January 2024 updates from Beacon—we have a good feeling about this year 📅
What do we mean by “supportive housing?”
There’s housing, and then there’s supportive housing.
Supportive housing provides onsite services that assist residents with setting and meeting their current and future goals—everything from mental health and parenting skills to job searching and budgeting. Supportive services help residents find stability, live balanced lives, raise healthy kids, and take the next step that’s right for them.
Beacon coordinates with partner organizations like Avivo and 180 Degrees to provide supportive services to 462 homes across 12 of our properties. We’re at various stages of development on an additional 320 homes at six new buildings, each with a vision to provide supportive housing for our neighbors.
And because supportive housing represents an essential aspect of our mission, we want to make it the focus of this month’s e-news. Read on to discover more.
Upcoming Beacon homes receive essential public funding
Minnesota Housing recently awarded $14.8 million in funding for Gladstone Crossing! This award will provide significant funding for 40 homes–many of them with onsite supportive services–that are affordable to low-income families.
Learn more about Gladstone Crossing and the significance of this funding by visiting our blog.
Thank you to the individuals, congregations, and foundations that donated to the Gladstone Crossing Seeds of Home fund, including Central Presbyterian Church, Nativity Lutheran Church, The House of Hope Presbyterian Church, F.R. Bigelow Foundation, The Hardenbergh Foundation, Hugh J Andersen Foundation, and Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. This community support drives Beacon’s housing development, congregational organizing, service design, and sustainable growth, which all leads to public funding from Minnesota Housing and other sources.
Your support for Gladstone Crossing helps make these homes a reality. Donate today.
Beacon VP provides insight into the impact of supportive housing
With over 462 homes receiving supportive services, Beacon needed an experienced leader to promote a core philosophy and standardized policies across our buildings while nurturing relationships with our service providers.
Beacon chose Babette Jamison-Varner for the newly-created role of Vice President of Supportive Housing to lead in this way.
According to Babette, “The goal of supportive housing is to move people forward to a place of stability and well-being. For us, we believe supportive housing provides home and opportunities for change.”
Discover more about supportive housing from Babette’s point of view by visiting our blog.
Celebrating a new chapter at Great River Landing
On December 12, members of the Beacon community, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minneapolis Councilmember Jeremiah Ellison, gathered to celebrate a new chapter at Great River Landing.
In addition to providing 72 deeply affordable homes for men exiting incarceration, Great River Landing offers onsite supportive services to help residents achieve their goals, overcome systemic barriers, and lead purposeful lives.
Learn more about Great River Landing and our service provider—180 Degrees—by checking out our blog.
Upcoming Beacon Events
Featured event: Beacon’s Next Congregational Convening
Why join us for our Congregational Convening on January 18?
This gathering offers the chance to celebrate how we’re making an impact as a community, learn about strategies for growing our impact, and take collective action so that all people have a home.
Together, we’ll hear from local legislators and our new CEO, Chris LaTondresse. Plus, we’ll outline what we’re focusing on during the 2024 state legislative session, what’s at stake – and how congregations can get involved.
Other upcoming events
Rent is Due: Day of Action on February 7 at 8:30 a.m.
Beacon 101 on February 14 at 4:30 p.m.
Start with Home rally on February 20 at 1 p.m.
Beacon 101 on February 21 at 8:30 a.m.
