Minneapolis leaders, corporate executives sleep out for homeless youth

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - More than 65 corporate executives, local business leaders and public officials slumbered outside in sleeping bags to help raise money and awareness for youth homelessness Sunday night in downtown Minneapolis.

The “Night of Hope: Executive Sleep Out” benefits YouthLink, a Minneapolis nonprofit that helps homeless youth find independence by providing everything from basic needs and housing assistance to education and career support.

Participants included Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau, County Attorney Mike Freeman, Senator Scott Dibble, Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene, Former Vikings player Chuck Foreman, and corporate executives from 3M, Excel Energy, Bank of America, Land O’ Lakes, and more.

"On any given night, homeless youth could fill over half the hotel rooms in downtown Minneapolis, yet these young people are often invisible to society" Dr. Heather Huseby, YouthLink Executive Director, said. "This problem effects all of us whether we realize it or not."

The sleep out included packing meals and a tour of Minneapolis that highlighted a day in the life of a homeless youth -- the goal is to raise $200,000 for services "to help local homeless youth find independence."