Avivo Village reaches significant milestone: 300 people housed in permanent housing

Avivo is proud to announce a significant milestone in the success of Avivo Village, its innovative, indoor shelter and service model for individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. As of June 4, 2025, there have been 300 individuals who have moved from Avivo Village into safe, permanent housing – demonstrating the powerful impact of this unique program. Shelter saves lives, and housing ends homelessness.

Opened in December 2020, Avivo Village is the first-of-its-kind, indoor community of 100 secure, private rooms located in Minneapolis. The low-barrier emergency shelter offers dignity, safety, and stability, along with wraparound services that include onsite case management and access to substance use treatment, mental health care, medical support, and employment services – all designed to help individuals achieve long-term stability and well-being, to support individuals moving from encampments to permanent housing.

“Avivo Village is a tremendous example of what can happen when the community rallies together to address the issue of unsheltered homelessness,” said Avivo President & CEO Kelly Matter. “It offers stability and security, first. A safe place out of the elements to take personal steps to permanent housing.”

“Avivo Village is a tremendous example of what can happen when the community rallies together to address the issue of unsheltered homelessness,” said Avivo President & CEO Kelly Matter. “It offers stability and security, first. A safe place out of the elements to take personal steps to permanent housing.”

Since its launch, Avivo Village has served 726 unique individuals, highlighting both its immediate and long-term impact. The Village’s culturally responsive, trauma-informed approach includes on-site staffing 24/7.

Originally launched as a two-year pilot, Avivo Village continues to prove the power of intentional, community-based solutions to homelessness. Its success has been made possible through generous funding from state, county, and city partners – including CARES Act funding through the City of Minneapolis – as well as philanthropic support from organizations such as Target, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, and the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation.