The new partnership creates innovative collaboration for youth exiting foster care
Minneapolis, Minnesota – PERIS Foundation, whose mission is to oversee and champion PERIS Hill, an intentional housing community in Hennepin County that supports and empowers young people who have experienced foster care to develop and thrive, launches a partnership with the YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The YMCA of the North was selected as the new partner to provide supportive services at PERIS Hill due to their demonstrated success with youth housing services, foster youth experiences and opportunities, and strong commitment to equity.
First of its kind, PERIS Hill includes 45 units of affordable housing with 15 units of deeply affordable, supportive housing designated for young people aging out of foster care. PERIS Hill is an innovative model created through research and with the guidance of a foster youth advisory council with the goal to interrupt the foster care to homelessness pipeline through an environment of supported autonomy and interconnected independence.
YMCA Youth and Family Services provides goal-oriented life coaching and supportive services to prevent homelessness, identify and address barriers to stable housing, and promote long-term stability. Services include financial and monthly budgeting assistance, food support, employment help, connection to community resources and more.
“At PERIS we get to work closely, in a learning posture, with young adults who have experienced foster care, direct service providers, and public entities, collaborating for greater impact,” said PERIS Foundation executive director Carla Godwin. “We are thrilled to partner with the YMCA of the North as we build best practices with tenants, giving young adults who have experienced foster care a real say over their housing.”
“Both the Y and PERIS are committed to preventing foster youth homelessness by providing caring support that helps all learn, grow and thrive,” said Annastasia Collier, executive director of YMCA Youth and Family Services. “The Y knows this desired outcome can only be achieved through strong collaboration and partnership with PERIS.”
The YMCA will provide services and engagement in a beautiful onsite space, designed with youth input. PERIS Hill provides market competitive amenities available to all tenants, including in-unit washer and dryer, fitness center, bike lounge/repair station, community spaces and large windows in every unit and is centrally location in Lowry Hill is close to multiple transit options, parks, Uptown, Downtown, numerous grocery stores, restaurants, and retail shops.
Funding for YMCA’s supportive services at PERIS Hill has been provided through a 10-year commitment by The Graves Foundation as well as ongoing operational support from the PERIS Foundation.
About PERIS Foundation
PERIS Foundation oversees and champions PERIS Hill, an innovative housing model created through research and with the guidance of a foster youth advisory council that incorporates supportive housing for young adults who have experienced foster care into a larger affordable housing community. At PERIS, our goal is to interrupt the foster care to homelessness pipeline through an environment of supported autonomy and interconnected independence. To learn more about the PERIS Foundation’s work and PERIS Hill, visit www.perisfoundation.org.
About the YMCA of the North
The YMCA of the North is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Established 167 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities. The 29 Y locations and program sites, eight overnight camps, 10 day camps, and more than 90 child care sites engage more than 370,000 men, women and children of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. To learn more about the Y’s mission and work, visit www.ymcanorth.org.