Your Foundation in Action

Exciting things are happening at the Housing First Minnesota Foundation

We are just blown away by this year’s generosity! You’ve helped us exceed our fundraising goals to record amounts. Our Gala saw its highest amount of money ever raised—more than $425,000—bidding paddles generated an astounding $104,000 in our fund-a-need appeal, a sold-out car raffle generated $50,000, and our live and silent auctions together raised over $82,000.

Thank you for being such an important part of our work and believing as we do, that safe and dignified housing is the foundation for everything! Check out more photos from this night of generosity on page 46.

So, where is this money going?

The funds raised will go toward our work to build and renovate housing for Minnesotans who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.

CURRENT PROJECTS

SIX FAMILY RECOVERY APARTMENT UNITS

Service Provider: Avivo

Mothers living in these apartment units with their children are taking steps toward their sobriety. As Kelly Matter, CEO of Avivo says, “This is some of the hardest work these mothers will ever do.” Our build partners Plekkenpol Builders, The Kingdom Builders, and John Kraemer & Sons, Inc. have worked to restore these substandard units to give families a chance to raise their kids in a safe and nurturing environment, while receiving counseling and career coaching through Avivo’s recovery program.

As we went to press, the six apartment units were nearly complete with a key ceremony planned for September 22.

TWO HOUSING FOR HEROES TRANSITIONAL VETERAN HOMES IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS; ONE WITH AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT (ADU)

Service Provider: Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)

Housing for Heroes homes provide veterans experiencing homelessness the space and security to rebuild their lives. This is the first time an ADU will be built on a Housing for Heroes property, increasing our shelter capacity by an additional 1-2 people. Build partner Lennar along with dozens of its industry trade partners will donate labor, materials, and time to these projects. Once complete, the homes will be used by MACV as transitional housing for individual veterans or veteran families.

A groundbreaking is anticipated later in the fall of 2021.

PROJECTED 2022 PROJECTS – OUR MOONSHOT!

FOUR HOUSING FOR HEROES TRANSITIONAL VETERAN HOMES AND FOUR ADUS IN MINNEAPOLIS

Service Provider: Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)

This is an incredibly ambitious goal, but we are determined with service provider MACV and build partner Lennar to serve the community and support veterans in need of shelter to be able to leave homelessness behind for good.

Support the Foundation

End-of-Year Contributions

Everyone knows someone that needs resources to work through obstacles in their lives, but sometimes this person could be a stranger standing in front of you.

Paul Roecker, Housing First Minnesota Foundation president, struck up a conversation with an individual he had just met about the Foundation’s car raffle and how it benefits our Housing for Heroes projects in partnership with MACV. Not expecting the person to know about MACV, the unknown veteran replied, “MACV literally saved my life! I was living in the back seat of my car for weeks before hearing about the organization.” Roecker was struck by this veteran’s story.

“This is why we do what we do,” said Roecker. “But, we can’t achieve our work and fundraising goals on our own.” There is still an opportunity to help the Foundation with our upcoming build projects. Consider making an end-of-year contribution. November is Homelessness Awareness Month with Give to the Max Day falling on November 18. Go to HousingFirstMNFoundation.org to donate.