Four-year collaboration pays off as nonprofits break ground on Minneapolis shelter and apartment complex

Two nonprofits broke ground Tuesday on a new $25 million building in south Minneapolis that will provide 54 shelter beds along with 50 apartments for those transitioning out of homelessness.

The project, supported by state and federal funds, grew out of a collaboration between Agate Housing and Services , which works with unhoused people; and Minneapolis-based Trellis , which develops affordable housing.

The four-story building is just off Minnehaha Avenue and Lake Street East, near a shopping complex that includes Target and Cub and a Blue Line light-rail station.

It will open to residents next winter — ahead of the season when many local service providers see increased housing needs.

“The beautiful thing is that you don’t get this work done overnight. You get this work done at times, through multiple council members, through multiple administrations,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, one of about 100 state and local officials and stakeholders at the groundbreaking.

Trellis CEO Elizabeth Flannery said the project grew out of a collaboration between the developer and Agate.

“We think it’s an efficient model in many ways,” she said. The first two floors will be the shelter and the upper two floors will be apartments.

Agate will offer support services and manage the shelter, providing 54 beds for single adults. Each person will have a case manager who will work to help them transition into permanent housing, ideally within three months. The shelter will also have free secure storage for personal belongings and a bike room.

Residents cannot use substances or alcohol on the property, but sobriety is not a requirement for receiving housing and support services, according to Anna Cisewski, Agate’s communications manager. She said Agate will also provide support to apartment residents.

Trellis will manage the apartments, which include one-bedroom and studio units. Some units will have shared kitchens and living rooms, but each resident will have their own bedroom and bathroom.

The project was built with state, county and federal funding, including $11 million for the shelter and $14.4 million for the apartment building.

Apartment rent will be $900 a month. The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority will provide subsidies to cover most of the rent for 22 of the units. Other units will be covered by the state’s Housing Support program , which covers the full rent and offers a small stipend for other expenses. The remaining units will be available to rent through Trellis.

Miria Dickerson, 44, who attended Tuesday’s groundbreaking, said Agate offered support services when she was homeless for six months.

“They were always there, willing to give a helping hand,” she said.

Dickerson said with help from a staff member at Agate, she was able to move into a two-bedroom apartment with her family earlier this year.

Correction: This story has been updated to clarify that Minneapolis nonprofit developer Trellis Co. was Agate ‘s partner on the project .

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