Community Change Initiative

05/27/2026

Fresh Brewed Coffee House does so much for people who live outside. They would appreciate your help!

Eat at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers on June 11th and at least mention Fresh Brewed to your server and Red Robin will give to us! 🥰

05/21/2026

Hanging out at the monthly resource fair at Shepherd's Table

05/15/2026

The goal? An emergency shelter that also serves as a learning lab for students
A shelter where people are treated humanely and with dignity. A shelter where case management and support does not end when people become housed. An evidence based and community focused emergency shelter to housing program. We have done the research. We have seen what works and what doesn't. Now we just need momentum. We see a bright future. We just need to make it happen!

05/14/2026

We are looking for research funding. If you know of any foundations that have extra money for a good cause, and innovative research, you know where to find us!

05/12/2026

Amazing! Can't wait to go see it!

In Minneapolis, a different approach to shelter took shape inside a warehouse.
Instead of rows of open beds or crowded sleeping areas, the space was redesigned into around 100 individual rooms. Each one has a door that locks, giving residents something many shelters cannot offer. Privacy. Security. A space that feels like their own.
This model is known as Avivo Village.
The idea is simple but intentional. People are not just given a place to sleep. They are given stability while working toward something more permanent. Inside the same building, residents have access to mental health care, addiction support, and housing services.
Everything happens in one place.
For many, that matters. Moving between different locations for help can be difficult, especially without reliable transportation or support systems. By bringing services under one roof, the program removes some of those barriers.
The environment is also different.
Instead of constant noise and shared spaces, residents can close a door, rest, and have a moment to themselves. That sense of control and dignity is part of the design, not an afterthought.
The goal is not just temporary shelter.
It is to create a space where people can begin to rebuild, with support available at every step.

Source: Reported information on Avivo Village shelter model in Minneapolis
Disclaimer: This content is for educational and informational purposes only. Housing programs and outcomes vary by location and individual circumstances.

05/10/2026

Jillian worked her tail off this semester. We are so proud to see her graduate but she will be missed!

04/29/2026

Student assistants hard at work organizing our new Bombas donation!

04/22/2026

The shipping department was taking their time getting Our Bombas socks across the street so our student interns worked hard to get 20 boxes of Bombas socks from the shipping building over to our offices using three vehicles. That was quite an adventure.

04/04/2026

Students are back at it! They do such a good job interviewing people about their experiences. Thanks Matthew Moody and everyone else who shares their story with students. Opening minds one person at a time.