Solving homelessness among veterans is more than a housing challenge — it’s a community responsibility.
The Built for Zero community in Minneapolis, Hennepin County knows this firsthand. Since joining the movement in 2018, the large city has worked to identify every neighbor experiencing veteran and chronic homelessness by name, in real time. In an area with a population of over 250,000 people, it’s no easy task. Equipped with this data, the community has achieved meaningful reductions in homelessness.
However, deeply affordable housing tailored to individual needs is the cornerstone for reaching functional zero for veteran homelessness. The Housing for Heroes Veterans Village emerged as a solution, thanks to a diverse coalition of partners, including Housing First Minnesota Foundation (HFMF), Lennar Builders, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, and Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV).
Leaders from these organizations recently came together for a LinkedIn Live discussion to share insights about the project.
Here are five highlights from the conversation.
1. Closing the Housing Supply Gap
“Our mission is ending veteran homelessness, and we do that a number of different ways.”
— Jon Lovald, MACV
“Our mission is ending veteran homelessness, and we do that a number of different ways, said Jon Lovald, Chief Operating Officer at MACV. Lovald highlighted that while many veterans served by MACV access traditional housing, others require stronger support systems to stay housed.
“Veterans who have previously experienced homelessness are really just putting their lives back together. So it’s important for us to have our own properties that we’re able to create space for those veterans with the fewest housing options,” Lovald added.
2. A Collaborative Approach to Housing Solutions
The Veterans Village is built on collaboration, uniting builders, nonprofit organizations, faith leaders, and community volunteers. Builders like Lennar brought building development expertise to the table, HFMF connected the generosity of the building industry to support MACV’s mission, MACV ensured veterans had access to critical services like mental health support, and Mount Calvary Church garnered community support.
Lovald noted, “Our ability to do more has always been based on our partnerships with other organizations: state, for-profit, churches, anywhere that people want to be involved in the partnership of helping veterans, we’re working with them.”
3. The Role of Dignified Housing
“Our organizational mission is to provide dignified housing in the pursuit of ending homelessness. And I think the key word in that is dignified,” shared Sofia Humphries, Foundation Executive Director of HFMF. “The Veterans Village homes that Lennar is building are 1000% dignified. They’re absolutely beautiful new homes that anyone would love to live in.”
“The Veterans Village homes that Lennar is building are 1000% dignified. They’re absolutely beautiful new homes that anyone would love to live in.”
—Sofia Humphries, HFMF
4. Community Engagement Powers Progress
“I feel it’s critical for faith communities to look at the problems in their current context and to be willing to be brave and actually step into trying to find solutions for problems that their neighbors are actually dealing with now” shared Pastor Tom Jenkins of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church.
“For us, leveraging relationships and the land we have to address local needs is an expression of our deeply held convictions. In this case, it’s about taking care of the most vulnerable among us.”
5. A Blueprint for Inspiration
The project inspired those involved in its creation, such as Joe Jablonski, Vice President of Land Development at Lennar Builders.
“We get the opportunity to provide our industry expertise to help solve homelessness. And so many of our suppliers, trade partners, they all get so excited about these projects and really wanna step up and participate in them,” Jablonski said.
