Quick Facts: Minnesota
Performance Breakdown
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Law & Policy: 62% of metrics met
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Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness: 92% of metrics met
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Preventing youth experiencing homelessness from coming into contact with the criminal and juvenile justice systems: 67% of metrics met
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Providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently: 63% of metrics met
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Addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness: 17% of metrics met
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Allowing youth experiencing homelessness to access critical supports and services: 50% of metrics met
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Systems: 72% of metrics met
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Environment: 18% of metrics met
State Score 2022: 56
State Ranking 2022: 25
2022 Score
2021 Score
56
56
Minnesota Highlights
Some areas where Minnesota has moved the needle relative to other states include laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness, allowing them to access critical supports and services, and implementing a multi-sector approach to addressing youth homelessness.
Law & Policy
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The state has RHY statutes similar to the federal Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) that provides funding for emergency services and other supports to prevent and end youth homelessness.
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State law does not criminally punish youth who run away.
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The state allows shelters to take in homeless youth with a delay or waiver of notification requirements
Systems
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There is a current state plan to end homelessness that contains a youth-specific strategy component which addresses the needs of LGBTQ youth.
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There is a state interagency council on homelessness.
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The state provides tuition waivers for foster youth.
Environment
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The state promotes safe and inclusive environments in child welfare programs by providing protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Recommendations for Improvement
There is room for improvement throughout the metrics for the North Star State, with emphasis on the Environment category. Creating a more welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment for youth experiencing homelessness should be prioritized.
Law & Policy
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Enact regulations which explicitly allow partial and alternative school credit accrual for homeless youth.
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Establish a formal process for emancipation.
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Enact regulations which explicitly allow unaccompanied youth under 18 to apply for health insurance coverage without parental consent.
Systems
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The state should allow minors to obtain state-issued ID without parental consent.
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Create a state entity – such as an Office of Homeless Youth Services – that focuses solely on designing, implementing, and evaluating youth homelessness programs.
Environment
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Require training about sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, healthy sexual development, or issues specific to LGBTQ youth for staff working in runaway and homeless youth systems.
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The state should establish and maintain stipends for a community advisory board that informs youth homelessness policy (Youth Action Board).
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The state should establish nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ youth in youth homelessness services.
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Ban harmful and ineffective service provision that includes conversion therapy.