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Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative President & CEO Lee Blons to retire

After a 20-year history with the organization, Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative President & CEO Lee Blons will retire August 31, 2023 following a search for the organization’s next leader. Blons has led and grown Beacon from a single church to a collaborative of nearly 100 congregations of many faith traditions committed to the vision that ALL people have a home. 

“I cannot think of a better way to have spent the last 20 years of my life than in partnering with people who are dedicated to ending homelessness and housing insecurity,” says Blons. “I am so proud of what we have accomplished in partnership with the powerful community of Beacon supporters. Our board is strong and our staff are dedicated, committed, and drive our success. Our new strategic plan will guide us forward. 20 years ago I couldn’t have imagined what Beacon would become. I am thrilled to see what the next 20 years will hold.” 

Blons is known as a fearless and tenacious leader who takes on challenges others won’t. Her thoughtful commitment to cultivating partnerships necessary to achieving real impact has changed hearts and minds and brought resources where they are most needed in the fight against homelessness and housing insecurity. 

Under her leadership, Blons’ relentless commitment to housing justice has grown Beacon into the leading developer of deeply affordable, supportive housing in the Twin Cities. She has helped the organization become both a technical expert in creating high quality multi-family/multi-unit rental homes, and a quality provider – designing supportive housing to address unmet needs in underserved populations. Blons has shepherded the organization as it has grown in its capacity as a leading provider of youth supporting housing and as a supportive housing provider equipped to serve the complex needs of individuals with persistent chemical dependency challenges via the ‘Housing First’ model. Her leadership has allowed for the extraordinary creation of Great River Landing in Minneapolis, housing for men exiting incarceration, a population that had been unserved before Beacon initiated the project. Always looking to meet unmet needs in the community, Blons has helped Beacon advance future developments specifically designed to meet the needs of neurodivergent young adults at risk of homelessness, housing for families who have engaged with child protective services, and culturally relevant supportive housing for individuals with significant, persistent mental health and/or chemical dependency challenges. Blons’ tenure has seen Beacon step more fully into the challenge of becoming a more diverse organization committed to advancing race equity. 

Perhaps the most unique attribute of Beacon’s work is how the organization emboldens members of the Beacon collaborative of congregations to engage in advocacy that pushes public officials to fill the housing gaps where so many fall through the cracks. With her background in community organizing, Blons has nurtured an organization successful at overcoming NIMBYism and advancing innovative projects that have brought housing to those who need it outside of the urban core – successfully creating 66 West in Edina, the first suburban youth supportive housing to exist in the metro; Cranberry Ridge, family housing in Plymouth; and developments in progress in Shakopee, Hopkins, Richfield, and Maplewood. 

With a unique orientation to systems change and thoughtful risk-taking, Blons has also helped Beacon advance bold new policy solutions that will help ensure homes for all. Examples include successful advocacy for the dramatic expansion of the Homeless Youth Act, and Bring it Home, Minnesota – state legislation that will ensure every Minnesotan gets the rent support for which they qualify. In addition to the 100 faith communities in the collaborative, Beacon has inspired 40 allied organizations to sign on to the work of Bring it Home, Minnesota, and it has become central to housing policy discussions among public officials at all levels of state government.  

“Lee combines a unique blend of entrepreneurial energy, passion for our mission, and steady leadership,” says Charlie Flynn, Chair of the Beacon Board of Directors. “Her ability to lead Beacon where few other organizations are willing to go allows us to have the impact in the community that is so desperately needed… Beacon would not be where it is today without her.”

The Beacon Board of Directors has launched a search for Blons’ successor. A position profile will be posted on the Beacon website by the end of February.  

A celebration of Blons’ community impact through her leadership at Beacon is planned for early summer. As she continues her role as leader at Beacon until her successor is named, Blons remains committed to advancing as many strong and stable homes and smart policy solutions as possible.

To learn more about our CEO transition, click here.