Affordable Housing/Project Home Ministry Team

Picture

This team addresses the affordable housing crisis through policy work, direct service and education. Contact the Affordable Housing Ministry Team via Lisa Friedman at the Church Office.

Service Projects
Project Home is coordinated by Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul to provide emergency shelter for families facing homelessness in Ramsey County. Unity Church hosts Project Home each year during the month of May. Over 100 volunteers are needed to provide hospitality during the evening and overnight giving families with children comfort and a safe place to stay.  For more information visit their website at: www.IntefaithAction.org/ProjectHome or contact Justine Nelson by email at justine.nelson@state.mn.us.  

Families served through Project Home spend the day at The Family Place, a day center in downtown St. Paul. There are many volunteer opportunities there, including and cooking meals for families and providing activities for the children. For more information contact volunteer coordinator Mary Walde at mwalde@famplace.org. Visit The Family Place website at: http://famplace.org/

We support and participate in Habitat for Humanity with a two week building project each year in late spring. For more information on this opportunity contact Chuck Griggs by email at  griggscb@msn.com. Visit the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity website at: http://www.tchabitat.org/

Education
From time to time the team offers congregational and community forums on issues of homelessness and affordable Housing.

Advocacy
This team advocates for policy and partnerships that will increase the supply of affordable housing.  Advocacy efforts often take place through a team community partner, Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative. 

Each year, team members participate in legislative days for Affordable Housing at the Minnesota State Capitol.

Hygiene Drive for Beacon

As part of their commitment to the health and safety of residents in supportive housing facilities, the Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative has asked for our help with a hygiene drive to collect supplies to help formerly homeless people protect themselves during this pandemic time. Items will be used at three of Beacon’s St. Paul facilities: American House, Kimball Court, and Prior Crossing, that serve adults with long term histories of homelessness, some former residents of the encampments, and young adults ages 17-25.

Items needed for now and into the future include:
  • Hand sanitizer: small refillable pump style and/or large bottles for refills
  • Disinfectant soap: small refillable pump style and/or large bottles for refills
  • Body lotion
  • Disinfectant wipes
  • Paper towels
  • Laundry detergent
  • Masks of all types

Here are three ways to support this drive:
  1. If you purchase these items on your essential shopping trips, they can be delivered to the collection bin located outside the Unity Church entrance in the Holly Avenue parking lot. Items will be collected from the bin on Tuesdays.
  2. Order supplies online. For a mailing address for online purchases or for further information email LindaFei@aol.com.
  3. Make a donation to Unity’s Affordable Housing Team for the drive. Send a check with “Beacon” in the memo, or CLICK HERE to donate online (select “Other Payment” and put “Beacon” in the comments section).

Thank You!