Minnesota experiences some of the coldest temperatures in the United States every winter. In the Twin Cities, temperatures have dropped below -30 degrees Fahrenheit on 12 occasions since 1891.
Considering people can suffer from hypothermia in any temperature below 35 degrees, this harsh weather can be a death sentence for Minnesotans experiencing homelessness.
So, in Minneapolis, housing advocates opened Avivo Village, an indoor community of 100 secure, private tiny houses for people who are otherwise at risk of sleeping on the streets.
Inside the village, which is located in a warehouse, 100 individual units give people their own place to call home — and the freedom to come and go as they please.
Since opening in December 2020, the shelter has supported over 800 people through temporary housing, placed 340 people in permanent housing, and have even reversed nearly 250 overdoses.
In addition to an individual 8-by-8-foot unit, the village provides “wraparound services” to people experiencing homelessness, meaning they have access to essential services like substance use disorder treatment, mental health therapy, medical care, and social work support.
Operating under a “harm reduction model,” the shelter is considered “low-barrier,” meaning people who stay there are welcome regardless of their sobriety. Even dogs and cats are welcome to stay with their humans, too.
“The winters are harsh here. Living on the streets here is harsh. And there hasn't been a safe space for people to be. And the traditional shelter model hasn't always worked for everybody,” David Jeffries, Avivo’s program director, said in a video.
“When they first come in … some of the residents are just exhausted. Saying they feel helpless, they’re very emotional, they don’t really know how to feel because they’ve been out on the streets for so long … When they finally come here, they just kind of take a breath, like, ‘Oh, I’m okay now.’”
Although some colorful artificial intelligence-generated images have circulated on social media, the space is simple. Residences are placed in a grid, and walls are painted in simple, plain colors. Volunteers regularly spruce up the community, and additional furniture like picnic tables and gathering spaces are available inside, too.
While residents live in the individual units on a temporary basis, there is no limit to how long they can stay. Experts are also there to help people find permanent, supportive housing, obtain employment, and more. Staff and security are on-site for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Avivo Village is a tremendous example of what can happen when the community rallies together to address the issue of unsheltered homelessness,” Avivo president & CEO Kelly Matter said in a statement.
“It offers stability and security first. A safe place out of the elements to take personal steps to permanent housing … The indoor community is surrounded by trained staff who walk alongside each person, connecting them to just the right services that help them find permanent, safe places to live. It’s one of the things Avivo does best.”
Plus, residents take part in making the village work for them.
“The village is set up in a way that it really creates community, and a lot of people take on different roles,” Heather Day, another program manager for Avivo, said in the video.
“We have a resident who is a barber, and he cuts people's hair. We have a resident who is very personable, so if somebody is feeling down, they’re always the one that comes in. Everyone takes a part, just like our regular community would do.”
Avivo Village began as a two-year pilot project and has since grown to support people for over five years. Funding from the state, county, and city — along with private donors — make it possible for the program to stay operational.
“It’s not an inexpensive intervention,” Emily Bastian, vice president of ending homelessness at Avivo, told MPR News.
“But when we do the math, we identify that a night in Avivo Village is no more expensive than a night in a correctional facility in our community.”
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Header image courtesy of Avivo
