Project for Pride in Living
April 21, 2012 at 10 a.m.

The Housing Advocacy Committee is seeking 20 volunteers to help on April 21, at Project Pride for Living's (PPL) Selbystone/Delancy Apartments. These apartments combine supportive housing with affordable family housing in three adjacent buildings. The three buildings were recently rehabbed, and we want to keep them looking great! There are 37 affordable apartments in all. We’ll focus on landscaping and exterior projects at these buildings, but may incorporate some work at other PPL buildings very nearby as well.

Date, time, and address:
Meet at 10 am at Selbystone: 710/716 Selby Ave in St Paul. There is usually ample street parking available.

The project:
We will repair and stain a cedar fence that runs along the side and rear of the property. We’ll also do a general spring cleanup – trash pickup, perhaps some mulching and some planting, and other outdoor tasks. We’ll also have a backup plan in case of very severe weather, but we will work outside in the rain.

Please bring:
Volunteers should bring rain gear in case of rain and wear clothes they don’t mind getting dirty. If volunteers have paintbrushes, shovels and rakes they can bring along, that would be very helpful – please let Aubrie know if you are able to bring tools. We’ll take a break for lunch around noon – please bring your own!

Sign up by April 13. RSVP by contacting Aubrie Eisenhart

2012 Search for Shelter Charrette

The 2012 Search for Shelter Design Charrette was February 10-12. It was a weekend with other design professionals and students that created real solutions to address the issues of affordable housing and homelessness with local nonprofit organizations.

The design charrette, held at the University of Minnesota, began Friday evening where teams were assigned and projects introduced. Saturday was focused on creating design solutions. Sunday morning the designs were completed and shared with clients (nonprofit organizations) and fellow volunteers at a closing presentation.

2012 Project Boards
Team 1 - Asian Medis Access
Team 2 - Greater Frogtown CDC
Team 3 - Homeward Bound
Team 4A - Project for Pride in Living Eco Village
Team 4B - Project for Pride
Team 5 - Urban Ventures
Team 6 - Women Venture
Team 7 - YWCA Saint Paul
Team 8 - Harrison Neighboring Association

For reference:
2012 Project Submittal Form
2012 Project Submittal Form - PDF

2012 Participant Info - PDF
2012 Participant Registration
2012 Participant Registration - PDF

2011 Search for Shelter Charrette
SEARCH FOR SHELTER - CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF SERVICE
View the 2011 Search for Shelter Press Release (PDF)

Rapson Hall was a busy place the weekend of February 11-13 as the Housing Advocacy Committee kicked off their 25th Search for Shelter Charrette. Eight teams worked throughout the weekend on projects submitted by six different non-profit agencies. These projects ranged from mixed use redevelopment to interior remodeling to programmatic feasibility studies. A total of 42 volunteers participated with 15 of those being students from the College of Design.

The kickoff on Friday evening saw 70 people gather for a presentation with welcoming remarks by the AIA Minnesota President Steve Fiskum, AIA, followed by a guest panel moderated by Rosemary Dolata, AIA. The panel included Tom Fisher, Dean, College of Design and Assoc. AIA; Chip Halback, Executive Director of the Minnesota Housing Partnership; Dana Murdock, AIA, Housing Advocacy Committee Co-Chair; and Josephine Pulpaff of Youthlink, Director of Program Development and Evaluation. This was followed by each agency presenting their projects.

Participating agencies included the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center, Selby Avenue Action Coalition (SAAC), Emma Norton Services, Rebuilding Together Twin Cities, Families Moving Forward, and Woodland Hills Church.

Sponsors for this event were:
College of Design for facilities, printing and computer support
AIA Minnesota for staff support and publicity, food and supplies
Peter Sieger for photography
AECOM Ellerbe Becket
BWBR Architects
Horty Elvin
RSP Architects
Private Donation

Jackie Peck, Assoc. AIA, led the effort to prepare for the charrette with great help from committee members Dana Murdoch, AIA (Co-chair); Jeremiah Battle, AIA; Tim Bicknell, AIA; Aubrie Eisenhart; Ben Ptacek, Assoc. AIA; Bruce Saline; Rosemary Dolata, AIA; Gene Nicolelli, AIA; and Brian Tucker, AIA. A big thank you to all who helped make the 2011 Search for Shelter Charrette a huge success!

2011 Project Boards
Salvation Army Harbor Light Center (PDF)
Selby Avenue Action Coalition (SAAC) (PDF)
SAAC (Project 2) (PDF)
Emma Norton Services (PDF)
Emma Norton Services (Project 2) (PDF)
Rebuilding Together Twin Cities (PDF)
Families Moving Forward (PDF)
Woodland Hills Church (PDF)

For reference:
2011 Project Submittal Form
2011 Volunteer Registration Form
2011 Free Design Aid (PDF)
2011 Volunteer Form (PDF)

If you have questions about the charrette, please contact Jackie Peck.

2010 Project Boards
Aeon (PDF) (4MB, 3 pages)
People Serving People (PDF) (12MB, 6 pages)
Urban Homeworks (PDF) (12MB, 7 pages)
Alliance Housing, Inc. (18MB, 5 pages)
Sparc (4MB, 4 pages)

Previous Search for Shelter Charrettes
2010 Search for Shelter Charrette Press Release (PDF)
2009 Search for Shelter Press Release (PDF)
2008 Search for Shelter Press Release (PDF)
2007 Search for Shelter Information