NEWS & EVENTS

Paul and his family live at HomeFront, Solid Ground’s housing program for veterans and their families experiencing homelessness. Paul moved into our HomeFront program four years ago. He grew up in Burnsville, graduated from high school and joined the United States Airborne Ranger Army. His four years of service resulted in severe PTSD, leading to housing and employment instability, which…

Jennifer Halligan, Senior Project Manager, 45 North Group When Solid Ground started working on the EMP remodel, our Board highly recommended that we get an Owner’s Rep for our project. After much research and many interviews, we chose 45 North Group, with Jennifer Halligan as our Project Manager. Jennifer has over 25 years of experience working with clients locally and…

We are set to break ground in May of 2024 and fully occupy our renovated spaces by December of 2024. Phase One (May – Sept) involves a building addition of 1,700 square feet and includes a new single, secured building entry, front desk, and offices/meeting spaces for East Metro Place staff and the property manager. Several meeting rooms will be…

Solid Ground, an award-winning nonprofit organization, is pleased to announce Diamond Hunter as its next Executive Director, leading our mission to prevent and end homelessness for families with children in Ramsey and Washington Counties. She began her position on February 5, 2024. Diamond Hunter joined Solid Ground in February 2022 as the Director of Programs following her role with Merrick…

Sarah and her family live at East Metro Place, a transitional housing program at Solid Ground. When she was just nineteen, Sarah lost her mother in 2010 to an overdose. She started to spiral herself, got into bad relationships and that’s when she found drugs that, as she said, “took her on a bad path.” In 2020, Sarah decided that…

Solid Ground, an award-winning nonprofit organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness for families, announced the retirement of Trisha Kauffman, Executive Director. Trisha has led the organization for 26 years, helping thousands of families break the cycle of homelessness and poverty for the next generation. “Working for Solid Ground has been such an important part of my life for the…

Our Homework Starts with Home (HSWH) Day 1 program offers families with school-age children rapid rehousing in Washington County. This means we provide move-in assistance and monthly rental assistance, with the goal that families pay full rent within 12-24 months. The program provides educational supports for children, and other person-centered services designed to help families achieve housing and economic stability.…

On March 18, 1997, Trisha Kauffman became the second Executive Director of East Metro Women’s Council, now Solid Ground. In honor of her 26th Anniversary, we sat down with Trisha to learn more about her work and dedication to advancing Solid Ground’s mission to prevent and end homelessness for families with children in the communities we serve through housing, resources,…

Our Homework Starts with Home (HSWH) program is a collaboration of several community partners who work with school districts to move families experiencing homelessness quickly out of housing instability into stable housing within the same school district communities.  Our Homework Starts with Home/Prevention program was a life-saver for a small family this past holiday season. A hardworking, young mom participated…

The start of a new year is a time for reflection – on both the year past and the year to come. As we look back on 2022, we are so grateful for the support of our community. Because of you, we’ve been able to serve more families than ever. Here are a few highlights from the year: We served…

In the summer of 2016, Irina was staying at a domestic violence shelter with her three young children, all under three years of age. At the shelter, she and her family could only stay for 90 days before being put out onto the street. “This was a difficult time for me,” Irina recalls, “I had three young children, and I…

We’re in full swing with trainings on job readiness 101 all the way through career planning and college preparation. Kayla Perea, our Employment and Education Coordinator is leading participants through a number of classes to help prepare our participants to enter the job market equipped with the skills they need to succeed. Job readiness is the first step in this…

Now in its 3rd year, we invite the community to participate in the Holiday Express and share the magic of the holidays with the families we serve. Holiday donors have brought joy to hundreds of children and relief to many parents who might have otherwise struggled to afford gifts. We are excited to invite our donors back this year to…

Wow, what a summer it’s been! Our summer camp kicked into high gear in July with weekly tutoring in math and reading for youth aged 6-12. Volunteers were with us every step of the way providing one-on-one tutoring to children and participating in all the activities. It wasn’t all book learning either, kids participated in hands-on science experiments, took educational…

Are you a landlord who is looking for a way to partner with Solid Ground? You can help families experiencing homelessness get a new lease on life. Your participation is especially needed now since the pandemic decreased the amount of affordable housing and severely impacted the services offered to families experiencing homelessness. Solid Ground is an award-winning nonprofit organization whose…

After living in their car or doubled up with family and friends for the past several years, Dwayne and his two boys (ages 4 and 7) moved into their new home last week. This is the first time Dwayne signed a lease in his own name, and he couldn’t be more proud! The Day 1 HSWH program works to rapidly…

Though it can take several different forms, Transitional Housing typically refers to a supportive community that provides temporary (or time-limited) housing to people experiencing homelessness or crisis. The goal of Transitional Housing is to equip people with the tools, structure, and support they need to successfully re-enter permanent housing and achieve long-term stability. At Solid Ground, we provide income-based rental…

As we look back on 2021, we continue to be amazed by the generosity of our community whose ongoing support has allowed us to serve more families than ever! Here are a few highlights from the year: Over 500 individuals accessed affordable housing and holistic services through our eight supportive housing programs. We launched a rapid resolution program, in partnership…

