Fourteen families will be calling Prior Lake home in the near future, thanks to a new transitional housing community made possible through three local organizations working together.
Hopes Portage is being brought to fruition through a collaborative partnership between Scott County Housing, the Community Action Partnership (CAP Agency) and Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church. Leaders of those organizations saw firsthand in recent years the number of families who were homeless, and there were few resources available that addressed current needs. Their paths crossed frequently, but the mission for each usually involved finding solutions for different challenges.
Those needs were not unique to Scott County. Peter Goldstein, Housing and Planning Supervisor for the county said the agency has overseen other housing agreements to help those who are homeless or focus on its prevention. Short-term hotel stays have and continue to be used to get individuals and families off the streets, adding that it’s difficult to engage with and help families in those circumstances.
“We are in the suburbs and most assume that everyone is thriving,” said Suzie Misel, Director of Housing and Emergency Services for the CAP Agency. “Homelessness can happen to anyone, and some are left with couch hopping, living in cars or out on the street.”
In 2022, the state legislature recognized the huge backlog for emergency housing needs that existed throughout the state and allocated $98 million to address the issue. A grant application was submitted and the county was awarded $6 million.
Meetings with representatives from area faith communities soon followed. Shepherd of the Lake owned land adjacent to the church campus and its board indicated a willingness to sell the property. CAP Agency leaders had also wanted a seat at the table after facilitating grants for decades and disbursing state funding to people in need in the south metro area. The group took the next step in discussing what a shared initiative would involve.
Its outcome was Hopes Portage and a collaborative group overseeing the project. Goldstein and Misel are joined by Angel Igwenagu, Hopes Portage supervisor, and Melanie Cole, Shepherd of the Lake’s coordinator for the project. Scott County retains ownership of the building and property, the CAP Agency coordinates services and case management for residents, and Shepherd of the Lake will provide other support services such as operating a food pantry, supply distribution and organizing special events focusing on housing stability.
From the beginning, there was definite unity among the stakeholders, Misel said. Choosing an appropriate name for the new campus, however, proved to be more challenging.
“At our round table meetings with faith communities, we asked ourselves what it would look like if we could wrap our arms around these families,” she said. “We wanted it to be not only inclusive, but also inspiring to residents and the greater community.”
An official ribbon cutting ceremony for Hopes Portage was held on Jan. 27. While finishing touches are now being made to the building, requests are pouring in from area families with children who are looking for a home, with 78 received as of last week. Preference will be given to those families that have minor children. Applicants are being screened for short-term stays which are anticipated to last no more than six months. The goal is for each family to then transition to independent living.
The building will be staffed 24 hours a day and contains two studio units, two three-bedroom units and 10 with two bedrooms. Each is furnished, has a full kitchen, living room area, and one or two bathrooms. Admission into the building and onto a specific floor is through keycard use only. Laundry services are available, along with a staffed pantry where residents can obtain food and other supplies.
Misel said having the “wrap-around” ancillary services on site will be of great benefit to the residents. The CAP Agency will make food deliveries to the site twice per week. Igwenagu added that classes will be offered to residents throughout the year that focus on mental health, financial literacy, parenting and community events. Donation drives are also planned to gather diapers, cleaning supplies and baby equipment.
Cole said Shepherd of the Lake is in the process of developing a list of services that could be offered by church members to residents, such as car repair. Volunteers are also coordinating teams to welcome new residents. She credits Dan Poffenberger, senior pastor, in fostering a sense of shared vision within the community, reinforcing its mission of “open hearts, open minds and open table.”
“This group has brought together different perspectives, with the goal of producing the best outcome,” Goldstein said. “We want to make sure that Hopes Portage is sustainable and serves the community for years to come.”
Volunteers are being sought for a variety of tasks that need to be done before and after Hopes Portage is opened. For more information, use this link.
