28th Annual Homeless Memorial March & Service

Thursday, December 20th

 5:00 pm | March & Silent Vigil

Hennepin County Government Center

3rd Avenue S & 5th St S Minneapolis, MN

The march will follow 5th St S westward to Nicollet Avenue and proceed south to 28th St

 6:30 pm | Service of Remembrance

Simpson United Methodist Church

2740 1st Ave S

Minneapolis, MN

7:30 pm | Community Meal

Simpson Shelter

Lower level of Simpson Untied Methodist Church

History of the Homeless Memorial March

Eric was a frequent guest in the early days of the Simpson Men’s Shelter. He was a quiet, somewhat shy Vietnam war veteran and although he pretty much kept to himself, everyone knew and loved him. In the summer of 1984, days had passed since shelter staff and volunteers had seen him. This happened from time to time. No one thought too much of it. A few days later they got the news that Eric’s body had been found by the railroad tracks nearby. He had been beaten to death… Read more.

JUST MERGED!

Just for fun: we’re registered at Target’s wedding registry.

 

We have exciting news! After 15 years of side-by-side partnership, the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless (MCH) and the Affirmative Options Coalition have made it official. By joining our coalitions and streamlining functions we will have more capacity to achieve our complementary missions and common values:

Katherine Wagnoer, Director of Membership Engagement, joins MCH from the Affirmative Options Coalition.
  • Every person deserves a safe, decent, affordable place to call home
  • Nobody should lose their home because they lose work, become sick, or have a disability
  • Public policy can help all people live in dignity and achieve their highest potential

Affirmative Options, a coalition of 50 nonprofit member organizations, is a state leader on public policy related to welfare and low-wage work. MCH, a coalition of 150 nonprofit member organizations, is a state leader on public policy related to housing and human services.  Twenty-six of our members overlap currently.

Ultimately, housing stability is possible when incomes are raised or housing costs are lowered. Affirmative Options advocates and develops public policies to:

  • Make work pay through adequate wages, tax credits, and access to training and education
  • Make work possible through child care, health coverage, and transportation
  • Prevent destitution when work is not an option by building a safety net for unemployed workers, children, and people living with disabilities

Please view the AO Merger Announcement.

 

Welcome Amy, West Central Organizer!

MCH’s Strategic Plan calls for filling part-time positions around the state with organizers who are deeply rooted in homeless services/advocacy in their community.

Amy Baker
Amy Baker, MCH West Central Organizer.

Amy Baker works as a Self-Sufficiency Advocate with Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership in Moorhead, MN. She will stay at Lakes & Prairies while organizing part-time for MCH.

As West Central Organizer, Amy will be our eyes and ears on the ground and bring more voices to our advocacy work. Amy can be reached at amy@mnhomelesscoalition.org. Learn more about Amy and our team here.

We know that too often the voice of rural and Greater Minnesota isn’t heard in policy-making.  By adding Board Members last year from Zumbrota, Brainerd, and Duluth; having a director deeply rooted in her Iron Range community; hiring a policy director from New Ulm; and adding regional organizers in Eveleth and Moorhead, MCH has a proven commitment to ensuring statewide policy is truly statewide.  Help us add southern, central, and suburban regional organizers by donating today!

Catholic Charities Higher Ground Opens

This month, Catholic Charities opened Higher Ground in Minneapolis. The seven story building includes emergency shelter beds, supportive housing, and efficiency apartments under the same roof. Higher Ground is a national model in the movement to end homelessness.

Over 500 Minnesotans will benefit from the shelter and housing services available at Higher Ground.

“Getting out of homelessness, he will tell you, starts with a mailbox with your name on it. Knowing you have a permanent place to sleep at night and a place to keep your belongings, he says, is a big step toward a healthier, more stable life.” – Higher Ground: An innovative approach to fight homelessness, Minn Post June 11, 2012

Rep. Hausman Thanks Housing Advocates

 

Bonding Bill Invests $37.5 million in Housing

Exactly two months after hundreds of supporters packed the Capitol for Homeless Day on the Hill  the legislature passed a bonding bill that includes $35.5 million for affordable housing/homelessness.

Bonds will be used to build and preserve affordable housing, rehabilitate public housing, and invest in supportive housing for homeless Minnesotans. An additional $2 million will be invested in the Tubman Center East. 

Your advocacy made housing a priority for legislators from both parties, from across the state. The $35.5 million investment will make a concrete difference in the lives of Minnesotans.

The need for housing stability has been elevated to new heights in our state government. Thank you for your advocacy, participation, and commitment to ending homelessness.

 

Thank You to The Nerdery

Welcome to our new website! A team of web developers (Team CodeX) donated  generous 240 hours to revamp the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless website. Ten developers. Twenty four hours straight.  Brought together by The Nerdery.

We are thrilled to have the technology to better serve and communicate with:

  • Minnesotans in need of housing
  • Member organizations and
  • Everyone ready to end homelessness in our state.

“MCH’s ultimate mission is to put themselves out of business.  Having a slick-as-a-whistle website will help them eradicate homelessness in Minnesota.”  - Marie

Visit often.  Find legislative updates and community events.  Learn about homelessness.  Share your story. Together we can bring Minnesota home.

 

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