Urban Homeworks' 2023 Annual Report by Housing in Action

ANNUAL REPORT

From the desk of AsaleSol Young

Peace and Blessings Urban Homeworks’ Community,

In 2023, you witnessed and partnered with us through a year of transformative opportunities, investments, and actions. The year was monumental not only for our organization but also for housing justice advocates and communities across Minnesota.

In 2023, Urban Homeworks embraced new initiatives and fought relentlessly for our communities’ voices, centering them in our quest for housing justice in the Twin Cities and beyond. The state stepped up in unprecedented ways, setting the stage for powerful legislation and national leadership. After relentless organizing, educating, speaking, and rallying by Urban Homeworks, Beacon Interfaith Housing, and other crucial partners, Minnesota passed the Bring it Home, MN bill, establishing a statewide rental assistance program, supporting those who spend over 30% of their income on rent. Additionally, the state approved a $176 million downpayment

assistance program targeting first-generation homebuyers, addressing the challenges of a dwindling starter home market. A historic milestone for us was securing $5 million in state funding to develop affordable homes for 60% area median income buyers in Minneapolis neighborhoods with predominantly BIPOC and low-income residents. Each of these victories were made possible by those who stood with us and advocated on our behalf. 2023 was a year exemplifying the power of collective responsibility and cooperative economics for the well-being of all.

On a local level, we significantly expanded our resident and community engagement through BIPOC

Think Tanks, educational panels, and various events that welcomed more participants into the collective effort for housing justice. We proudly launched our podcast, Reclaiming Home: Housing Justice with Urban Homeworks, further amplifying our message. Our residents continued to benefit from outstanding programming in their POD meetings, driven by the passion and dedication of our Equity and Engagement Team. This team also broadened partnerships to bring more educational and growth opportunities directly to our residents.

In real estate development, we celebrated helping two new families become first-time homeowners through Urban Homeworks home purchases. We also broke ground on five eco-efficient “passive homes,” slated for sale to low-income buyers in 2024. Our partnership with Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) made remarkable progress, with plans to break ground in 2024 on the first of eight cooperative multifamily units in North Minneapolis,

Kassidy Rouse Development Intern

AsaleSol Young Executive Director

Anne Ketz Real Estate Director

Paul Vliem Development Director

Emily Lassiter Senior Development Officer

Sophie Dennison Finance & Operations Director

Lydia Detweiler Executive Assistant

Yuri Resident

Azad Lassiter RED Project Manager

Katie Rein Development Coordinator

Ellen DeYoung Institutional Relations Manager

Tiara Jones NAZ Family Achievement Coach

designed for low-income Black and Indigenous families.

Finally, we concluded 2023 with a vital shift. Recognizing that our language was not keeping pace with the rapid evolution of our housing justice work, we embarked on an organizational rebranding. By year’s end, we proudly unveiled our new mission, vision, and values, marking a bold new chapter in our journey.

Our mission: Lead the fight for housing justice so that all people have a safe, stable, and dignified place to live. Our vision: Housing justice for all.

These words are the foundation of how we do this work and are anchored in our new values:

• Love: we believe in the God in all people; we believe all people deserve dignity because they are human.

• Anti-racism: we accept that systems have been built on racism and discrimination; we are actively dismantling those systems collectively as neighbors and are relentless in teaching others about housing justice.

• Grit: we show tenacity in our daily actions by persevering through difficulties and challenges, reflecting the relentlessness of the community and justice workers who came before us; we believe in showing up with solutions.

Together, we lay the bedrock for ending housing displacement, houselessness, racialized homeownership gaps, and broader housing injustice. Together, we transform archaic systems into the world we wish for our children.

Thank you for walking with us in our belief that housing justice can be achieved in every corner of this state. This work is vital and cannot be done without your unwavering support.

