Shelter from the storm DULUTH— Life House is a true safe haven for Duluth youth. Since 1991, the non-profit organization has remained steadfast in their commitment to reconnecting young people to their dreams.
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A team of over 40 fulltime employees, including people with lived experiences and staff with credentials such as licensed clinical social workers, a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, and a licensed teacher, serve around 900 unduplicated youth each year. The organization provides a safe alternative to couch hopping or living on the streets for homeless individuals between the ages of 14 to 24, including many young parents with children. For many, this assistance can reduce the feeling of being stuck and hopeless in life.
[ABOVE] Mural painted on the outside of Life House’s Imaginarium building. | SUBMITTED
Jordon Eunison-Chisti, a Duluth native, has been the executive director of Life House since January of 2020. Beyond overseeing the daily operation of the services they provide, he is also responsible for directing the vision for the organization. Because there is no cost for any of Life House’s services, they are able to work with young people in unique and progressive ways.
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“Supporting our staff, thinking about our strategic plan, and connecting with community members is a large part of what I do. I ask myself, ‘What are the partnerships we are cultivating or the relationships we are building in our community and beyond, and how can we best support our young people?’” he says. “We want to put forth practices that are sometimes evidence-based, but we also want to know what our practice-based evidence is. What are the practices we are creating that we can start to document that become evidence?” In 2022, 60 percent of the youth identified as Indigenous, Black, and Multiracial, and 38 percent self-identified as LGBTQ+. This diversity in the youth served by Life House
[LEFT] Duluth’s Life House provides comprehensive supportive services to meet the needs of youth and young families ages 14-24 who are unstably housed and/or navigating various challenges in life. | SUBMITTED makes its commitment to hiring a diverse team with various backgrounds even more meaningful. With staff representation from different races, genders, ages, LGBTQ+ identities, and cultural traditions, their diversity reflects the organization’s belief in the power of people from different backgrounds coming together to create a better future for the youth that need support. “Making them feel like they are welcome, belong, and listened to is a really important piece. We have a really dynamic group of people and team who they get to connect with. Oftentimes, they are with us for two to five to 10 years depending on where they are in their life and their age.”
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