Settled.

Settled is a Minnesota-based nonprofit made up of a team of committed and curious families and individuals. We have developed the Full Community model — a research-grounded and biblically-inspired approach to healing chronic homelessness. We believe God has an answer to homelessness. He places the lonely in families. We see a future where the local Church lives in Full Community with their homeless neighbors, modeling healthy relationships, purposeful work, and meaningful abundance, cultivating places where everyone has value, is celebrated, and functions according to their gifts to benefit the whole.

Settled exists to help churches invite their neighbors permanently out of homelessness and into Full Community through intentional tiny home villages called Sacred Settlements. Each one is owned and operated by the worshiping community on their land with Settled by their side for the journey. Caring for the poor is central to the mission of the local Church. Planting a Sacred Settlement within a loving and active faith community works very naturally. Many churches have underutilized land and building space, helping to reduce overall development costs compared to new affordable housing models.  Further, churches are protected under a strong federal land use law that overcomes restrictive local zoning and not-in-my-backyard opposition. Finally, and most importantly, churches can offer unconditional and consistent love to our neighbors who have lost everything while learning as a church family how to live into a shared way of life.

On church grounds, there are clusters of tiny homes, gardens, and seating areas. Two-thirds of the homes are lived in by our neighbors coming out of chronic homelessness. One-third of the homes are lived in by Intentional Neighbors, resourced individuals, couples, and families with a calling to live alongside the poor. Within the church building itself is a Common Home where those living in the community can access laundry, restrooms, and shower facilities. There is also a community kitchen, living space, dining room, and workspace, which function as extensions of their home. Sacred Settlements can be built on former parking lots, odd-shaped parcels, and otherwise undevelopable corners of church land, bringing beauty and purpose to underused spaces.

Read more at settled.org.