In our most recent articles we’ve shared our experience with building a new, supportive housing model for foster youth in Minnesota. But equally important are the stories behind that work. They remind us that while policies, partnerships, and housing models matter, their true value is measured in the opportunities they create for our young residents. Ty is one of those residents and with his permission we're honored to share his story.

As we moved from concept to daily operation, our vision for PERIS Hill encountered the realities of implementation. What had felt coherent and aligned on paper now had to function within a complex web of funding requirements, neighborhood dynamics, service delivery systems, property management norms, and human relationships. As soon as we opened doors, we unearthed a truth:  innovation is rarely linear. It requires continuous learning, adaptation, and humility. Now, five years into operation, we’re sharing our experience, not because we've found every answer, or would ever claim perfection, but because we believe the foster care, homelessness, and broader supportive housing fields can only grow stronger when we are all willing to share and discuss both our successes and our challenges.

Young people aging out of foster care face some of the highest risks of housing instability and homelessness in the United States. Across studies, between one-third and nearly half of youth who age out of foster care will experience homelessness by their mid-twenties, a rate many times higher than their peers. This instability is not episodic—it is patterned and persistent. Youth with out-of-home placement histories experience homelessness earlier, more frequently, and for longer durations than their peers. They also show disproportionate rates of involvement with the criminal legal system, early parenting, mental health challenges, and underemployment. Not as a result of individual failure, but clearly as a reflection of conditions (both systematic and situational) that make sustained stability extraordinarily difficult during their transition to adulthood.

Finland's Housing First model proves homelessness can be solved with aligned funding, onsite services, and strong political will. Can we follow Finland’s proven path?

John and Denise Graves built their kitchen-table start up into a 150-employee company and sold it for over $150 million. Shortly after the sale they launched the John and Denise Graves Foundation (also known as Graves Foundation) - determined to improve the lives of youth by supporting education, community building, housing, and youth development in and around Minneapolis. A few years later PERIS Hill became a reality and the PERIS Foundation was formed.

The 2024 PIT count quantifies a visible and felt tragedy unfolding for Minnesotans across our state that compels response and demands that we ask hard questions and move toward action. What would it take to solve homelessness in Minnesota… to create humane solutions to encampments… to provide effective and comprehensive housing support to Minnesotans who need it most… to lead on effective solutions that could impact homelessness nationwide? We’re hoping Helsinki, Finland may reveal some answers.