Kori Nelson, executive director of Youth Emergency Shelter & Supports (YESS), asked for an honest and open line of communication with county government.
She made the request during the public portion of the Hubbard County Board’s March 4 meeting. Nelson noted she last spoke to county commissioners in Dec. 2023. At that time, they asked her for more statistics on at-risk or homeless youth.
“And frankly, our data collection in Hubbard County sucks,” she said. “This is why we decided to open our Youth Outreach (YO) Program first – to help collect data.”
Nelson said YO receives referrals from MAHUBE-OTWA or word of mouth.
“We are asking for your support – not financially or donation-wise, but an open line of communication to learn about your concerns, questions and what you are hearing from your constituents,” she said.
Nelson pointed out that “no community leaders” have shown up at YESS’ events.
“We contacted the sheriff and city police chief, with no responses” as well as school boards, superintendents and Hubbard County Human Services, she said.
“If the commissioners encouraged and sat at the table with other community leaders to learn more about our vision and mission at YESS, others would follow suit,” Nelson said.
Travis Feather-Kaumans also voiced support for YESS. Noting he went through the foster care system, Feather-Kaumans said the YO center gives him “a safe place to go after school while waiting for my parents to pick me up.”
County commissioner Char Christenson asked why the old middle school was chosen for the new shelter “instead of other vacant buildings in the center.”
Nelson replied the amount of space (5,000 square feet) and walking distance from Park Rapids Schools are advantages of the old middle school, “so it’s easier access. If you all can tell me of a vacant building in the city that is not owned by the county, please tell me where we can find a larger space because it’s been proving very, very difficult.”
Christenson asked if YESS has applied for grants for the purchase or remodel of the school.
Nelson said they don’t currently have funds, and potential grants require a blueprint. “That is why we hired Kraus-Anderson (Construction Company) to do that,” she said. “The facility assessment has been done already.”
In addition, there are ongoing conversations with the landlord about certain repairs that need to be made, she added.
“Knowing the history with that particular facility,” asked county commissioner David De La Hunt, “do you think that’s the healthiest place to locate something like this?”
“Do you mean the stigma around the building?” Nelson asked.
“A lot of different things,” said De La Hunt.
Nelson said the landlord is making improvements with existing tenants, adding there was a rumor of needles and drugs in the hallways. Nelson said she saw no such thing. Kraus-Anderson was hired to handle asbestos concerns, she added.
Without concrete data about Hubbard County, De La Hunt said, “it’s pretty hard to support something.”
MAHUBE-OTWA already has a mission to address homelessness, he added.
