As you enter the threshold of Emerson Village–a new multi-family supportive housing development in North Minneapolis–you immediately recognize the purpose-built nature of the space. Everything is warm, welcoming, and open; that’s no coincidence–it’s curated.
The success and heart behind Emerson Village come from Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative and Project for Pride in Living (PPL).
PPL President and CEO Karla Henderson has been with the affordable housing and career services nonprofit since 2024, stepping into her current role in January of this year. Henderson sees both the breadth and the depth of the work PPL is doing here on the Northside, recognizing its great importance.
“We help with emergency rental assistance, financial planning, career readiness, home ownership …” Henderson said. “We don’t just want to provide a home … we want to provide supportive services.”
NAZ’s formal partnership with PPL goes back to the summer of 2016, but their collaboration on the Northside pre-dates that. Their early work together was devoted to connecting NAZ families to PPL, making sure housing and employment needs were met in order to aid in powering scholars’ potentials.
“We are so proud to be a partner of NAZ,” Henderson said. “They are one of, if not the strongest partner that we have, and that relationship goes back since the beginning of NAZ.”
Since that partnership began, PPL and NAZ have continued to devote their energies to meeting many needs for Northside families. Even while serving the community in a multitude of ways, PPL knew there was more to be done. Throughout the 2010s, PPL continued to have the vision of a site where Northside families in need of steady and stable housing could rest their heads at night. Through a series of fits and starts, that vision started to become a reality in 2020.
“Emerson Village was the brainchild of Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative,” Henderson explained.
“Not only do families who live there get help with affordable rents, but they're also connected to the amazing staff from PPL and other partners like NAZ to help them set and reach goals related to parenting, healthy communications, employment, education, nutrition support, and more,” Beacon VP of Advancement and Communications Heidi Goldman Gray said. “It's these wrap-around supportive services and access to community resources in the building and all over the Northside that sets Emerson Village apart.”
With direction from Beacon–owner, developer, and operator of the property–Henderson and her team started asking themselves, “What NAZ families can we identify that meet the qualifications to be housed here?”
In September of 2023, Beacon broke ground for what would be Emerson Village, and less than a year-and-a-half later, the first family moved in. The 40-unit living space boasts two, three, and four bedroom units for Northside families. Emerson Village also has several community spaces for children of all ages, a technology room with computers and a printer for resident use, a massive outdoor patio area with a full playground, tables, benches, and built-in grills, and so much more. In-unit laundry and thoughtfully laid out floorplans are allowing the current residents of the now fully-occupied Emerson Village to settle and enjoy the comfort and safety that comes with a home.
Now beyond the blueprints, the hearts and minds behind Emerson Village are continuing to get families settled and connected to more opportunities for their families. Many of these opportunities are made possible through an ever-increasing partnership with NAZ.
As Henderson looks forward to the future, she expressed great hope and excitement about PPL’s prospects (including new builds in the works) and what that means for families in the Twin Cities, certainly including North Minneapolis. As they continue to focus on multi-family properties, many of their smaller properties will be returning to the people in the area.
“Re-seeding these properties back to the community is very important to us,” Henderson stated. “And to have brand new units in the Northside, everybody wins with that.”
NAZ couldn’t be more excited for Northside families who continue to benefit from all the incredible work PPL has done. Emerson Village is representative of the Northside community: warm, welcoming, and ready for the future.
Northside Achievement Zone Partner Spotlights are an opportunity to focus on NAZ’s more than 30 partners who shine brightly in North Minneapolis, serving scholars and their families.