. Mr. Bruce Nerland, chair of the St. Barnabas Fundraising Committee and a member of St. Matthew’s, St Paul, announced in June 2005 that a $20,000 gift from the Athwin Foundation had been received on behalf of the program. On November 10, 2005, the Sheltering Arms Foundation presented its seventh annual Children’s Leadership Award (including a check for $1000) to the partnership of Central Community Housing Trust (CCHT), YouthLink, Allina Hospitals and Clinics, and the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota. Finally, on November 18, the City of Minneapolis was honored with the Meritorious Achievement Award from the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies for the St. Barnabas Apartments, at a conference in San Francisco.

The real success
All these honors would have meant little if not for the difference that St. Barnabas has made in the lives of those it has served. One of these stories — that of Renee — is recounted above. In addition, more than over a dozen residents attended the Sheltering Arms award banquet in November to visit with other guests and to tell their stories. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and their presence provided one of those wonderful “that’s why we’re here” moments that are so renewing to us all.

Perhaps the best summary of this endeavor comes from St. Barnabas resident Jamie Smith. She spoke briefly in November 2005 about her background before moving into her new apartment, but she spoke more about her newly-transformed life. She has now completed high school and been accepted into college. Having a decent place to live and support from others has made this possible for Jamie and for others. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for St. Barnabas,” she said.