Interfaith Action Move-In Fund

Have you heard? Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul has a new home! 

This spring, Interfaith Action officially took ownership of a building, located at 1010 Bandana Blvd W in St. Paul, which has been operated as a Best Western Plus hotel. Over the next few months, we’ll be working on optimizing the space so that we can:  

• Transition Project Home from its current leased space at the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet’s Provincial House, offering families access to significantly increased comfort and dignity with recently renovated rooms; private bathrooms; expanded and improved spaces for work, learning, and play; accessibility to 24-hour-a-day staff; and proximity to additional community resources. 
• Create dedicated spaces that are optimized for Project Home’s wraparound support model: private rooms for families to meet with therapists and nurses; offices for Rapid Exit Case Managers to work with parents within view of their children at the indoor playground; a restorative spiritual space for reflection or prayer; a computer/learning lab for work, study, and financial literacy coaching; and a dining area that fosters nourishment and quality family time. 
• Bring more of the organization’s programming under one roof to increase accessibility, collaboration, and efficiency
• Incorporate the voices and diverse perspectives of those with lived experience facing systemic barriers to ensure that the space, and the programs living within it, are culturally responsive and relevant to authentic community needs.

It is our vision that this blossoms into a vibrant support hub that is both “by” and “for” the community...and we need help to make it a reality! BIG plans for refreshing the space include building a commercial kitchen and a guest laundry room, re-imagining the former hotel bar as an interactive “program lab,” converting a former indoor pool into a playground, and more. We know that some of these projects will require some time, and we are actively in conversation with potential philanthropy partners to secure the necessary funding to start on those “big ticket items.”  

But if you’ve ever moved, you know that there is always a seemingly endless list of “little things” that must be coordinated, contracted, and purchased to successfully get settled in a new space. That’s why we’re launching a campaign to build our “move-in fund”. Your gift, no matter how large or small, will provide the short-term support Interfaith Action needs to set itself up for long-term success at 1010 Bandana Blvd W.  

By giving to this campaign, you’re making our move-in possible by helping to fund things like:  

• Packing supplies and moving services
• Key fobs and improved technology for the building’s access and security
• Signage, large and small, to help folks locate and navigate around the new space
• Exterior and aesthetic work, such as lawn care and painting
• Shelving and storage for kid-friendly spaces like a library and playroom 
• Operational support for Project Home and other programs to navigate the major task of moving while still providing critical services to families

Want a sneak peek at the space you’re helping to build? Check out the virtual tour here! 

To learn more about Interfaith Action, our new facility, or ways that you can support our move and ongoing work, contact Erica Collins, Director of Development & Communications.