At times, a community’s greatest need is hidden in plain sight. With the prevalence of unhoused youth in numerous communities across the United States – Anoka County is no different.
Ten years ago, a short news clip showing a young person sleeping outdoors was the motivator that launched HOPE 4 Youth, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to helping young people experiencing homelessness in the northern part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro Area.
A Mission to Support Local Youth
HOPE 4 Youth began as a grassroots initiative to create a place where young people feel valued and supported. LaChelle Williams, Executive Director of HOPE 4 Youth, speaks about the organization’s mission with passion and determination.
"Youth homelessness is unacceptable. With community support, we are able to change the trajectory in the lives of those we work with."
That mission is deeply meaningful to 21st Century Bank, not on as a business that serves the Anoka area, but as individuals. Joan Wood from the Business Banking Team and Todd Klingl from the Small Business Administration (SBA) Lending Team are familiar with the mission of HOPE 4 Youth, having participated in events and fundraisers in the past.
“A colleague of mine heard of the grassroots initiative and was so moved he pulled us all to it,” said Klingl.
“The cause they put together is just amazing,” added Wood. “You really don’t know that there’s homeless youth. I think about when my kids went to school — they’re walking around with kids that don’t have homes and are couch-hopping and don’t even know it.”
The Needle is Moving
Results from 2022’s youth survey of those working with a case manager for six months or more:
78%
of youth reported they obtained or maintained stable housing
69%
of youth reported they feel their mental health has improved
84%
of youth reported having no (or fewer) encounters with the justice system
98%
of youth reported success in one or more goal areas
Finding a Local Banking Partner
In 2018, HOPE 4 Youth began searching for a local banking partner. Thanks to the generous support of the residents of Anoka County and beyond HOPE 4 Youth had cash assets that exceeded the limit of what the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) covers for standard deposit accounts. They needed to find a bank that could protect their deposits and look out for their best interests. As a small nonprofit, resources are limited. They value the types of connections they can count on for good advice.
The team at 21st was familiar with the mission of HOPE 4 Youth and knew which business banking products would best serve their needs. They opened insured cash accounts to protect the organization’s deposits, set up savings accounts and credit cards, helped them transfer the funds to pay off the loan on their building and set up a line of credit to give them some spending flexibility.
“Nonprofits exist due to the generosity of community donors and the volunteers who bring magic to the mission,” said Williams. “21st Century Bank shows up in both ways, helping financially to meet the programmatic needs of our work as well as standing beside us with compassionate volunteers.”
For nonprofit organizations seeking a banking partner, Wood and the Business Banking Team strive to be the team that provides tailored solutions – and here, the team delivered.
