Newsmakers: Brooklyn Avenues Influences Design of Future Homeless Youth Shelter
Avenues for Youth has broken ground on a new, trauma-informed shelter in north Minneapolis, drawing key design inspiration from Brooklyn Avenues.
Executive Director Katherine Meerse said the larger facility will offer private bedrooms, gender-neutral bathrooms and affordable apartments to support youth transitioning to independence.
“It will replace our current north Minneapolis building and it’s so much influenced by everything we’ve learned from Brooklyn Avenues,” said Meerse. “Brooklyn Avenues was built in 2013 and we knew a lot about trauma-informed design and what young people need when they are recovering from the experience of homelessness.”
The new facility will also have office space that is in a separate area from residential space.
“There’s a young youth bedroom around the corner from my office and their bathroom is across the hall from my office. I love to hear them sing in the shower, but I don’t think they really want to hear me on a Zoom call in the morning,” said Meerse.
Artist Rendering of Brooklyn Avenues for Youth
The facility will also have eight affordable apartments. The apartments will be reserved for youth who have been in one of the Avenues for Youth programs, which includes Brooklyn Avenues. This will offer extra support for youth transitioning to stable living on their own and allow them to develop a successful rental history.
“That’s really often a barrier for our young people is that they don’t have a rental history and landlords are reluctant to rent rent to them,” said Meerse.
The new facility will be open in late summer 2026.
Springtime at Brooklyn Avenues is Busy
As far as work and springtime at the Brooklyn Avenues space, it remains full and outside spaces like basketball courts and a picnic area are getting full use. Staff are pleased to report they have recently had some youth move out of the shelter into stable housing.
To learn more about Avenues for Youth, visit their website at avenuesforyouth.org.
See also: Avenues for Youth Receives ARPA Funds To Help Homeless Youth
