Help END, not just manage, homelessness!

There will always be people who are homeless. But, we can change the system so fewer people fall into homelessness and more people move out of homelessness quickly.

• Prevention costs less and is more humane than allowing people to become homeless and then addressing shelter needs.
• People need safe, affordable housing before services can effectively address life issues.
• Contact Janice Andersen for more information on any of our programs or to get involved.

Families Moving Forward (FMF) 

With the local non-profit organization Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative and their Families Moving Forward (FMF) program, a network of approximately 40 Twin Cities faith communities provide temporary, emergency shelter to families without housing. Faith communities typically host families three non-consecutive weeks each calendar year. Faith communities provide supper, evening activities, overnight accommodations, bag lunches, and breakfast to families while in the FMF program. Case workers at the FMF office work with families to locate permanent housing.

Volunteers are need for the following:

• Provide/serve meals
• Set up/take down sleeping rooms
• Stay overnight with the families
• Provide activities in the evening

For more information and to volunteer, contact Julia.

Align Minneapolis (formerly Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness)

Align Minneapolis (formerly Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness) is an interfaith collaboration of 17 downtown Minneapolis churches, synagogues and mosques working together to end homelessness and poverty. Align Minneapolis focuses on shifting from an immediate needs approach to long term solutions through a combination of education, advocacy and action. Through learning and volunteer opportunities for congregants, community partnerships, and development of effective strategies and programs, Align Minneapolis is committed to impacting the community around us to end homelessness.

Our Vision

• Everyone has access to safe decent and affordable housing in Minneapolis

Our Mission

• To engage our congregations and communities in the work to end homelessness

Our Goals

•   Inspire: Call people to take action based on religious values
•   Educate: Strengthen awareness of the issues of homelessness and appropriate solutions
•   Advocate: Build the public will for policy change
•   Serve: Coordinate delivery of services among congregations

Values

•   Every person has inherent dignity
•   Housing is a Human Right
•   Our commitment to the common good requires us to take action to end homelessness
•   Interfaith collaboration

Consider getting involved in our work, and add your voice to the interfaith efforts of justice and peace.  For more information, contact Janice.

Summer 2014 Downtown Panhandling Survey

In July of 2014, St. Stephen’s Outreach in partnership with the Minneapolis/Hennepin County Office to End Homelessness conducted surveys on panhandling in downtown Minneapolis.  Panhandlers, those who gave to panhandlers, and a sample of downtown employees were all surveyed over the course of a week.  The survey responses shine light on the reasons behind panhandling, the perceptions of others towards panhandlers, and the characteristics of both panhandlers and those that give to panhandlers. 

The surveys will be of particular use for a high-profile effort in Minneapolis.  The Minneapolis Downtown Council’s Downtown 2025 plan calls for Minneapolis to become the first city in the United States to end street homelessness.  Information from the surveys will help to plan an effective response to street homelessness while addressing the perception of homelessness that panhandling engenders.

Of the 29 panhandlers surveyed...

• 62% are homeless
• 93% make $40 a day or less; 32% make less than $20
• 97% are unemployed; 79% have been unemployed for over a year
• 97% have health issues and/or are disabled
• 51% have a mental illness
• 45% are chemically dependent
• 48% have been victims of violence
• 76% have been panhandling for a year or more
• 83% panhandle at least a few times a week; 48% panhandle every day
• 71% feel neutral or less than satisfied after panhandling
• 86% are connected to services
• 69% have been ticketed for panhandling
• 61% have a high school diploma

Of 114 downtown employees surveyed….

• 23% give to panhandlers
• 11% give to panhandlers more than “rarely”
• 73% are aware of social services to help the homeless in their community  
• 67% said knowing more about social services would not change their giving

Of the 114 downtown employees and 28 pedestrians surveyed…

• 57% of those who gave feel neutral or less than satisfied after giving
• 63% see panhandlers 4 or more times a week
• those who give are significantly more likely to know someone who has experienced homelessness or poverty

West Broadway Crescent Housing Development

The Basilica has partnered with CommonBond Communities to build 55 units of supportive affordable housing on West Broadway in north Minneapolis.

The West Broadway Crescent Housing Development will consist 55 new mixed-income/workforce rental housing units for families at 1926-2022 West Broadway. 

The new housing serves singles and families with children.  Comprehensive on-site resident services will be provided by CommonBond's Advantage Services

The Grand Opening for West Broadway Crescent was in January 2013.

This partnership is made possible by the 10% tithing from The Basilica Landmark.