Situated along a bustling stretch of East Lake Street in Minneapolis is a place dozens of formerly homeless older adults call home.
Minnehaha Commons is a housing site designed to support single adults age 55+ who have recently experienced homelessness. The building has 44 studio units, on-site laundry and a spacious, bright community room for gatherings and events.
Touchstone Mental Health provides support services to the building’s residents on a 24/7 basis. Trellis provides Title III-B Older Americans Act funding to Touchstone to support their services at Minnehaha Commons. Services range from customized living support (meal prep, grocery shopping, homemaking, etc.), to transportation, mental health support and much more. Residents have access to a registered nurse, counselors and other staff who work together to help each person access the services they need and want. There is no limit to how long people can stay at Minnehaha Commons, and some residents have lived there since the building opened in 2019.
“Residents here have the opportunity to live the life the way they want to—we provide as much choice as possible,” says Vanna Preska, Touchstone director of community housing services.
Minnehaha Commons was established to address the lack of supports for older adults experiencing homelessness. According to a 2023 study from Wilder Research, more than 1,200 Minnesotans age 55+ experience homelessness at any given time. This age category is the only group that saw an increase in homelessness since the previous Wilder Research study in 2018.
“What Touchstone is doing is so important for our entire community,” says Trellis Grant Manager Sarah Tithof. “They go above and beyond to make sure each person at Minnehaha Commons has what they need to age in place. You can’t put a price on the dignity that comes with that.”
Adds Vanna, “You can tell residents are proud to be here. One resident is a grandmother who babysits her grandchild from time to time. She wouldn’t do that unless she felt safe here, unless she felt like it was a home she could share with loved ones.”
In addition to wraparound services, Touchstone maintains partnerships with organizations that provide on-site nature therapy through gardening, animal therapy visits, creative arts activities and more. A resident council recently began meeting to suggest changes in the building and handle resident requests.
“There’s a great sense of community here. Whenever there is a need, folks answer the call,” says Vanna.
Touchstone Mental Health is one of 39 organizations that received Older Americans Act funding through Trellis in 2024. Learn more about Minnehaha Commons and Touchstone at their website. Find more information about Older Americans Act funding here.