With a wide-open and grateful heart,

Dennison Director Temi Ogunrinde Equity & Engagement Director

Katie Herrick Communications Manager

Yuri Harper Resident Organizer

Lindsey Hunter Board Member

Ravie Singh Board Member

Tiffany Dykes Board Member

Sadaqah Jones Board Member

Danyika Leonard Board Co-Chair

Jim Bear Jacobs Board Co-Chair

Lee Schafer Board Treasurer

Claudia Oxley Board Secretary

AsaleSol Young

About Urban Homeworks

Our Mission:

The mission of Urban Homeworks is to lead the fight for housing justice so that all people have a safe, stable, and dignified place to live.

Our Vision:

Housing justice for all.

HOMEOWNERSHIP IN REACH

UHW is working to close the racial gap in homeownership by developing high-quality, energyefficient rehabilitations and new constructions in North Minneapolis to be sold at affordable rates to low- and middle-income, first-time buyers.

DIGNIFIED RENTALS

UHW provides dignified rental housing that is affordable, high-quality, and includes a supportive network of local resources to those predominantly at or below 50-60% of the area median income (AMI).

EQUITY & ENGAGEMENT

UHW co-creates communities where trust among neighbors is high, connections are strong, and historically silenced voices are amplified and heard to transform their neighborhoods. UHW regularly creates spaces where our residents have the floor to speak truth to elected officials.

HOMEOWNERSHIP PATHWAYS

UHW provides homeownership readiness courses and resources to help walk residents through the process of purchasing a home. To help repair egregious homeownership disparities, UHW also has a down payment assistance program called the Homeownership Access Fund.

became

after

for

“Being a part of the UHW community peace to my family and I. My rent able to pay rent, bills, and still live. UHW gave me a chance when I was life out. I took that opportunity and I’m about my family and living right. community that needs

UHW hosted 3 BIPOC leaders and community dream what a just

Two families

homeowners

the first time

purchasing singlefamily homes from Urban Homeworks.

- Corey Williams, UHW Resident

“As Executive Director of Urban Homeworks... AsaleSol Young has become a powerful voice in the pursuit of housing justice. Their advocacy during the spring legislative session shaped crucial housing bills; as a result, UHW secured a $5 million direct appropriation dedicated to building affordable homeownership options...”

- Twin Cities Business 2023 Notable Leaders

In 2023...

Our team was hard at work during Minnesota’s Spring Legislative Session, successfully advocating for 3 of the 4 statewide housing justice policies that our community supported.

The Real Estate Development team started construction on 8 new homeownership opportunities in North Minneapolis.

community has brought rent is affordable. I’m live. It’s a blessing. was straightening my and ran with it. Now, right. I’m a part of a needs me.”

BIPOC Think Tanks; a chance for BIPOC community members to collaborate and just housing system could look like.

Nearly 400 residents found “home” in an Urban Homeworks’ dignified rental.

AsaleSol Young and Temi Ogunrinde were among the 13 honorees of the #HereIsMPLS project.

“It’s the little things that I didn’t realize were occupying my brain because I’m a renter. I’ve never painted a wall before. When my kids are loud, I’m used to shushing them. I don’t have to do that anymore. I’m making substantive changes because I can and it’s mine. I didn’t realize how cool that would be. That I didn’t have to ask permission to do things on MY house.”

- Amber Buck, UHW Homebuyer

Resident

Thank you for joining the fight!

The team at Urban Homeworks is filled with so much gratitude and appreciation for your incredible support and commitment in joining us in the fight for housing justice in 2023. Your generosity has not only furthered our drive to support our community, but it has also propelled us forward in our vision of housing justice for all—a world where everyone has a safe, stable, and dignified place to live.

financials are unaudited. To view

As we express our gratitude and celebrate our collective accomplishments, we want you to know that your support is more than just a contribution of your time and resources—it is a symbol of empathy, kindness, solidarity, and love.

Your partnership with Urban Homeworks solidifies how the power of community can achieve transformative change when we unite for a common purpose.

Here’s to continuing the fight together in 2024 for those who continue to bear the weight of housing injustice as we create a world where everyone has a place to proudly call home.