Minnesotans experiencing homelessness are moms and dads, sons and daughters, and grandmothers and grandfathers. They are people you would recognize as appearing homeless, and they are also kids in your child's class and the person bagging your groceries.
On October 22nd, 2015, there were at least 9,312 people experiencing homelessness in Minnesota. It is estimated that there are 15,000 people homeless on a given night in Minnesota, with around 40,000 Minnesotans experiencing homelessness in a given year.
On that night in October of 2015, 39% of people experiencing homelessness (or 3,665) were counted in Hennepin County. 48% of those 3,665 people were under the age of 25.
The 9,312 people counted in October of 2015 all met the federal definition of homelessness. You can read the full definition here, but it essentially requires that a person lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and is primarily spending nights in shelter or in public or private places not meant for human habitation.
Other definitions of homelessness include people who are "doubling up" or staying with a friend, but St. Stephen's generally uses the federal definition to align with funding requirements.
For more information about who is homeless in the Twin Cities, this article is very helpful: Getting a handle on the size of the homeless population in the Twin Cities, MinnPost.