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Housing in Action

Who We Are

Housing in Action is committed to building a future where safe, stable, and dignified housing is a reality for everyone. By building affordable homeownership opportunities, providing dignified rentals as a foundation for growth, creating accessible pathways to homeownership, and connecting communities to their elected officials, HIA not only seeks to offer relief to neighbors within the current unjust housing system, but create change so our work is no longer needed.

A passionate advocate for equitable housing, with short hair and sunglasses, speaks confidently into a microphone at an outdoor event. They stand at a podium displaying a "BLUU" sign, surrounded by greenery and nestled within the vibrant community setting of trees and buildings in the Twin Cities.

Our Mission

The mission of Housing in Action is to lead the fight for housing justice so that all people have a safe, stable, and dignified place to live.

Our Vision

Our vision is housing justice for all.
A person with curly hair and glasses holds a heart-shaped sign reading "LOVE LOVE LOVE ABUSE" in front of their face, symbolizing the call for housing justice. They wear a green bandana around their neck, standing amidst a committed crowd championing dignified, affordable housing for all in the Twin Cities.

Our Values

Our values are Love, Antiracism, and Grit.
1995
Housing In Action is Founded
Housing in Action is founded by Paul Bertelson as “Urban Homeworks” in partnership with Temple Baptist Church and Christ Presbyterian Church
1997
“Urban Neighbors” program begins
Initially named “Urban Caregivers” and then “Urban Missionaries”, pushback from local pastor Chris Rice helped steer the program towards a less paternalistic course. Community feedback was, and remains, a main driver in the ways Housing in Action evolves.
1999
First Executive Director named, Chad Schwitters
1999
2002
“QuickSilvers” volunteer program begins
The QuickSilvers were a group of retired neighbors with construction skills that worked with Housing in Action for two decades to repair and rehab homes, train volunteers, and support the mission. Immense gratitude to David Young, Dan Parten, Bob Johnson, Jerry McKinney, Bob Melander, and Bob W. as some of the very first Quicksilvers.
2002
2008
Predatory bank loans & the recession lead to a national housing
Throughout the housing crisis (~2008-2011), Housing in Action was able to purchase homes incredibly affordably—once for $1. These homes were then rehabbed and sold back into community or used for affordable rental homes.
2009
First North Minneapolis office opened at Emerson Ave
2009
2010
Partnership with Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) begins
The 15+ year partnership between NAZ and HIA allowed families in HIA rental homes to work directly with a Family Achievement Coach to access and understand the resources available for their families to thrive.
2011
North Minneapolis is hit by a tornado
The 2011 tornado destroyed huge swaths of North Minneapolis, affecting 3,000 homes and displacing thousands of neighbors. Housing in Action stepped up for our neighbors and helped coordinate rebuilding efforts, organizing and feeding over 5,000 volunteers, loaning equipment, and supporting as many neighbors as possible.
2013
Northside Home LLC starts with Project for Pride in Living (PPL)
In its 10+ years of operation, Northside Home allowed PPL and Housing in Action to finance the construction of over 37 homes. Northside Home exemplifies the necessity of collaboration between nonprofits.
2013
2013
Urban Construction Company (UC2) is created
With the goal of bridging the gap between lack of labor in construction and unemployment, Urban Construction Company sought to train and hire neighbors so they could enter the workforce with more skills and opportunities.
2013
2017
UC2 is sunset
2019
Urban Neighbors program is sunset
The Urban Neighbors program began with the intent to connect neighbors outside of North with neighbors in North for mutual growth and learning. Yet, in the midst of a housing crisis, HIA recognized the need to direct as many resources as possible toward providing dignified rentals for our lower income neighbors who most needed them.
2019
HIA assists in predatory landlord legal case
Housing in Action joined Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid and North Minneapolis tenants in a class action lawsuit against Steven Meldahl of SJM Properties, LLC. We were asked by Legal Aid to join the lawsuit to provide stability for the tenants we had already been working with, as well as the case: Meldahl’s practices made it hard for tenants to remain in their homes. Having an organization with legal standing as a plaintiff helped cover the loss of plaintiffs as tenants escaped Meldahl’s housing atrocities. Shortly after our lawsuit began, the Minnesota Attorney General also filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of former tenants of Meldahl for “preying on low-income tenants in a systematic and widespread eviction-for-profit scheme.” Though the focus of our case was getting a form of reparations for these tenants through Tenant Remedy Actions (TRAs), the Attorney General sought to remove Meldahl’s properties from his ownership—preventing him from harming another Minnesota tenant again.
2019
Francis Drake Hotel Christmas fire
A few days before Christmas, the Francis Drake hotel, which was being used as a temporary shelter for unhoused neighbors, was affected by a fire that left families back on the street. Housing in Action and Pillsbury United Communities stepped up and got as many families into new housing as possible.
2020
HIA's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic & Uprising
HIA worked tirelessly with the community in 2020 to address housing issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting uprising, providing rental assistance, resource access, and outlets for expression. HIA partnered with community organizations Appetite for Change and Brothers EMpowered to offer residents weekly food deliveries, serve food at Daunte Wright's funeral, and coordinate neighborhood hot food bars. HIA also organized a rally for staff and neighbors.
2020
2021
Second Executive Director named, AsaleSol Young
2021
2021
Housing Justice Forums begin
Recognizing the growing need for a space for residents and neighbors to express feedback to elected officials, Housing in Action began hosting Housing Justice Forums in May of 2021. Today, HIA still hosts two Housing Justice Forums a year, offering neighbors direct access to candidates running for office and current representatives.
2021
2022
HIA expands into policy work with advocacy
For our work to be successful long-term, systems need to change. HIA works to share relevant legislation with our residents so they are aware of proposed changes that would affect them, and connects elected officials with our residents so they share important feedback.
2023
$5 million state appropriation awarded to HIA
After staff's hard work advocating at the Capitol, the Minnesota legislature allocated $5 million to Housing in Action in the 2023 omnibus bill to create deeply affordable homeownership options in the Twin Cities. The 2023 Minnesota legislative session was a historic investment from the state into housing.
2023
First downpayment assistance grant awarded
HIA's Homeownership Access Fund serves current or past North Minneapolis residents seeking to purchase a home in North Minneapolis for the first time by providing up to $20,000 in down payment assistance. Our down payment assistance is flexible with few restrictions—funds may be used for down payments or closing costs, on varied types of homes, with any mortgage lender, with conventional or FHA loans, and in combination with other forms of financial or down payment assistance.
2023
2024
Construction completed on first HIA Passive Home
Passive-certified homes are the most rigorous energy standard today, up to 80% more energy-efficient than standard code-built houses. Energy efficiency not only reduces the carbon footprint of a home, but it also leads to greater comfort, lower utility costs for the future homeowners, and better health due to its air tightness and ventilation standards.
2024
2024
BLUU x HIA Cooperative Homeownership Initiative breaks ground
When complete, the BLUU x HIA Northside Housing Cooperative Initiative will result in seventeen units of affordable housing for Black and Indigenous families, who will cooperatively own and manage their community. It is the first of eight vacant lots in North Minnesota to be developed for this purpose.
2024
2025
Urban Homeworks (UHW) becomes Housing in Action (HIA)
Check out some words from Executive Director AsaleSol Young in this video, or visit the "Our New Name" page.
2025
50% of the passive homes in MN built by HIA
2025
2025
HIA survives devastating cyberattack
HIA was the victim of a targeted cyberfraud—hackers broke into our bank accounts, stealing all of our organization’s assets, resulting in a loss of nearly $800,000. What happened next was an incredible story of community care and perseverance. Read more here.

