Annual Report 2012
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A letter from the Executive Director and Board President
Dear Friends,
As Simpson Housing Services’ 30th year serving people experiencing homelessness draws to a close, we look out on a world that has vastly changed since our agency was founded. In 1982, homelessness was seen as a temporary problem mainly affecting single adult men. Today, nearly half of all people experiencing homelessness are children and youth, and 34% are young children with their parents. The past year revealed the largest number of homeless families and single adults in years, with shelters full to capacity and a widespread shortage of affordable housing. As the face of homelessness has changed, so has our agency, and we are proud to have expanded and strengthened our programs to meet this ever-changing need.
For the men, women, and children in our programs, Simpson Housing Services has always been more than just a place to stay; it is a place to call home. We are constantly striving to better serve, nurture and empower each individual who walks through our doors. Each step we take further strengthens our commitment to ending the generational cycle of poverty and homelessness. In the past year, we have restructured our Educational Advocacy services to provide tutoring and school supports to children in our programs with the greatest need. We partnered with the United Way to strengthen childhood literacy and academic achievement through the “Reading by Third Grade” initiative. We hired an Early Childhood Specialist to conduct home visits and work with families on identifying and addressing developmental delays in children ages 0-5. These new initiatives took place alongside a growing and changing staff; in 2012, we welcomed a new Executive Director and Development Director to our agency, expanded our Family Housing leadership team, and hired new advocates to work with the growing number of people we are able to serve each year.
Our agency has grown out of the belief that everyone has a right to safe, affordable housing. We are honored to have such generous, compassionate and dedicated donors, volunteers, and partners who work alongside our outstanding staff to make that belief a reality. Thank you for your commitment to ending the crisis of homelessness in Minnesota.
With gratitude from Simpson Housing Services’ staff and Board of Directors,
Stephen Horsfield Bob Odman
Executive Director President (2012)
612.455.0841
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