Frey Foundation Makes New $5 Million Investment in Reforms to End Homelessness

SAINT PAUL, Minn., March 25, 2009 — The Frey Foundation of Minnesota, a local grantmaker focused on helping people become selfsufficient, is announcing a $5 million donation that will expand its support for ending homelessness across the state.

Recognizing that the goal to end homelessness is critical to the well-being and vitality of Minnesota’s communities, the Frey Foundation again has chosen to focus its investment on the efforts of Heading Home Minnesota. Heading Home is a bipartisan, public-private partnership that brings together local initiatives around the state and the 2004 Business Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness under one umbrella. Heading Home Minnesota uses a three-prong approach to ending homelessness—prevention, outreach, and supportive housing.

“We see that the Heading Home approach solves the big problems and has the kind of effect that means our investment is aligned with an effort well positioned to succeed,” says Jim Frey, president and CEO of the Frey Foundation. “Since our first contribution in 2006, we have been encouraged by the success this fiscally-responsible approach has had helping a particularly vulnerable population of Minnesotans move from homelessness to increased independence, long-term stability, employment, and self-sufficiency. These are the kind of changes that short, one-time fixes do not help.”

The goal for this funding commitment is to expand and enhance the availability of supportive housing services and increase the supply of affordable housing across the state. Since 2004, over 2,500 housing opportunities with supportive housing have been created around the state--meaning approximately 5,000 Minnesotans now have a safe, affordable and supportive place to call home. Plans call for an additional 1,500 opportunities to be created over the next few years.

Like the previous contribution, this donation will be distributed over the course of five years and includes dedicated funding for partner organizations. Notably, this contribution includes a set aside for communities outside the metro area and the involvement of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund. The most recent research indicates that nearly a third of Minnesotans who are homeless live in Greater Minnesota.

“We are grateful that the Frey Foundation continues to be passionate about ending homelessness and the work of Heading Home Minnesota” says Kit Hadley, executive director of Heading Home Minnesota. “This is exactly the kind of investment we need in the shifting away from managing homelessness with expensive services that drain our community resources. We hope it also encourages the continued support of public funders, corporations and foundations who have already generously given as well as anyone else interested in helping Minnesota reach this achievable goal.”

ABOUT THE FREY FOUNDATION
The Frey Foundation of Minnesota is an independent, private, grant-making foundation that was established by Eugene and Mary F. Frey in 1985. The mission of the Frey Foundation is to help all community members become self-sufficient, reach their full potential, and become active, engaged members of their communities. More information is available at www.freyfoundationmn.org.

ABOUT HEADING HOME MINNESOTA
Heading Home Minnesota is a public-private partnership that integrates the strategies of Minnesota’s Business Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness and ten regional Heading Home programs. Heading Home Minnesota is working to end homelessness through innovative, unprecedented coordinated partnerships and with the support of the public, business, nonprofit, faith, and philanthropic sectors. More information is available at www.headinghomeminnesota.org.