ROCHESTER, Minn. - The Southeast Minnesota Youth Shelter celebrated opening its doors to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday morning. The new facility replaces the VonWald Youth Shelter.

180 Degrees says that this is a project that has been in the making for ten years. It is a 12,000 square foot space that is divided between an office area and a home area.

There are 12 single bedrooms, with the potential to expand it to 16. The VonWald building only had eight bedrooms. The facility also includes activity areas including gaming, art, and music, as well as a dining area, kitchen, and outdoor areas for more activities.

The shelter was originally set to open in January of 2026, but kids were able to move in by October.

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