The Housing First Minnesota Foundation, build partner Lennar and the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) hosted a ribbon cutting and a groundbreaking at two homes in North Minneapolis on June 14. Both projects will provide essential temporary housing for homeless veterans.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony showcased the new two-story, four-bedroom home with a one-bedroom accessory dwelling unit (ADU). The home is equipped to house four veterans at a time and an additional veteran in the ADU, ideal for an individual that might need a more private living space. This home will mark the seventh home the Foundation has built in partnership with Lennar and MACV.

“Through this partnership, we will have created more than 50 beds that expand the housing capacity of MACV. This tremendous work is bringing us ever closer to eliminating veteran homelessness,” said Kate Hamilton, 2022 president of the Housing First Minnesota Foundation.

The keys have now transferred to MACV, who will own and operate the home and ADU going forward while providing wraparound services for the veterans living there, giving them the tools they need to get back on their feet. The Foundation estimates this one project could serve up to 640 veterans over 50 years.

Across the street from the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a groundbreaking took place for the next project. This year, four Housing for Heroes homes, each with an ADU, will be completed, resulting in 20 additional beds for homeless veterans.

“Most of the residents living in the homes we build stay in them for 9 to 12 months. That means each home can serve hundreds in its lifetime,” said Hamilton.