Decades of Service to those Facing Homelessness
Since the 1950s, Agate has been providing services to our neighbors experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities. In 2021, House of Charity and St. Stephen’s Human Services merged to create Agate Housing and Services. St. Stephen’s was first to incorporate as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2002.
St. Stephen’s Human Services
1960s St. Stephen’s Catholic Church offers programs for the poor and homeless
1973 Kateri Residence (also Winaki House), for Native American women, opens
1981 Clinton Avenue Shelter opens
1986 Alliance of the Streets gives voice to shelter guests
1989 Handbook of the Streets is created
1993 Housing services provides longer-term solutions
1996 The birth certificate program begins
2002 St. Stephen’s Human Services becomes an independent 501(c)3
2005 A Day in the Life begins
2007 Education and advocacy programs begin
2007 The Street Outreach program begins
2009 zAmya Theater tells deeper stories of homelessness
2012 The Veterans Outreach program begins
2016 Outreach collaboration with the Minneapolis downtown library
2017 First Covenant shelter is added
House of Charity
1952 House of Charity was founded by Brother de Paul
1954 50,000+ meals served in a tiny warehouse on Nicollet Island
1955 House of Charity’s AA group held its second anniversary banquet
1957 Two new buildings become the new dormitory
1960 500 people served a holiday dinner with gifts
1969 Court Screening Committee for Alcoholics begins
1972 The Food Centre opens on Thanksgiving Day
1976 The Field House is purchased as the fourth home
1982 Brother de Paul and 300 friends celebrate 30 years
2020 Park 7 opens with 61 studio apartments
Together
2021 House of Charity and St. Stephen’s Human Services merge
2022 Agate Housing and Services is born