Solid Ground works to ensure that all families have access to safe, affordable housing while working toward economic stability, improved health and wellness, and strong community connections. Operating 8 supportive housing programs in the East Metro, Solid Ground serves over 500 individuals annually.  The key to our success is rooted in our housing first model, and our team approach to…

Lu was working in the hospitality industry when she was struck by a car that left her in chronic pain, disabled, and unable to return to work. The sudden loss of income caused her to lose her home and she moved with her four young children into a hotel, quickly depleting her savings. “Keep your bags packed,” she’d tell the…

Join our team! Founded in the late 1980s, Solid Ground is an award-winning nonprofit whose proven, holistic approach empowers families with children to build the strong foundations necessary for long-term housing and economic stability. We operate eight supportive housing programs throughout Ramsey and Washington Counties housing over 500 women, men, and children annually. Committed to the ‘Housing First’ philosophy, Solid Ground works…

Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is observed the week before Thanksgiving as a reminder that these challenges don’t stop for the holidays. Over 43 million Americans are currently living below the poverty line. An alarming 580,000 are without a home on any given night. Last year, Solid Ground provided housing stability and supportive services…

My name is Gao, I’m 30 years old. I have two little girls, ages 6 and soon to be 5.  When we were first introduced to Solid Ground, we were a family trying to find our footing, just trying to make it through the day. I’d recently divorced my husband when my daughter was diagnosed with autism.  My work couldn’t…

We are excited to announce Solid Ground’s new Home2Stay program designed to support families at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness. Services include: Prevention Assistance: To keep families in their current home, eligible households may receive a one-time prevention assistance, up to 3 months of rent arrears. Rapid Rehousing Support: In the case that a household cannot sustain their current…

Ronda and her two children were homeless for the better part of seven years. The long-term effects of a heart attack at age 31 caused her to lose her job and their home. Ronda’s children stayed with family and friends while she slept in her car at a nearby park. “As long as my children had a place to stay,”…

For years Solid Ground has invited the community to share the magic of the holidays with the families we serve. Holiday donors have brought joy to hundreds of children and relief to many parents who might have otherwise struggled to afford gifts. We are excited to invite our donors back this year to share the holiday spirit through the Holiday…

“I’m not sure how I’m doing it without Solid Ground, but I am! I’m doing great!” – Maria, a single mother of two, successfully transitioned out of the HomeAgain program earlier this year. Recently divorced, Maria struggled to find housing that she could afford in Washington County. Her lack of credit created an unexpected barrier and she moved with her…

Click here to view Solid Ground’s 2020 Annual Report 2020 was a challenging year for everyone – and especially challenging for organizations like ours. The dual pandemics of COVID-19 and systemic racism disproportionally impacted Solid Ground families. Families with limited income, criminal histories, poor credit and other barriers have always been extremely challenged to find affordable housing, and the pandemic…

Linda entered Solid Ground’s HomeSafe program after being homeless for over a year. She moved back home to Minnesota and was experiencing difficulty finding a place she could afford in the Twin Cities area. Additionally, she had poor credit and a criminal history creating yet another barrier to finding housing. During her stay in a family shelter, Linda entered the…

Join us for a festive evening as we celebrate veteran families who have emerged out of homelessness and on to ‘solid ground.’ The event will include the musical stylings of Jearlyn Steele, unique silent auction items, and an opportunity to hear a personal testimonial from a veteran in Solid Ground’s HomeFront program. Now in its 5th year, HomeFront provides permanent…

“These vouchers are affecting our families in positive ways.  I had a mom in tears with me this week… tears of joy!” – Katie DePrez, HSWH Children’s Service Specialist In the fall of 2018, Solid Ground partnered with several local nonprofits and school districts to form the Homework Starts with Home Collaborative in suburban Ramsey County. The goal being to prevent…

“I’m proud that there are so many good people out there!” -Betsy Gravley, HSWH Family Advocate Miriam, a single mom of three, heard about the Homework Starts with Home program from a social worker at her daughter’s school.  The family was experiencing homelessness and staying at a domestic abuse shelter.  “She’s experienced too many struggles for one person,” Betsy, the HSWH…

“I have even bigger goals to achieve,” Gladys remarks. “If I can see success with these smaller goals, I can’t wait to see what will happen with the goals I really want!” Gladys and her family secured housing through Solid Ground’s HomeSafe program after a long journey with homelessness. “I’ve not had a home of my own since 2015,” Gladys…

Geena and her two grandsons recently secured housing in Washington County through Solid Ground’s HomeAgain and Master Leasing Programs. “It is such a comfort to me to be in my own home,” Geena states. “It’s really important to a human being that you can come and go from your own place as you wish.” Geena is a single parent of…

Solid Ground Summer Camp runs Monday-Thursday from June 14th – Aug 5th and is available to students in grades K-6 at our East Metro Place facility. Each day of camp begins with academic tutoring in the morning, followed by a light lunch, then finishes with an enrichment activity in the afternoon. We are looking for volunteers to help at least…