Our Saviour's Community Services

09/03/2026

Each August, the English Learning Center holds two weeks of special programming designed to expand students' connection with their community and practice English skills outside the classroom. This year, ELC students embarked on four field trips: they visited the Minneapolis Central Library, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Sculpture Garden, and the American Swedish Institute.
Regular classes in the ELC resume next week.

08/31/2026

NPR's "Code Switch" podcast recently published an episode about adult English language classes. The lead-in for the episode is about funding changes at the federal level. While historically only a small portion of the English Learning Center's budget has come from federal sources, the episode also paints a meaningful picture of challenges facing ESL programs and adult language learners across the U.S., as well as the important role of programs like the ELC. https://www.npr.org/2026/08/18/nx-s1-5925111/trump-is-demanding-english-while-defunding-esl?fbclid=IwY2xjawT6iclwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4-5M2m6c_dvanotyzaCWLTtP2OyJzNnPspyTs5Jr0lJkjQeyKGkD2Civhj5g_aem_YbBf0dlevDTa9La7yCAn7w

Last year President Trump made English the official language of the United States. Then his administration moved to zero out the federal money that teaches it. But even fully funded, those programs reached fewer than five-percent of the 25 million adults in this country still learning English. Code....

08/27/2026

At OSCS, the heart of our Permanent Supportive Housing program is our case managers. They build relationships with residents, meeting with them regularly to help them reach their goals.
In the most recent fiscal year:
89% of PSH residents worked with their case manger on a budget
70% of PSH residents worked with a case manager to receive food support
46% of PSH residents worked with their case manager to access a new means of communication
31.5% of PSH residents successfully increased their income with the help of a case manager

Pictured below: PSH Case managers Michael, Israeel, CJ, and Geonia
Hearth Connection CSH

08/26/2026

📢 Help us spread this important fact during Supportive Housing Week

Supportive housing provides lasting stability at a lower daily cost than other responses to homelessness. It is a proven investment in people and a better use of public resources.

08/24/2026

It's National Supportive Housing week!
At OSCS, supportive housing works - residents remain stably housed and build long-term relationships with their case managers.
Learn more about OSCS' housing programs at www.oscs-mn.org/our-saviour's-housing
CSH Hearth Connection

08/20/2026

OSCS is ready to join our founding church, Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, for their block party next Wednesday evening. Come visit our table - we'd love to see you there!

Wednesday, Aug. 26th from 6-8 pm BRING EVERYONE YOU KNOW to the first ever OUR SAVIOUR'S LUTHERAN CHURCH BLOCK PARTY! There will be music, food, games, tables featuring community resources as well as local elected officials giving updates on what's happening in and around the neighborhood.

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE! - Kent Goodroad ([email protected]) & Alyssa Schwitzer ([email protected])

08/19/2026

Earlier this month, another homeless encampment was cleared in St Paul. Read OSCS Executive Director Mike Huffman's thoughtful response in today's Star Tribune:

"Clearing a camp resolves the picture for the evening news and the neighbors, but not the situation of the people living there," Our Saviour’s Community Services director Mike Huffman writes.

08/13/2026

We're looking for a replacement television for our emergency shelter! Our previous television recently broke and watching TV is one way our guests pass time and connect with each other at the shelter.

Please reach out to [email protected] or call/text 612-386-6626 if you are interested in donating a new or used TV to our emergency shelter, or order one off of our Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3OABZOD21PY97?ref_=wl_share

08/12/2026

Exciting changes are ahead for the future of our block. Later this year, the St. Stephen’s Residence – currently owned by Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (OSLC) and operated by Our Saviour’s Community Services (OSCS) – will legally change ownership and Indigenous Protector Movement will join the shared South Minneapolis campus.

Indigenous Protector Movement (IPM) is a nonprofit organization designed to resource, scale, and sustain urban Indigenous-led advocacy and healing initiatives. Beginning in October, IPM will be expanding their footprint in Minneapolis, becoming the owners and stewards of the St. Stephen’s Residence and an adjacent lot.

Read more about this transfer in the linked post below. Ahead of this transfer, we’re looking for individuals or groups of volunteers to help out with several maintenance projects we have for St. Stephen's Residence. Please reach out to Zoe at [email protected] to learn more about ways to assist with this big change.

https://oscs-mn.org/ipm-ownership-st-stephens/

08/03/2026

Thanks so much to Oak Knoll Lutheran Church (ELCA) for inviting OSCS to speak during their service recently and featuring us as their mission for the month of July. We are grateful to the many congregations throughout the Twin Cities who support our work. If you'd like to connect with us to arrange a visit or get more information on how your community can partner with OSCS, reach out to Jen at [email protected].