MACV Vice President of Property Operations Sara Riegle presented MACV’s mission and updates to the Minnesota House Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee. Standing before the Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy, Riegle provided insight into the methods and successes of MACV’s effort to end Veteran homelessness in Minnesota.

We are proud to report that 1,099 Veterans received direct financial assistance from MACV in 2022 for over $3,455,458.  

Veterans who accessed housing through placement by a MACV service provider have less than a 10% return to homelessness rate.  

MACV operates 200 beds of transitional and permanent supportive housing units in Duluth, Hibbing, Mankato, St. Cloud, and throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area, with approximately 40 additional units being added in the Twin Cities metro and an additional ten being added in Greater Minnesota with a potential for even more. 

Some highlights of  MACV’s effort in 2022 include:

• In 2022, 427 Veterans were housed, 22% of which were experiencing chronic or long-term homelessness. 
• In the summer of 2022, MACV was awarded 8.2 million dollars from MDVA to aid in housing Veterans experiencing homelessness who have barriers to that level and can not be housed with traditional market-rate community-based landlords.
• MACV has purchased five additional buildings, with a sixth set to close in the next week
• Stryker Avenue apartments offer 7 one bedrooms in St. Paul. The first lease was signed on August 2nd, 2022, less than 45 days after MACV received its funding award. The building was occupied entirely within 90 days.
• Powderhorn apartments in Minneapolis provides 17 units of housing. The first lease was signed on August 15th, again providing swift access to urgently needed housing. Two units are still under construction as we work to provide great access to those Veterans with limited mobility. 

We are optimistic that we are on track to achieve a functional end to Veteran homelessness in Minnesota over the next two years.