Beacon Breaks Ground on Great River Landing May 3
Beacon, along with Better Futures Minnesota, will break ground on Great River Landing on Thursday, May 3 from 5:30-7p.m. Located in Minneapolis’ North Loop neighborhood, the apartment homes for 72 people people at Great River Landing will also feature supportive services to assist the formerly incarcerated as they make a new life.
Great River Landing is an innovative venture. Developed by Beacon and with Better Futures providing services such as job coaching, Great River Landing will provide an approach that will benefit both the individual and the community. This combination of shelter and services will help residents with little to no job or rental history. Currently, those who have been incarcerated face barriers to housing and employment; Great River Landing will provide the tools they need to succeed.
“Great River Landing is a visionary endeavor coming at a time when we are grappling with the interconnected issues of homelessness and a criminal justice system that disproportionately impact people of color, and particularly African American men,” says Beacon’s Executive Director Lee Blons. “And it will set a new standard for how a community can unlock doors for people who have too often been locked out of systems of stability where they can thrive.”
Minneapolis congregations Westminster Presbyterian Church and Plymouth Congregational Church, collaborating congregations within Beacon, provided significant leadership in bringing Great River Landing to life. “As we break ground at Great River Landing, we break ground on a new chapter of hope and possibility, not only for the people who will call it home, but for all of us,” said Timothy Hart-Andersen, Senior Pastor at Westminster. Paula Northwood, Acting Senior Minister at Plymouth, adds “Providing a home, support services, and employment to over 70 people at a time, we’re affirming that our community has the resources and the desire to break the cycles of poverty and incarceration. And we want to see more phenomenal homes like Great River Landing!”
Better Futures Minnesota is an experienced service provider specializing in helping men find work, establish rental history and reconnect with their families. Thomas Adams, CEO of Better Futures Minnesota, witnesses the change that can come through supportive housing. “Creating success stories isn’t just about a getting a job or getting a place,” Adams says. “It’s about having a support system in place that can help people start rebuilding their lives on their own and Great River Landing will make that possible.”
The groundbreaking will take place at the construction site, located at 813 North 5th Street. A program featuring local dignitaries such as Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey will begin at 6 p.m. Great River Landing is scheduled to open in 2019.
