A new chapter of hope has taken root in Ham Lake, as the Housing First Minnesota Foundation proudly announced that Elevate Hope House, a three-bedroom home designed to serve single mothers and their children experiencing crisis, was moved to its permanant home site.

The project, which began in early 2024, was a collaborative effort that brought together members of the Housing First Minnesota association, Foundation committee members, and staff and students from the Spring Lake Park High School Construction Trades program. In fall 2024, Lennar joined the initiative, lending its expertise to help develop the land where the home would eventually be placed.

The house itself was constructed off-site over the course of several months before being moved to its permanent location in Ham Lake in early May. Final on-site preparations are currently underway, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for mid-summer to mark the home’s official opening.

“Building this house [was] important because it’s going to help a family get back on their feet after they’ve had some rough times,” shared Caleb Rodenborg, a student in the Spring Lake Park Construction Trades program. “The house also gives us students an opportunity to experience all the trades that go into building a house, and we get experience actually doing it.”

Elevate Hope House represents a model of collaboration in action, with contributions ranging from financial donations and in-kind materials to hands-on construction experience provided by the students.

The project is part of the Foundation’s broader mission to provide safe, dignified housing for those in need all across the state.