The Journey to Emerson Village
Written by Emily Goldthwaite Fries, Senior Congregational Organizer
The road to developing housing can be a long one, that requires patience and perseverance even as we feel the urgency of a housing crisis that is only getting worse. Every once in a while, we’re blessed to receive some great news which signals that we are well on our way! I’d like to share with you what leads up to those exciting moments.
Last week was one of those weeks for Beacon – when both the City of Minneapolis and Minnesota Housing announced significant funding awards at 1808 Emerson Ave North in Minneapolis; Emerson Village. These two, three and four bedroom apartments will soon, after closing and construction, become home to families on the Northside.
These homes will see Project for Pride in Living and the Northside Achievement Zone providing support for each generation of the family to reach their own goals and dreams.
As Beacon CEO Lee Blons explained at the press conference, alongside Mayor Frey and Council Member Ellison:
“We applaud the City of Minneapolis for funding deeply affordable housing for the very lowest income people who are most impacted by the housing crisis. Emerson Village is an investment in racial equity to disrupt these systems.”
The award from the Minneapolis Affordable Housing Trust Fund was especially significant considering that Emerson Village was turned down last year (2020). Seeing that only 18% of the apartments funded at that time would serve residents with incomes below $30,000, we raised this issue publicly. We did this by meeting with City Council members and staff who worked toward a greater investment this year for those most vulnerable in this housing crisis.
Arriving at an announcement like this, our staff and teams of dedicated congregation members bring their expertise and hard work for years to secure funding and land use approval, fundraising, as well as building community around the homes all along the way.
Our unique model of organizing makes space for many congregations around the metro to participate in the creation of supportive homes and for those closest in proximity to have a vital role in making them a reality.
As an organizer, I am honored to convene this gifted group of volunteer leaders and witness their incredible gifts:
- The Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church member who has testified many times before County Commissioners about the families he supports as a middle school family liaison, who are struggling to find housing they can afford – even on the Northside.
- The members of Temple Israel and Robbinsdale Parkway United Church of Christ who returned to this team with renewed spirits after the disappointment of housing at this same location falling through a decade ago.
- The Families Moving Forward host congregations including Emerson Village in their capital campaigns.
- The members of mostly-white South Minneapolis churches committed to confronting racist housing policies that have benefited them while harming BIPOC residents of North Minneapolis.
- The clergy on the Northside who are making space to ask a sacred question, “Who is my neighbor?” in the midst of pandemic and the aftermath of uprising.
As we take on the many layers of work to advocate for family housing and successfully challenge the roadblocks placed in the way, this team has grown too large to name in a blog post. But to each of them, I say, I see you and I know how you are pouring your heart and soul – as well as time and talent – into bringing this village to life. And it is working!
We have often marveled at what is possible when people of faith join together in solidarity and, indeed, to disrupt the systems that are leaving people out. The families who move into Emerson Village will be welcomed by a community that already believes in them and prays for them.
Join us for the next part of this journey. Click here to reach out to me, Emily, if you’d like to get your congregation involved. And sign up here to receive action alerts for simple ways to voice your support.
