About Us
We transform, redeem & engage.
Our Mission:
The mission of Urban Homeworks is to perpetuate the hope of Jesus Christ through innovative community development.
Our Vision:
Neighbors raising their collective voices to address injustice and overcome the barriers that perpetuate inequity.
Our work, and the mindset by which we do it, is modeled after the example of brazen, unapologetic social justice left by Jesus. We seek to perpetuate the hope of Jesus in solidarity with self-determined and self-defined people and communities, leveraging housing equity as a platform for change. We invite people of all spiritual and religious beliefs, genders, orientations, abilities, cultural and class identities to join us in this fight. Black, Indigenous, and other POC are highly encouraged to get involved.
UHW transforms condemned, underutilized, and neglected properties into safe, dignified rental or homeownership opportunities for low- to moderate-income—primarily BIPOC—households. Using housing as a platform to combat racial wealth gaps and create broader social change, UHW works to build community between neighbors, businesses, and contractors in South and North Minneapolis and the Frogtown Neighborhoods in St. Paul. By addressing the issues residents face inside and outside the home with community-centric care, UHW helps neighbors build the stable foundation needed to further overcome the barriers that perpetuate inequity and make their dreams a reality.
What We Do
We Build Beautiful and Affordable Homes
We Build Beautiful and Affordable Homes
Housing has been one of the primary ways that racialized wealth gaps have been maintained in our country’s history. Our goal is to transform housing into a redemptive force not only for the resident or owner, but for the contractors, vendors, and individuals and businesses that benefit from the development and management of the housing we work with.
Our ultimate aim is dignified housing – housing that is both affordable and high quality, and includes a supportive network with a responsive landlord and resources from local community partners.
We Provide Dignified Rentals
We Provide Dignified Rentals
Urban Homeworks provides quality rental housing that is both affordable and dignified. Our expertise is in small-scale, scattered site housing. Partnerships with local social service organizations often add support to assist rental families in gaining greater stability.
After careful evaluation we decided to bring in Property Solutions and Services as our third-party property management company. Beyond our properties, they manage 500+ units through Minneapolis and St Paul, have significant expertise in funder regulations (compliance), and experience working in the neighborhoods we’re located.Email rental@urbanhomeworks.org to be notified when vacancies become available.
**If you are a resident and have maintenance concerns, please reach Property Solutions and Services at the numbers below:
UHW / PSS Maintenance Line: 612-598-6545
UHW / PSS EMERGENCY Line: 612-746-0400
Are you looking for housing?
Rental History
Positive and Verifiable rental history 12 months of the past 36 months
Verifiable Gross Income
Required minimum monthly income of 2 ½ x monthly rent
Pass Criminal Background Check
A record of no “adverse” criminal convictions for at least five years: an adverse criminal conviction or incarceration record is considered a history which would adversely affect the safety, well-being of residents, staff or which would adversely affect the viability of Urban Homeworks. Any record of any sexual offense, arson, or serious violent felonies; will automatically disqualify an applicant household.
No Outstanding Utility Bills
You must have the ability to have utilities in your name where required
Looking to Own Your Next Home with Urban Homeworks?
Looking to Own Your Next Home with Urban Homeworks?
Urban Homeworks transforms quality single-family homes, in Minneapolis and St. Paul, for purchase through a regular loan buying process. Houses available for sale include high-quality rehabs as well as new constructions.
- Homeownership or financial counseling (contact the MN Homeownership Center to find a counselor and help with purchasing https://www.hocmn.org/buyingahome/),
- Lease to purchase contract
- Contracts for deed
Pre-qualifications for Prospective Buyers
Meet required income guidelines as defined in each property listing
City of Lakes Community Land Trust properties have additional application and qualification requirements
Typically agree to occupy the home as their primary residence for at least 5 years
Geography
We focus most of our homeownership projects on North Minneapolis and Frogtown neighborhood in St. Paul . These communities experienced high levels of vacancy and foreclosure rates during the great recession and have only recently started to recover property values.
