Southeast Youth Shelter

Southeast Minnesota’s NEW youth shelter & connection center

Youth-Designed. Youth-Tested.

Since 1989, the Rochester community has championed the need to provide emergency shelter and support to southeast Minnesota youth. Olmsted County Sherrif Chuck VonWald and business leaders converted a rural farmhouse into a 12-bedroom home for youth under age 18 who had no safe place to go.

In 2011, 180 Degrees acquired this VonWald Youth Shelter with a vision to upgrade the facility, introduce new programming, and continue to meet the needs of youth in crisis.

In 2024 with $7 million in financing support from new partners - City of Eyota and Stearns Bank, and current partner Olmsted County, 180 Degrees realized this vision and broke ground on a new facility in Dec, 2024.

We again turn to the community - for a new generation of leaders to champion the needs of youth into the coming decades as the regional population grows, youth mental health needs are at an all-time high, and the need for emergency youth shelter grows.

Join our growing donor community and Our Building Brighter Futures capital campaign. Your support will ensure youth experience safety, dignity, and programming in a brand new building on our existing site.

We invite you to sign up for a tour and become a part of building a brighter future for southeast Minnesota youth.