A Legacy of Affordable Housing and Community Impact

For 30 years, Housing in Action has been a force for transformation in neighborhoods most affected by housing injustice and racist policies. Our mission goes beyond building homes; we’re focused on creating strong, connected communities where families can thrive and use their voices to fight for change.

Our Impact Over Time

2025

2025

Enjoy this fun new format for our annual report, jam-packed with stories from the year and classifieds sharing our 2026 goals!

Keep reading on page 1!

2024

2024

“In Parable of the Sower, Octavia E. Butler writes, “The only lasting truth is Change”. That statement feels particularly poignant as I reflect on the changes in the past year and the changes clearly coming in the year ahead.”

Keep reading on page 1!

990 Financials

2023

2023

“We concluded 2023 with a vital shift. Recognizing that our language was not keeping pace with the rapid evolution of our housing justice work, we embarked on an organizational rebranding. By year’s end, we proudly unveiled our new mission, vision, and values, marking a bold new chapter in our journey.”

Keep reading on page 3!

990 Financials

2022

2022

“We are all responsible, in some way, for what is happening in society today. The arc of justice is long, and the seeds we collectively plant today will manifest for our children. At Urban Homeworks, we choose to continue to plant seeds of love.”

Keep reading on page 2!

Full 2022 Donors List
990 Financials

2021

2021

“2021 was a year of preparing our soil, and while the work of plowing and leveling is less exciting than seeding or harvesting, it is essential to ensure that our next steps are informed, collaborative, and led by those we serve and partner with every day.”

Keep reading on page 4!

Full 2021 Donors List
990 Financials

2020

2020

“In 2020, our notions of hope were challenged beyond measures previously defined. We witnessed, without blinders, the ways our systems of healthcare, housing, policing, and education fail the most vulnerable in our communities. We were faced with ourselves and our capacity to move systemic injustice to a place of balance, a place where all humans have space and an opportunity to live life to its fullest.”

Keep reading on page 2!

990 Financials

2019

2019

“In 2019, Urban Homeworks housed 602 total individuals. Sixty-three percent of those individuals were families with children, 73% had a female head of household, and 52% had a BIPOC head of household.”

Keep reading on page 4!

990 Financials

2018

2018

To perpetuate the Hope of Jesus Christ through innovative community development is the re-affirmed mission of Urban Homeworks. In 2018 we embarked on a strategic planning process, and as the saying goes: ‘plan the work, work the plan.’ We did some planning. As we did, we saw our mission and vision statement refining as we stood together with neighbors to meaningfully address housing injustice and challenge the barriers of inequity.

At the center of Urban Homeworks are people. It is fundamental to how we understand the hope of Jesus Christ.

Keep reading on page 2!

990 Financials - 2018

2017

2017

As you may know, I grew up on a farm. One of the lessons that framing taught me, is that for everything, there is a clear and distinct season. As the author of Ecclesiastes pens and the Beatles song posits: “for everything there is a season (turn… turn… turn…) and time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted… You, our funders, volunteers, supporters, advocates and partners are a part of a movement that is committed, and dedicated, to pushing back on some of the most rooted, intractable symptoms of the dis-eased parts of the human condition.

Keep reading on page 2!

990 Financials - 2017

2016

2016

2016 was a year of growth and changes that made us stronger as an organization. We strive to take the  biblical meaning of loving neighbor and self and apply this to ourselves and our work each day. 

Urban Homeworks is proud to build a platform with our neighbors; a platform upon which we can stand and make a path toward a more equitable future, and where the positive presence of justice prevails. This goes beyond the absence of conflict and embraces a vision where the world is as it ought to be—for all people.

Keep reading on page 2!

990 Financials - 2016

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