Reinvestment
As the housing market stabilizes and values appreciate in these areas, investors with a focus on profit are increasingly being drawn to purchase properties in these areas. Our goal is to facilitate community ownership in these properties before they are bought up by investors and to keep prices at an attainable purchase level for a variety of household sizes and incomes.
Equity & Engagement
Equity & Engagement
Urban Homeworks uses housing as a platform to catalyze powerful people in becoming change agents. We believe people are not beneficiaries of charity but actors in their own destiny. Families make homes, homes make neighbors and neighbors create community.
We focus on both the physical structure of houses and the people in the homes. This is what we call People Oriented Development. (POD)
Leadership Council
Activities
Education
Community Organizing
What We Do
Urban Homeworks collaborates with community partners to influence collective positive change. We build on and contribute to the work of others to encourage sustainable, people-based solutions for the stability, health, and well-being of our neighbors and neighborhoods.
Get Involved
Volunteer
Volunteer
Volunteers are essential to our work.
They provide on-site labor, office support, donations, holiday baskets and more. We are eager to partner with you and your group for a meaningful experience for us both.
Want to learn more about volunteering with us?
On-Site Volunteering
Join us in renovating a newly acquired property or revitalizing an apartment between residents. This work can include cleaning, painting, light carpentry, light demolition, landscaping, etc. No experience is necessary, and all tools are provided.
Groups of 10-15 volunteers
Work day typically runs 8:30am – 4:00pm
When you volunteer with a group your sponsorship helps keep our housing affordable to the families we serve.
We ask churches and faith groups to contribute $1,000/day and corporations $1,500/day to cover additional volunteer expenses like insurance, supplies and staffing.
Interested in having a group join us?
Individual
Max 15 volunteers per day
Work day typically runs 9:00am – 1:00pm
No fee to join us on individual volunteer days
Baskets
Volunteer without ever swinging a hammer! Fill this need anywhere, anytime, from anyplace. Engage your children, youth group, or office by putting together a basket filled with items that would be useful as a new neighbor.
Every year, we welcome home at least 60 families, and their journeys warrant a celebration. By putting together welcome baskets you’re playing an integral role in their stability and our community building efforts. We are always in need of baskets. Contact our team to get started!
Click here for a full Welcome Basket Donation List (1) !
Office Volunteers and Interns*
We need consistent volunteers to help in the office. Hours can be flexible – sometime between 9 and 5 on most days.
To learn more about office volunteer opportunities please contact Ashley at AshleyS@urbanhomeworks.org
*View our current internships & job openings here
Administrative & Database Management
Filing, database updating and entry, during office hours. Attention to detail and computer skills required, but training provided.
Reporter
Gather stories and pictures from our different program areas and help prepare them for our communications. No camera required, but photography and writing/editing abilities preferred.
Event Coordination
Help us tackle the planning process as we get ready for events during the year, including fundraisers and celebrations.
Community Outreach
Distribute flyers door-to-door to share information about homeownership possibilities. Excellent communication skills required. Walking required. Suggested 4–5 hours/week.
Who We Are
Staff
AsaleSol Young
Executive Director
AsaleSol Young
Executive DirectorAs someone dedicated to racial justice, the impact of housing instability on a community’s capacity to thrive is undeniable. When I started working at Urban Homeworks in 2017 as a Grants Manager, I was looking to support organizations doing crucial racial justice work. Folks I knew and trusted were working here, so I leaned in to offer helpful contributions.
Anne Ketz
Real Estate Director
Anne Ketz
Real Estate Director I was not familiar with UHW before applying in 2017. At the time I applied, I was seeking a role in non-profit real estate development; I was especially drawn to the emphasis at UHW of a “people first” mentality and the community-centered work of the “People Oriented Developments”; the small-scale block-by-block focus of the real estate development work; the reclaiming of properties long-abandoned or poorly run by absent landlords; an opportunity to work on both homeownership and rental projects providing quality, attainable housing opportunities, and contributing to the effort in reducing the homeownership disparity between black and white households in Minneapolis.
Paul Vliem
Development Director
Paul Vliem
Development DirectorSo many reasons!! Its values-based mission; its commitment to centering local community in all we do; its understanding of the power of quality affordable homes in creating healthy, resilient communities; and our ability to use the resources committed to this mission to create outsized impact in our community (307 homes built/redeveloped and counting!)
