T.H.U.G. Life Ministry For Homeless Youth

HAVE YOU EVER FELT INVISIBLE?

T.H.U.G. Life Ministry (Truly Humble Under God) has served homeless teens and young adults throughout the St. Croix Valley area for over 12 years. We SEE those who may be invisible to most. Our mission is to help homeless youth with basic needs, including housing, meals, and clothing. After a foundation of basic needs is in place, it's onward and upward for our youth as they work with us to finish school, find jobs, and become independent members of the community. Please consider helping us! ♥️

WHO DO WE HELP?

At any given time, T.H.U.G. Life Ministry's facilities/programming serve approximately 100 local homeless youth, ages 16 to 25, who often have no family support, with 300-400 youth helped annually. Some request long-term help from us. Others may only need help with a few short-term, specific needs. Our clients include teens and young adults from diverse religious, social, sexual orientation, cultural, and racial backgrounds. We help all youth in need, regardless of background.

HOW DO WE HELP?

T.H.U.G. Life Ministry's programming assists our clients in meeting basic needs, while developing a strong foundation from which they can focus on addressing higher-level needs and life goals. For the first time in their lives, many of our young clients understand the feeling of security that comes from having their basic needs met. Once the constant stress and worry related to finding shelter, food, and clothing is eliminated, our programming assists youth in focusing on higher-level needs such as finishing school, finding employment, developing relationships, and becoming independent, engaged community members.

T.H.U.G. Life Ministry's work with homeless youth focuses on SIX program areas:

1. Housing: We help clients find safe, stable housing at our Somerset T.H.U.G. House, Frederic T.H.U.G. Farm, with host families throughout the St. Croix Valley, or with friends/extended family members. There is a desperate need for additional housing options for our youth.  

 2. Food: We meet monthly with clients to assess food needs, which vary based on finances, living situation, and the ability to store/prepare food. Some clients receive backpacks with prepared foods. Others receive groceries and meal plans. Some rely on shelf-stable foods. 

 3. Clothing: T.H.U.G. considers adequate, appropriate clothing to be a basic need for our young clients. We rely on clothing donations; when donations are limited or if specific items are needed, we take youth shopping at discount stores using donated cash/gift cards. We also use Amazon Wish Lists for our clients. The lists are publicized on social media, and donated items are shipped directly to T.H.U.G. House.

 4. Rides: For homeless youth, transportation is a significant need. Public transportation is very limited in the St. Croix Valley; this is an obstacle for clients who are students, who work, or who need rides for appointments and interviews. Our team offers rides, based on volunteer availability. We also offer gas gift cards if rides can be arranged with co-workers or friends.

 5. Mental Health/Medical Care: When youth are referred to T.H.U.G., our intake includes learning which services are in place and which services may be needed. We help with applications, rides, finding providers/insurance, and scheduling appointments. Regular follow up is done to monitor progress and help access additional resources as needs, age, or employment, educational, and financial situations change.

 6. Mentoring: Many youth served by T.H.U.G. have not had reliable adults in their lives to offer guidance. Therefore, mentoring is an important part of our work and is focused on school, life skills, and budgeting and career advice. 

T.H.U.G. Life Ministry so appreciates your consideration of support for the homeless young people we serve. Your donation will support a solid foundation of basic needs for local homeless youth. From this foundation, it's onward and upward as they work with us to become engaged, independent citizens of the St. Croix Valley area. Thank you! ♥️