Minneapolis City Council voted to give a $1.5 million grant to homeless advocacy group Agate Housing Thursday to save it from closing permanently. 

Agate Housing, a nonprofit organization providing shelter, housing and street outreach, will use the $1.5 million grant to repair the Agate Housing facility in Minneapolis.  

Sheila Delaney, a consultant for homelessness response and innovation, said Agate Housing is a unique housing service because it has a low barrier for entrance compared to other housing services.

“When you apply for housing, most of the time, almost all of the time, you need to show that you can pay for the housing,” Delaney said. “You need to show that you can pass a background check, if you are a formerly incarcerated person, and you are being discharged from corrections, getting back on your feet, you know, creating that foundation takes time.” 

City Council Member Jason Chavez (Ward 9), one of the bill’s co-authors, said the closure of Agate would negatively affect the Minneapolis homeless population who rely on Agate. 

“The permanent closure of this would impact not only the residents across Minneapolis but many of our unhoused residents and neighbors that need these critical services,” Chavez said. 

The Hennepin County shelters reported over 3,000 people stayed in shelters or transitional housing, with nearly 500 people experiencing homelessness.  

Agate funding spurring larger debate on homelessness in City Council

While the Minneapolis City Council approved the funding 10-3, there was heated debate about the cost-effectiveness of saving Agate and a larger discussion about homelessness. 

Council Member Robin Wonsley (Ward 2) said this type of legislation is needed, criticizing Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s current policy on encampments.

“Actions like these are absolutely necessary when we have the Frey administration that has this continuing whack-a-mole approach to encampments,” Wonsley said in the meeting. “This approach has not only shown to be ineffective but treats those most poorest and vulnerable residents with the utmost cruel and disdainful way.”

Council Members Michael Rainville (Ward 3), LaTrisha Vetaw (Ward 4) and Linea Palmisano (Ward 13) voted against the bill.

Rainville said the bill should wait until they have enough data on the city’s upcoming budget and how the lack of the $1.5 million will affect other government departments. 

“I want to be able to support this bill,” Rainville said in the meeting. “Good governance is not rushed and this bill was very rushed.”

Even with the bill passed, Agate Housing and City Council members say more work needs to be done.

Council Member Jamal Osman (Ward 6) said the state and federal governments need to do more to help the city address homelessness. 

“The City of Minneapolis is not equipped to deal with all this,” Osman said. “I want the mayor and the city leaders to understand the reality that the City of Minneapolis cannot handle this by themselves. The state must step in, the county must step in and the federal government must step in.” 

Executive Director of Agate Kyle Hanson said in a statement that he is grateful for the city council’s support, but Agate’s work is not done. 

“We don’t have all the answers yet and cannot say with certainty that the building will reopen, but we’re much closer to that happy result,” Hanson said in the statement.