Evergreen Youth & Family Services

Strengthening youth, preserving families and building relationships in Northern Minnesota. Evergreen Youth & Family Services (formerly Evergreen House) was founded in 1977 to serve runaway and homeless youth. Today Evergreen House is a multi-program youth and family service organization serving the Greater Bemidji Area. Based in Beltrami County, located approximately 240 miles northwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Evergreen's programs draw youth and families from fifteen rural counties in northwest and north central Minnesota, which includes the three largest American Indian reservations in the state (Red Lake, Leech Lake, and White Earth). More than 45% of the youth and families served each year are Native American. Evergreen's focus is crisis intervention services and services to help promote family reunification, independent living skills, mentoring, improve mental health, and support healthy lifestyles and safe housing for youth. All services are free to youth and families. Evergreen provides direct services to more than 2,500 children, teens, and families each year. Many more are reached through community outreach and educational presentations. Importantly, all of Evergreen's services are free. Beltrami County is among the State's top 3 child poverty counties with nearly 30% of children living in poverty. Beltrami County is a distressed rural community since both its unemployment and poverty rates significantly exceed both the state and national rates. Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development data show that Beltrami County's unemployment and poverty rates significantly exceed those for the State of Minnesota and the nation, while its median household income is significantly lower than both the state and the national median income.