It’s about more than just a new building.
It’s about building up people holistically so we can all reach our true potential.
It’s not a quick fix. But, if we build it together, it will be a lasting one.
In 2019, Simpson Housing Services became the official owner of the building that we have been operating as Simpson Shelter for nearly four decades. Thanks to a generous gift from Simpson United Methodist Church, we now have the space to build up a national best practice shelter model and a bold comprehensive plan to help people experiencing homelessness. We will have a welcoming space in which we will continue to embrace the dignity and uniqueness of each person we serve, provide shelter and resources, and help each person reach stability and their true potential.
We are excited to build our new shelter on the site where our story began, carrying forward an important legacy of social justice in the welcoming and culturally rich Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis.
Our Vision: Centered on Simpson’s value of celebrating and embracing the uniqueness and dignity of every person, the new shelter model will create an uplifting environment – with windows and natural light – for participants to work with 
staff, overcome barriers, and achieve improved housing placement outcomes.
Extended hours and accommodations for service partners will increase access to resources that support guests’ physical, mental, and chemical health needs.
The building will be five stories with accessible and adaptable spaces, intentionally designed to meet guests’ needs:
- The first floor will house a commercial kitchen and dining room with capacity to serve meals for approximately 100 people. It will also house a 24-hour front desk, a healthcare office to be operated by Hennepin County Healthcare for the Homeless and other partners, and space for volunteer groups who cook and serve daily meals for guests.
- The second floor will include the men’s sleeping areas, laundry facilities, showers, community areas, and offices for service staff and community partners.
- The third floor will include the women’s and non-binary sleeping areas, laundry facilities, showers, community areas, and offices for service staff and community partners.
- The fourth and fifth floors will include 42 efficiency units of permanent supportive housing, each roughly 300-400 square feet, geared toward individuals who have experienced long-term homelessness.
Click here to watch our 2020 virtual presentation on Simpson’s new Community Shelter & Apartments.
Timeline
- 2019 | Official owner of the Simpson United Methodist Church
- 2020 | Launch the Build Up Campaign
- 2022 | Complete institutional funding phase, continue campaign fundraising, and begin construction
- 2023 | Scheduled to open
Our Partners: We are honored to collaborate with the following organizations, to help develop the new shelter and housing site:
- Terri Cermak and Todd Rhodes of LHB (formerly Cermak Rhoades Architects) are the design architects.
- Project for Pride in Living is the developer of the 42 units of permanent supportive housing.
- Watson-Forsberg is the general contractor.
- Carmichael Lynch Relate provided pro-bono services to create the Build Up campaign materials.
- Crowley, White, Helmer and Sevig, are the comprehensive campaign consultants.
Announcing The Build Up Comprehensive Campaign
On September 15, 2020, Simpson Housing Services virtually announced the Build Up Campaign. Thank you to the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation for their $345,000 lead campaign gift!
Each year for the next three years, campaign contributions will be matched up to $115,000. For questions on how to support the Build Up campaign, please contact:
Steve Horsfield Elisabeth Loeffler
Executive Director Director of Advancement and Communications
shorsfield@old.simpsonhousing.org eloeffler@old.simpsonhousing.org
We’re proud of what we’ve done. And now, with your help, we plan on doing even more. Our aim is to design and execute a national best-practice shelter model that is scalable to community needs and can be replicated in the Twin Cities and across the nation.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is the shelter currently operating?
Since the onset of COVID-19 in March, Simpson has operated its low-barrier shelter 24/7 — with social distancing and safety protocols — providing our guests with a safe space and temporary home. We are committed to 24/7 shelter operations through the pandemic. We are currently operating 70 shelter beds, including 20 new shelter beds on the second floor of the building.
Will the shelter operate during construction?
Yes. Simpson’s board of directors and staff are committed to no gap in services during construction. We will be seeking a temporary location for the shelter when construction begins.
What is the financial goal of the project?
During a September 15th virtual announcement, we shared the anticipated project budget would be $38 million. Funding sources include $28 million in public funding and a $10 million comprehensive campaign. For questions, contact: eloeffler@old.simpsonhousing.org
Will the Simpson office move to the site?
Our original plan was to include administrative offices on the site. We realized during the feasibility study, the footprint of the site was too small. In the spring of 2020, Simpson Housing Services purchased a building at 160 Glenwood Avenue. Construction will begin in late 2020 with an anticipated move-in date of early summer 2021. Terri Cermak and Todd Rhodes of LHB (formerly Cermak Rhoades Architects) are the design architects. Flannery Construction is the general contractor.