In 2018, after years of requests for support for unhoused veterans (or veterans at-risk of becoming unhoused) through our United for Veterans program, United Way of Northeastern Minnesota purchased a 4 bed/3 bath home in Hibbing and gifted it to Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) to establish a Structured Independent Living House on the Iron Range similar to the homes they operate in other parts of the state.
MACV provides a comprehensive program and supportive services to unhoused veterans in three primary focus areas: housing, employment, and civil legal concerns. Their mission is to end veteran homelessness in Minnesota. Currently, Minnesota is one county away from being the fourth state in the nation to do so.
The United for Veterans/MACV transitional home is the first of its kind on the Iron Range. Up to three single veterans can reside in the Hibbing transitional home, offering stability and case management services from MACV employees and other providers as needed. Hibbing was selected due to the number of veterans' services accessible within walking, biking, or bus-ride distance, including: VA Clinic, County Veteran Service office, Veterans Higher Education Coordinator at the Minnesota North College Hibbing Campus, and a Veterans Employment Representative at the MN Workforce Center. In addition, the Salvation Army serves meals to the community five nights a week and Project Care provides additional medical care for free. Veterans are able to live in the Hibbing home for up to 24 months before transitioning to permanent housing.
Donations made it possible for UWNEMN to purchase, repair, and furnish the home - and to this day, donations to UWNEMN continue to support the operation of the home. If you would like a list of the home's current needs or to make a donation for the operation of the home, please contact UWNEMN Community Impact Coordinator Michelle Lampton at michelle@unitedwaynemn.org or 218-215-2424.
UWNEMN purchased and repaired the United for Veterans/MACV transitional home with funds raised from Rampage at the Ridge and a $20,000 contribution from the Owens Family Charitable Foundation. Volunteers from Minnesota Power and Delta Air Lines, as well as United for Veterans committee members, helped with landscaping, cleaning, and furnishing the home before it opened.