Jasmyn Green began her career working with young people experiencing homelessness and poverty about a decade ago, driven by goodness and familiarity. "I definitely had issues with my parents," said Green who, at 17, was already living on her own. "We are now great. But it's tough, especially when you have no options." Green, 29, creates those options for youth ages 16 to 24 as program manager for Oasis for Youth, a drop-in and resource center that focuses on youth in Bloomington, Richfield and Edina. Green, who's worked with StreetWorks, Lutheran Social Service and Safe Zone, oversees the busy center filled with comfy couches, games, books and, wisely, free food. There she builds trust — and futures.
Q: You admit to being surprised that Twin Cities suburbs were facing challenges similar to urban settings, such as housing insecurity and hunger. What changed your mind?
A: I was doing outreach work mostly in Minneapolis and St. Paul. I remember the first time I heard about Oasis. I thought it was absolutely insane that they'd think they had issues. But I was just naive. I just didn't know enough about young people in Oasis' service area. Overall, the needs are not that different, but there's a real lack of resources in the suburbs as compared to the urban core. One of the biggest barriers in the suburbs is the lack of public transportation, especially on weekends, which is a huge barrier to getting to and from work. We believe youth thrive in their own communities. Our volunteers and staff do a lot of driving.
Q: What are some reasons young people come to Oasis?
A: Many just need a safe place to be and caring adults. They often don't have networks able to help them out with $20 to get to work or navigate a crisis. Some are trying to escape exploitation or abusive relationships, or have mental health issues. Others want to return to school or develop a trade. We pair each young person with a case manager, but we encourage them to map out their own journeys. They're giving, talented and resilient. We walk alongside them.
Q: How many youths do you serve annually and are you growing?
A: In 2014, we served about 160 youth. In 2018, it was around 430. Each year, our numbers are growing because we are finding more and better ways to work with our young people to avoid eviction, stay employed, find a safe place to be.
Q: I cannot imagine being homeless in this cold. How did Oasis respond?