Building A Better Future at Great River Landing
Beacon + Better Futures Minnesota: Service Provider Spotlight. Written by Dylan Novacek, Content Specialist
“Home is the building block to a job, family success, and personal growth. Truly, it’s the building block for a better future,” exclaimed Yorrick Byers, the housing manager with Better Futures Minnesota. “Great River Landing gives these men a chance to have a normal life with a roof over their head and a job. The purpose of our work is to give these men hope.”
For men exiting incarceration, who are primarily African American and other men of color, establishing stability is met with an overwhelming number of systemic roadblocks. In fact, people of color exiting incarceration have higher rates of returning to prison due to these roadblocks. It’s evident that racism and implicit bias leads too many men into housing instability. For many, having a criminal record means you are locked out of the opportunity to have a home and get a job.
Together with our service partner at Better Futures Minnesota, Beacon has created homes at Great River Landing that are more than accessible to men exiting incarceration and long-term homelessness. From the building design itself by African American architect James Garrett Jr., to services tailored to specifically respond to and support the success of racially diverse men, we aim to disrupt the systems of inequities residents face on their journey to home.
“Great River Landing helps with the housing piece, which is the hardest thing for men who are leaving jail to get a handle on,” Yorrick remarked. “A lot of men don’t have the opportunity to walk into a place and have a credit score that is good enough to find a home. A lot of men who come to us at Better Futures only have a single bag or box of belongings. They don’t know how to navigate these systems.”
Committed to helping residents succeed where systems have failed them before, Better Futures Minnesota has a mission to help individuals get back on their feet. Through recognizing the potential of all people, their program-based support teaches program participants the skills to get employment, reengage with their family, and build the tools to work towards a better future.
“Beacon understands the men we work with and where they come from. I don’t know if any other organization would’ve worked with us the way Beacon has. There is an understanding of these men who wouldn’t have had a chance if not for the partnership between Beacon and Better Futures.”
Reflecting on our partnership, Yorrick fondly remembers when the building was just an idea. Yorrick and the future residents would often drive by the construction site and watch progress be made.
“We’d drive by and I’d point and say, ‘See that hole in the ground? That’s where our new home is going to be.’ We’d slowly watch the building rise. Now, we drive past our old building and think about how far we’ve come.
“I remember the day we moved our first residents into Great River Landing, and they signed their first leases. To see the smiles, showing them their rooms…It was like watching kids on Christmas morning. Coming here had immediate impact. Some of these men have never signed their own lease or even their own bank account. As they signed the lease, I told them that no one can put them out now. Our men know they can do it…And that feel of joy that comes from going out on your own. It’s felt within the community. They are working to better themselves here.”
Working daily with residents, Yorrick plays witness to the incredible success stories that come out of Great River Landing. Ever passionate about each of his residents, one in particular stands out to him.
“Harold is a success story to me. I’ve been watching him since day one. He came to us frightened and homeless. As he began taking his steps in the program, he found himself checking in with staff daily. He grew on me! He still comes to my office every single day.
“Everyone comes here with their ups and downs. Harold had his own setbacks. But once he started believing that this was going to work for him, that’s when he’d grow,” Yorrick paused and smiled. “To describe Harold in words doesn’t quite cut it. You simply have to experience him.”
“A place to call home is somewhere you can rest your head,” Harold said, sharing his experience in one of our Beacon videos. “You’re in your own comfort zone. Your own sanctuary.”
“In this last year alone, Harold has changed tremendously,” Yorrick added. “His focus went from being on how he can better himself to how he can better his community. He works towards social justice and is an advocate. He’s on track to meet his goals and reconnect with his kids. His success impacts everyone in the building.”
Supporting this success takes a $1,000 to cover one month of individualized support services for a resident at Great River Landing and other homes created by Beacon. When you believe in home, individuals like Harold are enabled to meet their greatest potential.
“I want to be a mentor,” Harold exclaimed. “You need to look for life in a bigger picture. Take your mind from being so closed and open yourself up so that life can be a whole lot better. I feel like I changed my life a whole lot since coming to Great River Landing.”
The staff at Better Futures Minnesota describe home at Great River Landing as a community where everyone lifts each other up. Once a resident completes the program, they are welcome to continue living at Great River Landing and engaging with their strong network of support.
“From day one, staff is here to greet the residents and take them up to their room. A place they can finally call their own,” Yorrick said beaming with pride. “I define a success story by where a man comes from, and where he is now in his personal life.”
Yorrick feels incredibly grateful to have seen so many success stories and looks forward to continuing to support residents at home.
“At Great River Landing, the greatest service we offer to residents is home. That’s our biggest single service. Our men have a place they can call home. A home better than where they came from.”
You can help the men at Great River Landing build a ‘better future’. Click here to learn how you can help support and sustain the vision that all people have a home.
