Clare Housing you know today is the result of a long journey. That journey involved the compassionate energy of thousands of individuals from many religious communities and organizations.
Below you’ll find a timeline of the openings of different houses and developments, and other major turning points that have marked the evolution of Clare Housing over the past 30+ years.
1987
A Benedictine, Brother Louie, opened the first home that took in people who were dying of AIDS and had nowhere else to go. Eventually, Brother Louie’s was licensed as adult foster care and began to receive public funds. This model served for future homes. Nevertheless, volunteers remained the backbone of the programs.
1990
Through the efforts of members of St. Joan of Arc Church, Grace House opened in the former church rectory. Grace House is located in the Regina neighborhood of Minneapolis.
1990
The Franciscan Brothers take over the operation of Brother Louie’s, renaming it Samaritan House.
1993
Agape Home was opened in an 1890’s vintage Victorian house in the Central neighborhood of Minneapolis. Members of the Metropolitan Community Church were instrumental in bringing this home into existence.
1995
The introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapies changed the community’s need – from end-of-life care to three types of support: 1) transitional care as people recovered from acute medical, mental health or other crises, 2) long-term care for people disabled to the extent they would probably need the 24-hour support offered by the homes for the foreseeable future and, 3) end-of-life care.
1996
Clare House is opened in the MacGroveland neighborhood of St. Paul, with major support from the Sisters of St. Francis and members of the Roman Catholic community of St. Paul.
1998
Grace II, designed and built specifically for the purpose of housing people living with HIV/AIDS is opened next to the original Grace House, with great support from the local design community.
1999
Agape Dos, also designed and built specifically for people living with HIV/AIDS opened in the Lyndale neighborhood of Minneapolis.
1999
Grace and Agape Homes merge to form AIDS Care Partners.
1999
With a change in the ministry of the Brothers, Clare Housing assumes the operations of Samaritan House, renaming it Damiano House.
2005
Clare Housing opens it’s first apartment building with Clare Apartments, offering 32 units of supportive housing for people living with HIV in the St. Anthony neighborhood of Northeast Minneapolis. The shift from opening Community Care Homes to multi-unit affordable housing with supports reflects the growing independence made possible thanks to Antiretroviral Therapies.
2006
AIDS Care Partners and Clare Housing merge.
2008
Clare Housing sets a five-year strategic plan to create more housing for people living with HIV/AIDS in the Twin Cities. Project Cornerstone, which will later transform into the Scattered Site Housing program, begins. This innovative program enables Clare Housing to partner with nonprofit and for-profit rental property owners to set aside dedicated affordable housing for people living with HIV within both market rate and other affordable housing developments. This move opens up more housing for very independent individuals, as well as families affected by HIV.
2010
Clare Housing completes the funding for Clare Midtown and begins construction at the site in spring of 2010. Clare Housing’s board of director sets a new four year strategic plan. The goals are to increase housing opportunity for people living with HIV with 60 units by 2014; increase influence in the creation of policy and allocation of resources at the local, state and national level; and enhance financial sustainability.
2011
Clare Midtown, Clare Housing’s second multi-unit apartment building, opens providing 45 units of affordable housing for people living with HIV.
2014
Clare Housing’s Board of Directors establishes a new Strategic Framework, setting a goal of adding 100 units of housing over the next four years.
2015
Clare Terrace opens on World AIDS Day to a warm reception from the Robbinsdale community. This development provides 36 units of affordable housing for people living with HIV.
2017
Marshall Flats, Clare Housing’s second development in North East Minneapolis, opens to provide 36 new units of affordable housing for people living with HIV.
In spring 2017, legislation passes both Minnesota state houses unanimously to create a Statewide Plan to End HIV thanks to Representative Keith Franke and Senator Scott Dibble. The Plan is set to be presented to legislators spring 2018.
The HIV Housing Coalition completed a visionary statewide HIV Housing Plan. The goal of this plan is to provide access to permanent affordable housing to all people living with HIV who are insecurely housed by 2025. Current estimates are that around 1,000 people living with HIV are homeless or at high risk of becoming homeless on any given night in Minnesota.
2019
After 26 years of providing a place of home, health, and hope for people living with HIV, Agape Home is retired. Thanks to the success of HIV medications, Clare Housing residents no longer needed the 24/7 medical support provided by this Care Home. In an effort to remain responsive to the needs of individuals on the waitlist who are seeking more independent living, the Care Home is sold and the funds reinvested in the upkeep of the three remaining Care Homes.
2023
In May of 2021, Clare Housing and codevelopers Project for Pride in Living broke ground on Bloom Lake Flats, a new 42 unit supportive housing development. Opened in 2023, the building features a mix of unit sizes including 17 studios, 10 one-bedroom units, and 11 two-bedroom units, and 4 three-bedroom units. This is the first Clare Housing managed apartment building that has 15 units dedicated to families.
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