Randy Hanson, CPA
Finance Director
Randy Hanson, CPA
Finance DirectorAs I read about Urban Homeworks on their website, as I saw that there was a place for me to serve and contribute to the mission, and as I got to know the great people who work here, I said, “I am IN!”
Temi Ogunrinde
Equity & Engagement Director
Temi Ogunrinde
Equity & Engagement DirectorI firmly believe that dignified housing is a right, not a luxury, and that everyone should be afforded the opportunities to own a home. I wanted to be intentional of working in spaces that fight for this right. I chose to work for Urban Homeworks specifically because it's important that the work we do is unapologetically centered on community. We commit to doing this work alongside community, with great humility and care and that is why this is where I want to be.
Antoinette McClarron
NAZ Family Achievement Coach
Antoinette McClarron
NAZ Family Achievement CoachNot feeling fulfilled by my job I was doing previous, I decided to go for a job I feel I can make a difference in. I applied for a non-profit (something I always wanted to do) and Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) brought me to UHW. I am very excited to be part of the team.
Ashley Satorius
Volunteer Program Manager
Ashley Satorius
Volunteer Program ManagerI envision a world where Home is a human birthright. There is no deeper healing or progress a human is able to do if that human cannot first feel safe and stable and nourished within home. I believe that Urban Homeworks’ journey towards dignified accessible housing is part of the bridge that brings us from this world into a more just and vibrant next world. If not in my lifetime, then for the children. May it be so.
Azad Lassiter
Real Estate Development Project Manager
Azad Lassiter
Real Estate Development Project Manager
Bridger Foster
Equity & Engagement Intern
Bridger Foster
Equity & Engagement InternI was drawn to Urban Homeworks with the goal to learn about how to effectively aid a community and advocate legislatively and locally while building community with those around me.
Ellen DeYoung
Institutional Relations Manager
Ellen DeYoung
Institutional Relations ManagerAfter moving to the North Minneapolis area in 2019 and getting to know the neighborhood, I was drawn to organizations that highlighted the vibrancy of the community while also calling out disparities and disadvantages that exist. I love that Urban Homeworks leverages the power of the community’s voices to address both immediate needs and underlying racial justice issues. I’m so excited to be able to support my local community in this crucial work!
Emily Lassiter
Senior Development Officer
Emily Lassiter
Senior Development OfficerAfter starting a family, I wanted to move back to my home state of Minnesota and began searching for non-profits doing meaningful work. Urban Homeworks caught my attention because of its bold mission statement proclaiming revolutionary hope. The organizational commitment to address root causes of injustice and honestly confront systemic racism as a root cause is what sold me. I love working for an organization that continually challenges me to be a better human.
Katie Herrick
Communications Manager
Katie Herrick
Communications ManagerSafe, dignified housing is necessary for all other facets of life. I firmly believe that housing is a human right every single human being deserves to have. The work Urban Homeworks is doing to address systemic barriers to housing in addition to tackling the racial homeownership gap is absolutely critical. I am honored and grateful to be able to use my skills to benefit my community in any way.
Kassidy Rouse
Development Intern
Kassidy Rouse
Development Intern
Lydia Detweiler
Executive Assistant
Lydia Detweiler
Executive AssistantI was initially drawn to Urban Homeworks as an organization because it addresses both immediate needs and systemic injustices. Since joining the team, I have been amazed with how thoughtfully this mission is lived out. I fully support Urban Homeworks' model for community development and look forward to working alongside its passionate employees, partners, and residents to actualize our dream of a more equitable housing market for all people!
Yuri Harper
Resident Organizer
Yuri Harper
Resident OrganizerThe Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) introduced me to Urban Homeworks (UHW). I started as the NAZ Housing Specialist in 2017 and then transitioned into a Family Achievement Coach. I love being part of the UHW team because the mission helped me understand Christ in a different way that I appreciate. Housing is so foundational and an absolute right for everyone. I am proud to work on housing justice and anti-racism with this amazing team.
Board of Directors