Agate provides 24-7, long-stay shelter at two facilities in Minneapolis. The shelter guests have a safe place to sleep as they work towards permanent housing solutions.
The shelters operate on a long-stay model. Guests are welcome to stay as long as they are taking tangible steps toward finding housing and following shelter guidelines. If they continue making progress, they can take the time they need to build stability. As each person’s journey is different, the time it takes to find housing can vary immensely. An average guest’s stay with Agate is 45 days.
As part of a housing-first approach, shelter provides more than just a bed—it offers a safe space for guests to address their most pressing needs. For some, that means pursuing recovery or job training. For others, it’s exiting a violent relationship or overcoming barriers to housing. Whatever the challenge, shelter is the crucial first step in their journey.
Within the Agate system, shelter guests have access to dedicated staff who provide personalized plans for housing and long-term stability. Our team assists with medical appointments, housing applications, connections to treatment programs, and much more—helping remove barriers and create pathways forward.
Agate’s first shelter is a couple’s shelter in downtown Minneapolis. This offering is innovative in a landscape typically divided into “men’s” or “women’s” facilities. With 48 beds accommodating 24 couples, this shelter allows people to stay with the person they feel safest with—whether intimate partners, siblings, close friends, or cousins. We let couples define their own relationships. Separating couples often becomes the barrier that keeps people on the streets instead of in shelter, and our model removes that obstacle.
The Valiance women’s shelter, opened in November 2025, represents a new chapter in shelter design. This South Minneapolis facility was created with direct input from people who have experienced homelessness and lived in shelter. Its unique, community-centered design will offer 54 beds year-round, plus 8 additional emergency overnight beds during winter months. This brand new facility fulfills a critical need for shelter in our community.