Sue Purchase and Josie. Sue is a Housing Specialist with the WHP program. Josie has been housed though the WHP program since last fall. Read Josephine's story

Simpson Housing involved with federal grant to serve long-term homeless women in Minneapolis

Spectrum Community Mental Health, in partnership with Simpson Housing Services, has been awarded a four year annual grant of $371,294 from the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The award will provide supportive housing services for long-term homeless women with mental illness in Hennepin County. At any given time, there will be no fewer than 50 women in housing, and it is estimated that with turnover, a total of 80 women will be served over the lifetime of the project.

The SAMHSA team will work in partnership with the recently launched Women’s Housing Partnership (WHP) team. The WHP is to assist 30 long-term guests at Simpson Housing’s Women’s Shelter to attain and maintain housing. The WHP is funded with support from the Partners Fund, Minnesota Department of Human Services, the Bush Foundation, the WCA Foundation and Minnesota Housing’s Ending Long-Term Homelessness Initiative Fund.

-from the Heading Home Minnesota E-news, June 5, 2008

		James Lewis, Simpson Education Support Advocate(in red shirt) with teens from the Family Roots Alliance at the Mall of America.

Simpson Teen Group taps into MySpace
Myspace.com is one of the most popular social networking sites on the internet and a favorite virtual gathering place among teens. It provides a way to stay in touch with friends, share favorite music and photos, discover other people’s likes and dislikes, read about community events, and watch video clips. It unites people and helps them stay connected with what is going on.

Simpson Education Support Advocates (ESA) are tapping into this phenomenon to stay in contact with and to help connect the teens from the Family Roots Alliance (FRA). (FRA is a collaboration between Simpson Housing and Lutheran Social Service.)

After discussions with staff and teens in the program, it was decided that this was an exciting way to create community within the program. It is also a perfect way to promote responsible internet use. The private page is viewable only by staff and the Family Roots Alliance teens. “How could we resist using a tool our youth are so connected to? We are looking forward to using the page as a way to stay in touch with the teens,” says Jennie Ellingson, Simpson ESA.

United Way Give-it-a-Whirl Volunteers lend a hand at Bell House

Rich Grigos and Kittie Fahey from the United Way Tocqueville Society volunteered at Simpson Housing during the United Way Give-it-a-Whirl event. The garden at Bell House was spruced up with the help of nine volunteers. Rick and Kittie ammended a planting bed and planted 36 impatiens. Plans are to make the garden a place to meet clients, hold volunteer and board events, and for staff breaks.

Employees from Boston Scientific washed around 100 windows, inside and out, at the Bell House through the Give-it-a-Whirl event.

2007 Homeless Memorial March and service remembers 106 people

The memorial for people who died while homeless in Minnesota during 2007 was held on December 20, 2007. Over 700 attended the service and nearly 300 marched in remembrance.

Photo: Before the kick-off of the march, signs containing the name, age, and hometown of the people who died were set-up in a snowbank outside the Hennepin County Government Center.

Wendy Wiegmann, Program Director for Simpson Housing Services, is the recipient of the 2007 Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless Bruce Vento Distinguished Service Award. Wendy received the award at a ceremony held during the coalition’s annual conference this month in Alexandria, Minnesota.

The annual award recognizes an individual or organization that has shown an exceptional effort in addressing and working to end homelessness in Minnesota.

In her role as Program Director, Wendy oversees the Family Housing program, the men’s and women’s shelters, as well as new Simpson initiatives such as the Women’s Housing Partnership, the Elliot Park apartments, the Passage Community and the Housing First program.

Wendy has been with Simpson since 1998. Prior to Simpson she worked as a homeless advocate at the Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul and volunteered for the Christian Appalachian Project in Kentucky.

Brian K. is the recipient of the 2007 You Are Remarkable Award

This award is given in recognition of the tremendous strides made by a family or individual who has participated in one of the Simpson programs.

The award, along with several others, was presented at the Simpson Celebrates Community event on November 15 at Midtown Global Market. Read more