Affordable Housing/Project Home Ministry Team

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.

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​Volunteer with Project Home

Unity Church supports Project Home and each May when we open our religious education classrooms to provide shelter for homeless parents and their children. We recruit over 150 Unity Church members to staff the program, filling both evening and overnight shifts. 
CLICK HERE to get the details and sign up!

2019 Project Home Volunteer Manual

Prior Crossing Closet

Since summer 2016, Unity Church has helped stock Hope’s Closet at Prior Crossing where homeless youth moving into a semi-furnished apartment home can “shop” shelves of donated new and gently used household goods. Prior Crossing is experiencing a transition of residents and with that change, comes a need to restock Hope’s Closet. When the residents move on, they take with them all the belongings that made their apartment at Prior Crossing a home: bedding, towels, pots and pans, blankets, and personal items. That means the closet needs to be ready to welcome the next residents that are moving in.

The staff has asked House of Hope and Unity Church to gather goods to replenish the closet and stock up a pantry. The pantry is a new concept. There are days when new residents need a boost. They may not have received their first pay check, are still seeking work, or are in school and a visit to Prior Crossing Pantry will help tide them over with some food staples and personal items. Closet and pantry items can be brought to Rev. Lisa Friedman’s office during the month of May. 

CLICK HERE for a complete list of gratefully accepted donations.