Strong Communities Start at Home: How Supportive Housing is Shaping the East Metro’s Future
A commitment to showing up for one another is part of what fuels Beacon’s supportive housing work. Across the East Metro, communities offer belonging among good neighbors, and that’s why supportive housing is such a powerful tool in building the future we all want to be part of.
On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, East Metro community members gathered for a benefit in support of Beacon’s vision for supportive housing in the East Metro. The event, Strong Communities Start at Home, featured a presentation from Clyde who has lived in a Beacon home for over three years and shared the following call to action:
“It is not only that we should be drawn to donating to Beacon’s supportive housing—it is that we should be drawn to the noble cause of living in the service of others, always. By supporting Beacon, you are not just funding housing. You are funding futures like mine.”
A Stronger Community Starts with Stable Housing
The supportive housing model combines affordable housing with on-site services including mental health care, employment support, financial coaching, and youth programming to help people stay housed and move toward long-term stability.
Supportive housing catalyzes results that go beyond individual households. Stable housing creates stronger families, better health outcomes, and more connected neighborhoods. We see this every day in Beacon homes in the East Metro and beyond—they’re places where neighbors know each other, where kids can focus on school, and where families can move from surviving to thriving. During Tuesday’s event, Beacon President and CEO, Chris LaTondresse set the tone for why this model is so effective at addressing homelessness, “”Minnesota does what Minnesota does best: we lead. We protect what works. We scale it. We transform it. And St. Paul, our capital city, becomes the shining star of a shining state — the place that proves to the nation that a community can choose, on purpose, to end homelessness. Not manage it. End it.”
The Reality in Ramsey County
Even as we celebrate what’s working, the need remains urgent:
- In 2024, 1,644 households experienced homelessness in Ramsey County
- About one-third were families with children
- More than 400 people remain unsheltered on any given night
- 3,541 people newly entered homelessness in 2025, often cycling through shelters or transitional housing
- Households wait an average of 7.2 months for a referral to supportive housing
These numbers illustrate an important fact: without permanent housing solutions, people are stuck in a revolving door. As Minnesota’s largest supportive housing provider, with nearly 900 homes across the metro area, Beacon knows this model works.
In the East Metro:
- 212 Beacon homes already occupied by residents in communities like Prior Crossing, Kimball Court, and American House
- 93 additional homes are in development at Gladstone Crossing and The Aragon
- 18 congregations are actively supporting our work to maintain and create supportive housing in the East Metro
Why It Matters for Everyone
Supportive housing is a smart investment. When people have stable housing, they rely less on emergency systems and are better able to contribute to their communities. For example:
- A day of hospitalization can cost $1,200 per person
- A day of incarceration costs $131 per person
- Supportive housing costs just $72 per household per day
Contributing to supportive housing benefits everyone who lives and works in the East Metro, not just residents in supportive homes. Beacon is particularly suited to this work because our approach is rooted in partnership and accountability. We work alongside trusted service providers to ensure residents have access to the care and resources they need to succeed.
Beacon’s vision for the East Metro is to demonstrate what it looks like when a community comes together to solve homelessness. Here in the East Metro, that vision is already taking shape.
Minnesota has regularly shown that we are up for that challenge. Through collaborative efforts like Beacon’s advocacy and partnerships across the state, we continue to move closer to a future where all people have a home.
