Housing Justice

As one of Unity’s Community Outreach Ministry Teams, the Housing Justice Team, recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of every human being, seeks to hasten the day when every person has safe, affordable, quality housing regardless of class, zip code, race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability, or other category. Home is foundational to individual and collective health and well-being. 

​We meet on the second Tuesday of each month from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Visiting a meeting would give you a better idea of our activities, and we certainly don’t pressure anyone to join us. Contact Lauren Gunderson at [email protected]​ for more information and to request a Zoom link to join our next meeting.

Get Connected to Housing Justice

Judy Miller (left) of Unity’s Housing Justice Team and Shelley Butler (second from left) of Unity’s Library-Bookstall Team collaborated with leaders from other faith communities to create a new library at Project Home. Thank you! 

Project Home is busy renovating the Best Western building at 1010 Bandana Blvd. W in Saint Paul to shelter families. The completed first floor is currently occupied by 29 formerly unsheltered families (97 people in total). When the second floor is ready, this number will double.

Shelley Butler, one of Unity’s Library-Bookstall Team leaders, was approached by Project Home to develop a library within this new facility. Along with volunteers from several other faith communities, Shelley stepped up to sort through books, organize the space and  create signage. She also went through the proper channels to secure Unity Library-Bookstall Team funds to purchase needed labels and sign holders for the new library. Judy Miller, of Unity’s Housing Justice Team, also volunteered in this success. Our Housing Justice Team is in a long-term partnership with Project Home.

Volunteer Drivers: Until a commercial kitchen is built, meals for families are created at Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet. Drivers are needed to pick up weekday lunch meals from there and drive them to the Bandana location. Details and sign up.

Front Desk Volunteers: Needed for shifts Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. whenever you’re available. Tasks include checking in visitors, distributing mail, etc. Details and sign up.

Images are of Unity Church volunteers working hard and having fun at the 2025 Habitat for Humanity Faith Builders home construction project.

The Housing Justice Team is an umbrella, including three teams focusing on housing justice public policy, development of deeply affordable housing, and providing direct service to persons who are unsheltered, homeless, struggling with unstable housing, and in transition. 
 
We partner with community agencies in each of these three areas. Collaborating with three partner organizations reflects the important needs of our community.

POLICY

Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative 

SHELTER AND SERVICE

 Project Home​​

DEVELOPMENT

Habitat for Humanity
Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, Gladstone Crossing 

We believe we have a mandate and a calling to live out our values by moving the needle on the complex issue of equitable housing. We believe housing is foundational to well-being and dignity.
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We meet on Zoom on the second Tuesday of the month from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Come check us out! Contact Lauren Gunderson at [email protected]​ for more information and to request a Zoom link to join our next meeting.