CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS APPROVE FUNDING PROPOSAL TO ADDRESS PERMANENT CLOSURE OF DOWNTOWN BOARD AND LODGE/SHELTER
Ten Minneapolis City Council Members voted to approve an amended proposal that provides a $1.5 million grant for the rehabilitation of Agate’s Board and Lodge Transitional Housing and Shelter Facility at 510 S. 8th Street.
MINNEAPOLIS: Agate Housing and Services announces that today, the Minneapolis City Council approved a grant of $1.5 million towards the rehabilitation of its building at 510 S. 8th Street. Minneapolis City Council members Jason Chavez (Ward 9), Emily Koski (Ward 11), Jamal Osman (Ward 6), Aisha Chughtai (Ward 10), and Council President Elliott Payne (Ward 1) proposed a $1.5 million rehabilitation grant to avoid the permanent closure of a building owned and operated by one of the city’s largest providers of housing, shelter, and food assistance. During the vote, Council Member Andrea Jenkins (Ward 8) also signed on as an author of the proposal.
Council Member Lisa Koski laid out the greater need for more housing and shelter in her comments: “We don’t have enough resources to meet the overwhelming demand. As a result, too many of our neighbors are forced to live in unsafe conditions on the streets and in encampments within our communities… Every bed we lose is another person left without safety, stability, and dignity. It’s unacceptable.”
The grant proposal is in response to an Aug. 15 announcement by the Agate Housing and Services board of directors that it would be closing its 42-bed shelter program and 95-bed board and lodge program at 510 South 8th St. The organization cited increased financial pressure on nonprofits serving the homeless community and the need for more than $3-5 million in repairs to safely operate the 100-year-old building. The building is slated to close Oct. 9, affecting more than 80 residents and 23 employees.
Originally proposed to come from City contingency funds, the amended proposal identified funds from budget underspending to support the grant. The Community Planning & Economic Development Department (CPED) will administer the funds. The grant is contingent upon Agate Housing and Services securing at least $1.5 million in matching funds for the project by Dec. 31, 2025.
“Today the City took bold measures to fight our housing crisis,” said Agate Executive Director Kyle Hanson. “In addition to the Council, I must also thank Agate’s staff union, AFSCME Local 999, who are the ones who activated their base and engaged the Council regarding the 510’s closure. Agate’s staff is really to thank for their action that resulted in this grant.”
“Homelessness poses a significant health crisis… Reopening this facility after the renovation immediately contributes to the alleviation of the public health emergency,” said Council Member Jason Chavez.
Moving forward, Agate will work to identify the additional funds needed for the 510 building as well as for the remainder of its operations. The 510 building, which can serve up to 137 people who experienced homelessness, is only part of Agate’s work throughout Hennepin County, where it provides services to almost 6,000 people facing homelessness per year.
From Hanson, “I hope Agate’s stakeholders will take the time to reach out to Council Members who voted in favor of this game-changing grant. And our work is not done. Our next steps are to find the matching funds required by the City’s grant and get an updated and thorough assessment of the building’s needs. We don’t have all the answers yet and cannot say with certainty that the building will reopen, but we’re much closer to that happy result.”
If undertaken, building repairs will take 6-12 months and must happen while unoccupied. The building is slated for closure by Oct. 9. Agate is working with local partners to ensure every current resident of the 510 building is placed in another safe shelter facility before Oct. 9.
Seven votes were needed to pass today’s proposal. Affirmative votes came from ten: Council President Elliot Payne (Ward 1) and Council Members Robin Wonsley (Ward 2), Jeremiah Ellison (Ward 5), Jamal Osman (Ward 6), Katie Cashman (Ward 7), Andrea Jenkins (Ward 8), Jason Chavez
(Ward 9), Aisha Chughtai (Ward 10), Emily Koski (Ward 11), and Aurin Chowdhury (Ward 12).
