June 2024 news from Beacon
A new North Star for Beacon
Seven months into his role as President and CEO of Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, Chris LaTondresse reflects on what he’s learned at the helm of a leading supportive housing nonprofit and what it will take to sustain this work into the future.
This past fall, I surprised a lot of people by stepping down from my elected role as Hennepin County Commissioner to lead Beacon as President and CEO.
In the months since I traded my gavel for a hard hat, I’ve learned a few things I wish I had better understood as a policymaker—lessons that have reshaped my understanding of Minnesota’s housing crisis and the steps we will need to take if we are to be effective in meeting this moment.
Read Lesson One: Homelessness is one of Minnesota’s greatest threats. Ending it must be our top priority.
Supporting Bimosedaa residents and showing up for home – Q & A with Kat Vann
Kat Vann believes in home.
After retiring as a congregational organizer for Beacon, Kat now spends part of her time as a Beacon advocate.
Recently, that meant organizing a donation drive to gather supplies for new residents at Bimosedaa.
Read more about Kat’s experience, what inspires her as an advocate, and how you can take action, too.
Beacon’s newest homes—Emerson Village and Vista 44—are almost here!
We have an exciting year ahead as two more Beacon homes—Vista 44 in Hopkins and Emerson Village in North Minneapolis—near the end of construction.
You can assist the families moving into these family-supportive homes by donating household items to our supply drive!
Please contact Mohamed Jama at mjama@beaconinterfaith.org for details on how to donate items.
You can also invest in Vista 44 and Emerson Village residents by making a Seed of Home Gift.
A donation of any amount helps Beacon welcome families to their new homes and to the stability needed to pursue their goals for career, education, and overall well-being.
What’s behind Minnesota’s housing crisis (and what can we do about it)?
As Minnesotans, we pride ourselves on being quick to lend a helping hand to neighbors and community members in need.
But many of us feel stuck, overwhelmed, or without a clue on where to begin when it comes to tackling housing insecurity.
With over 550,000 Minnesotans experiencing monthly housing insecurity, how can you help improve the situation?
Visit our blog to learn more about Minnesota’s housing crisis and to discover meaningful ways you can help.
Board member spotlight: Daymond Dean
Board members use their time, treasure, and talents to advance the Beacon vision that all people have a home.
Board members like Daymond Dean advance organizational strategy and spend time working with Beacon staff on critical initiatives, like the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF).
As part of this campaign, Daymond and other Beacon advocates encouraged the City of Minneapolis to direct the AHTF to support projects serving Minneapolis residents with the lowest incomes.
Learn more about our board members and stay tuned as we welcome new members this summer.
2024 legislative recap
The 2024 Minnesota state legislative session came to an end on Monday, May 20.
Alongside allies, the Beacon community of advocates helped secure the following results:
👉A one-time allocation of $50 million was created to help stabilize affordable housing, with $15 million designated specifically for supportive housing.
👉The legislature authorized the creation of a new task force to find long-term solutions to affordable housing stabilization.
👉The Metro Sales Tax uses were expanded to include funding operations and management of distressed properties, funding supportive services, and funding shelter operations.
👉$50 million in new housing bonds were created to help build new affordable housing.
Two items that Beacon advocated for did not pass – the Family Supportive Housing Act and the Multifamily Housing Zoning Reform Bill.
Additionally, Beacon advocates sent over 2,100 advocacy emails and met with 58 legislators. And 400 Beacon advocates attended in-person events at the Capitol and in congregations!
You can be part of continuing this movement. Join us for our virtual advocacy meeting,Rent is Due, on Wednesday, June 5, from 8:30 to 9 a.m. to celebrate this work and learn what’s next.
