Filling homes, building hope during housing transitions

Every night, even during the holiday season, thousands of Minnesotans go to bed somewhere that doesn’t feel like home – and often without even access to a bed. These men, women and children suffering housing instability may end up living on the streets, in temporary lodging with people they know, or in shelters that offer short term protection.

The path from these situations to stable housing is challenging, especially for people suffering the trauma of addiction, domestic abuse, deep poverty, or some combination. But for some, the Twin Cities area is fortunate to be home to a network of non-profits that offer long-term help making their way back to housing stability – and give them a place that they can truly call home during their journey.

Several of these organizations were brought together and celebrated at Slumberland’s Homes for the Holidays event last December, where each group was able to share stories of impact and hope and receive a donation of beds and bedding to offer to those in need. Over 400 beds were donated to the groups attending the Twin Cities event this year, part of about 2,800 donated beds including those given by Slumberland stores in other communities across the upper Midwest.

All told, Slumberland has donated more than 69,000 beds through annual Homes for the Holidays events plus the 40 Winks Foundation, which gives beds to kids in need any time of year.

“The impact of the mattresses is certainly powerful in the moment for those in need, providing people with their own place to sleep, but it’s bigger than that,” said Kenny Larson, CEO of Slumberland. “The success stories and the long-term change in trajectory that comes from what these organizations have done – it’s just amazing what they do that day in, day out, every day.”

Six organizations were present at Homes for the Holidays, each with their own purpose, approach and audience served. But together, they and others form the spokes of a wheel – each carrying a share of the need, with overlapping and mutually-supporting mission. Taken together, they provide a glimpse of the many ways people find themselves without stable housing, and the many ways we all – businesses, non-profits and individuals – can work together to make a difference.

Metro Hope: Overcoming Addiction for a Better Future

“When our residents come to us, they usually come with nothing,” said Cammy Oren, President and Executive Director of Metro Hope. “When they come in, they are excited to see their new bed with a beautiful quilt, often times never having a bed of their own before. Slumberland gives us beds whenever we need them, not just during the holidays. Our residents always talk about it being their first home ever where they felt safe, where they’ve felt heard, where they have not felt exploited.”

This sense of home is foundational to their healing journey. Women and families are allowed to stay up to two years, during which they work on overcoming their addiction and shame, addressing the trauma that put them on the path to addiction, building life skills, and seeking work and new stable housing.

Often called upon for the most challenging child protection cases, Metro Hope’s combination of faith, active support and community contributions makes a real difference. “We see extraordinary miracles of families being put back together,” Oren said.

The Dwelling Place: A Path from Domestic Abuse to Domestic Stability

The Dwelling Place is a Christ-centered ministry offering a sanctuary for women and children who have escaped domestic abuse and have run out of other options. It provides long-term transitional housing, a crucial step beyond the short-term stay of a shelter. The program is built on the understanding that healing from trauma requires a safe and stable environment. For the women who arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs, The Dwelling Place becomes a home where they can begin to recover and rebuild.

Through a multi-phase, cohort-based program that lasts up to two years, residents journey together as they receive holistic support, including therapy, life skills classes, and parenting education. This comprehensive approach empowers women to move from a state of survival to a place of thriving, equipping them to secure stable housing and income. In 2025, Perez said, The Dwelling Place served 24 women and 34 children, who received 12,645 nights of safety, and all 2025 graduates now have their own safe housing, stable income, and are free from abuse.

Bridging: Furnishing Homes with Hope

Whatever the cause of a person’s housing instability, once they have found a place to live, a new challenge emerges: Furnishing and equipping the home. Bridging is a Minnesota nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people by providing them with essential donated furniture and household goods. Their mission is to furnish homes with hope, believing that a comfortable, functional living space is a critical step toward stability and self-sufficiency. Bridging serves more than 5,300 households annually, empowering them to create a comfortable home environment.

“We don’t do it alone,” said Diana Dalsin, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Bridging. “Our residential and corporate donors are our bread and butter, and we partner with 250 agency partners to identify people who can benefit from a complete package of home essentials. Slumberland has supported Bridging for more than 30 years – we receive new mattresses, bedframes and blankets at Homes for the Holidays, employees volunteer at the warehouse, and year round the sales staff remind customers where they can donate their gently-used furniture once their new items arrive.”

Each referred participant is guided through a shopping visit at the furniture bank, in person or virtually, to pick out their new furnishings, beds, household goods and kitchen supplies. This alleviates the significant financial burden of furnishing a home from scratch, allowing clients to focus their resources on rent, food, and other necessities.

Stronger Together: How Everyone Can Help

At Homes for the Holidays, these and other organizations were able to share their stories and connect with each other. “Every one of those partners has a little bit different focus, but a lot of them are actually connected, where their services sometimes are provided to the same family,” said Larson.

One thing all have in common is the need for community support. All of the featured organizations need donated new or gently used household goods, but also run on the power of volunteers. Metro Hope is always seeking individuals and couples to mentor residents, The Dwelling Place relies on volunteers to help move families, and Bridging’s warehouse is staffed with volunteers.