A Path from Homelessness to Housing, All Under One Roof
In this piece sponsored by JPMorganChase, Simpson Housing Services and Project for Pride in Living detail a new five-story Minneapolis building combining a 40,000-square-foot emergency shelter with 42 units of permanent supportive housing above it. Financed through JPMorganChase's New Markets Tax Credit program, the project offers a full continuum of care, from immediate shelter to long-term stable housing, as part of the bank's broader American Dream Initiative and its $20 million investment in local nonprofits over the past five years.
Across the country, many communities lack access to the everyday places that help neighborhoods thrive: health clinics, schools, cultural centers, grocery stores and the kinds of small businesses that create jobs and bring people together. The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program was created to help close that gap, channeling private investment into projects that might otherwise struggle to secure financing in underserved areas.
To strengthen a neighborhood, it’s essential that all Minneapolis residents share in its growth, with access to the spaces and opportunities that create lasting economic mobility. For Simpson Housing Services, this meant delivering concrete solutions to the local community.
For people experiencing chronic homelessness in Minneapolis, Simpson’s extended-stay shelter offers something that can feel impossibly out of reach: a stable, warm place to begin again. Developed by Simpson Housing Services with financing from J.P. Morgan, the project involves new construction of a 40,000-square-foot emergency shelter and service facility, occupying the first three floors of a five-story mixed-use building. For the neighbors who walk through its doors, that means far more than a roof overhead. It means a warm bed, a hot meal and on-site services that help people stabilize their lives and take the first steps toward a more secure future.
Above the shelter, the top two floors, separately owned by Project for Pride in Living, provide 42 permanent supportive housing apartments. These are not temporary beds but real homes, places where residents can put down roots, rebuild daily routines and access the ongoing support they need to stay housed for the long term. Under a single roof, the building offers a full continuum of care, guiding neighbors from the immediate safety of emergency shelter to the lasting stability of a home of their own.
“Simpson Community Shelter & Apartments is a powerful example of what can happen when community partners come together around a shared vision,” said Wendy Wiegmann, Acting Executive Director of Simpson Housing Services. “Through the investment of partners like J.P. Morgan, we have created more than a building. We have created a place where people can find safety, access healthcare and supportive services, and begin the journey from homelessness to housing. Together, we are investing in stronger individuals, stronger neighborhoods and a stronger Minneapolis.”
“We’re proud of the far-reaching impact this project will have. It reflects Simpson Housing Services’ work to support our communities and expands access to the spaces where people can learn, work and connect,” said Melissa Pillars, Community Development Banking, J.P. Morgan. “Every project like this matters. Bringing real investment to communities that need it most is critical.”
A broader commitment to Minneapolis’s future
While Simpson’s shelter and supportive housing programs are foundational, the vibrancy of a community depends on much more. In Minneapolis, the firm provides banking services to 650,000 customers and works across sectors to expand economic opportunity. Over the last five years, JPMorganChase has invested $20 million in local nonprofit organizations, supported 39,000 small business clients and delivered financial health education to thousands of residents to broaden access to banking, financial health resources, homeownership and other wealth-building tools.
“As we work with local stakeholders to expand community spaces, JPMorganChase’s goal is to create inclusive economic opportunity for all,” said Kelly Swenson, Region Manager, Commercial Banking and Co-Chair, Minnesota Market Leadership Team, JPMorganChase. “When our communities thrive, we all thrive.”
The journey to expand opportunity across the country continues, with industry leaders like Simpson Housing Services finding a path forward to bring real solutions to the Minneapolis community.
Locally and nationally, this project reflects JPMorganChase’s American Dream Initiative, a commitment to scaling local housing solutions across the country. Learn more at www.jpmorganchase.com/America.