Homelessness is significant everywhere, though in Minnesota, it’s often a hidden phenomenon. Sometimes it looks like people sleeping in cars, ice houses, storage units, or other places unfit or unsafe for human habitation. Sometimes it looks like people doubling up with family members, or “couch-hopping” until their welcome runs out and they need to find other accommodations. It can be a cycle that is very difficult to break.

According to Maslow’s hierarchy, physiological needs and safety must be met before people can self-actualize and flourish in their own lives. Adequate housing is critical for local jobs, strong economy, children’s success in school and positive health outcomes.

Our nonprofit, Partners for Affordable Housing, is best known as the parent agency for the Greater Mankato Area's three homeless shelters: the Theresa House and the Welcome Inn in Mankato; and Union Street Place in Saint Peter. In these shelters, we aim to provide guests with a clean place to stay, not just for the night, but for up to 90 days while they acknowledge and overcome barriers; and connect guests to resources for medical and behavioral health services, job search agencies, monthly budgeting, self-care techniques, food providers, transportation resources, childcare options, and more.

We also support guests with housing placement by helping gather information and assisting with rental applications; providing monetary help to cover application fees; and advocating on behalf of clients to secure housing.

Factors that often precede homelessness can vary person by person or household by household, and may include mental health issues, loss of relationship (through death, divorce, break-up), chemical dependency, loss of home in fire or natural disaster, job loss, injury or illness, or lack of reliable, affordable childcare.

These factors may also become barriers to future housing stability for guests arriving at one of Partners for Housing’s three emergency homeless shelters.

According to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, housing is considered affordable when it consumes 30% or less of a household’s wages. Households paying more than 30% of their income are considered cost burdened, while those paying 50% or more of their wages on housing are considered severely cost burdened. According to a 2019 report by the Minnesota Housing Partnership, State of the State, 26% of Blue Earth County residents and 22% of Nicollet County residents are severely cost burdened.

Read the full article about Partners for Housing by Kirsten Becker at Charity Navigator.