Pam Langseth for Open Hands

Our Program on July 21 was presented by Pam Langseth. She described a new program in the area to help teenagers, OpenHands.

Forty-five years ago, a shelter was opened in Minneapolis where teens with no place to sleep could go. The shelter provided food, counseling and other support for the teens. This shelter is still functioning, can house up to 8 teens a night, and has found that 80% of their clients return to live with their families.

At least nine teens are without shelter in our area each night.

The Open Hands Foundation will open a facility in November. This house, donated by Westwood Church, will house 6 teens on a temporary basis while staff counselors work to find a permanent solution. The data shows that most are away from their home because of transitory issues. There will be 3 staff members at the facility at all times to aid the teens.

Cost of this program is budgeted at $550,000 for the year. Half of that money will come from government sources, and the rest is to be raised locally. This is a joint effort of Westwood Church, The Bridge for Youth (the Minneapolis center) and OpenHands, with OpenHands providing volunteers and funding.  More info or to volunteer: www.theopenhands.org.