The therapy dogs at Hope Street shelter represent more than just a moment of comfort—they symbolize the critical human connection that homeless young adults desperately need in a system increasingly threatened by shortsighted budget proposals. The story of Em Lucier and others at Catholic Charities’ Hope Street shelter illuminates a disturbing reality: while we have proven models that help vulnerable young adults transition to stability, political decisions threaten to dismantle this vital safety net precisely when it’s most needed.
What’s particularly alarming about the proposed HUD funding cuts is how they target programs with demonstrated success. Hope Street’s approach—stabilizing young adults before connecting them to housing, employment, and counseling—represents exactly the kind of comprehensive intervention that prevents long-term homelessness. Yet these evidence-based programs face devastating cuts that would ripple through the entire homeless service ecosystem.
Budget Cuts Create False Economies
The proposed Trump administration cuts to permanent supportive housing represent a profound misunderstanding of both fiscal responsibility and effective social policy. When approximately 4,000 Minnesotans potentially lose housing assistance, they don’t simply disappear—they end up in emergency rooms, jails, and more expensive crisis interventions that ultimately cost taxpayers significantly more.
Research from the Urban Institute demonstrates that permanent supportive housing saves between $9,000 and $15,000 per person annually when accounting for reduced use of emergency services, hospitalization, and criminal justice involvement. The math is straightforward: every dollar cut from housing programs typically results in $2-3 of additional costs elsewhere in public budgets.
Catholic Charities’ Jamie Verbrugge correctly identifies how these cuts would destabilize their entire housing operation. This isn’t just about the 30 beds at Hope Street—it’s about dismantling an interconnected system that moves young adults from crisis to stability through carefully designed transitions and support services.
Youth Homelessness Requires Specialized Approaches
Hope Street’s focus on young adults aged 18-24 isn’t arbitrary—it reflects the unique developmental needs of this population. Many residents come from foster care systems where they’ve aged out without adequate transition planning. Others, like Lucier who spent years couch-surfing to escape unstable home environments, represent the hidden homeless who don’t fit conventional homeless stereotypes.
The National Network for Youth reports that young adults who experience homelessness are 87% more likely to drop out of school and face significantly higher risks of trafficking, exploitation, and long-term unemployment. Each successful intervention at this critical age prevents decades of potential suffering and public expense.
The therapy dogs program highlights something essential about effective youth services: creating moments of normalcy and connection matter. When Andy Charrier notes that dogs
