Simpson Community Shelter & Apartments
An Evolution from Church Basement to Community Cornerstone:
The Journey to the Simpson Community Shelter & Apartments
From operating a shelter in a church basement since 1982 to opening a groundbreaking shelter and housing building in 2026, Simpson Housing Services has continually evolved to meet the needs of the community.
In 2019, Simpson Housing Services was gifted the Simpson United Methodist Church and became the official owner of the site at 2740 1st Avenue South, where the shelter had operated for four decades. The 145-year-old structure was never designed to accommodate shelter guests.
Our vision was to create a modern, dignified shelter for people experiencing homelessness. Simpson Community Shelter & Apartments represents a bold next chapter — purpose-built, trauma-informed, and intentionally designed to support healing and stability with better housing outcomes.
Located in the Whittier neighborhood on the original Simpson Shelter site, the new building brings together 72 shelter beds, 42 affordable supportive housing apartments, a healthcare clinic, and comprehensive on-site services under one roof.
The Building Includes
- Trauma-informed design
- Accessible and adaptable spaces and sleeping areas
- A health clinic run by Hennepin Health Care for the Homeless
- 24-hour operations, seven days a week, with a staffed front desk
- Accommodations for service partners
- Commercial kitchen and dining room
- Space for volunteer groups to cook and serve daily meals
- Solar panels and geothermal HVAC system
- Green space and balconies
The project was developed in partnership with Project for Pride in Living, with Watson-Forsberg serving as general contractor and LHB, Inc. as architect.
Simpson Community Shelter & Apartments is more than a shelter — it’s the continuation of a legacy that began with compassion and endures through a community committed to housing for all.
Thank you for being with us every step of the way.