Housing for homeless Twin Cities teens on Nicollet Avenue

Nearly everyone knows a teenager who for whatever reason decided he or she had to get out of Dodge and head for. . . who knows where?

St. Paul-based Wilder Center in its regular homeless surveys has found more than 1,000 teens on any given night in Minnesota don't have permanent shelter.

That picture changes today for up to 42 homeless teens.

Plymouth Church Neighborhood Foundation opens the doors to its brand new development at 3700 Nicollet Avenue in south Minneapolis.

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No, 42 units doesn't solve the homeless teen problem. But measured in human potential harnessed and money saved, it's a huge deal.

Think of it this way.

If the PCNF 3700 Nicollet project helps even one teen find his or her course to a productive and fulfilling life, the project is a win.

And in a more extreme case, if 3700 Nicollet helps even one teen stay out of jail or avoid some other calamity, well, that's tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars saved.

I consider that a win, win.

PCNF, by the way, is emerging as a significant player in the Twin Cities affordable housing market. They opened the doors not too long ago on their south Minneapolis Creek Commons project.

Then, later this year, they will likely break ground in cooperation with CommonBond Communities on 42 units of affordable housing in Minneapolis' Minnehaha neighborhood.