Minneapolis, MN

Nonprofit wants to build tiny home shelter in St. Cloud

Published

2 years ago

March 12, 2024

Nonprofit wants to build tiny home shelter in St. Cloud

A nonprofit that operates an indoor homeless shelter with tiny houses in Minneapolis wants to build a similar facility in St. Cloud.

Avivo Village is an indoor community with 100 small, individual units in Minneapolis’ North Loop, which has been operating since 2020. Adult residents stay for an average of four and a half months and get help finding permanent housing and employment.

The St. Cloud shelter would have 56 units with services to help people address economic insecurity, mental health, substance use disorders or other challenges.

“It would be very similar, where it’s a comprehensive service model — wraparound services — to support people when they move inside to help them keep taking those next best steps,” said Kelly Matter, Avivo’s president and CEO.

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The Minneapolis village works, Matter said, because it’s a low-barrier shelter with few restrictions for tenants, where people have privacy and security, and can keep their pets.

“It’s a dignified, respectful solution that gets outcomes,” she said. “Those outcomes are permanent housing, connection to training and connection to employment.”

The St. Cloud City Council will hold a public hearing on March 25 to consider whether to lease one acre of city-owned land, on St. Cloud’s west side near Costco, to Avivo to build the shelter.

Avivo has received a $6 million state grant for the shelter. At Monday’s meeting, the council approved a plan to allocate $232,000 in unused federal community development funds for the project.

Council member George Hontos was the lone opposing vote, saying he doesn’t think the council shouldn’t voice support for a project before a public hearing.

Like other cities, St. Cloud has been struggling to deal with a growing homelessness problem, exacerbated by mental health and addiction issues. The city’s unsheltered population has nearly doubled in the last five years.

A low-barrier shelter on St. Cloud’s East Side has been a source of complaints from neighboring residents and businesses about drug activity, loitering and other issues.

Matter said she understands that some in St. Cloud might be fearful of the idea of a new shelter, but she noted that Avivo has operated in St. Cloud since 1989, providing career education and employment services.

The St. Cloud facility would have 24/7 staffing and be monitored with security cameras, Matter said.

In Minneapolis, the nonprofit has a good neighbor agreement that addresses any neighborhood concerns, she said. It’s also partnered with the neighborhood on litter clean-ups and a theater production.

“There’s lots of really positive ways to engage with neighbors,” Matter said. “But people are fearful of the unknown, and it’s hard for them to trust that it’s going to be a different experience.”

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Minneapolis, MN

Fatal Minneapolis crash sentencing: Teniki Steward sentenced to more than 12 years

Published

11 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Fatal Minneapolis crash sentencing: Teniki Steward sentenced to more than 12 years

article

The scene of the crash at 26th Avenue North and Emerson Avenue North in Minneapolis. (FOX 9)

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A Minneapolis woman was sentenced for her role in a deadly crash that killed two women and injured two other people in December 2024.

READ MORE: Minneapolis woman charged in fatal high-speed crash faces additional charges

Woman sentenced in fatal Minneapolis crash

Big picture view:

Prosecutors say Teniki Steward drove a Buick Enclave into a bus shelter and a Ford Explorer after speeding through a red light.

Both of the women in the Ford Explorer died in the crash. They were identified as 53-year-old Ester Jean Fulks and 57-year-old Rose Elaine Reece.

During the crash, the Ford Explorer went off the road, injuring a 17-year-old boy who was waiting for a school bus.

The passenger in Steward’s vehicle also suffered injuries.

Minneapolis police said that Steward was also injured in the crash.

Steward pleaded guilty to multiple murder charges.

What they’re saying:

During the sentencing, the daughter of one of the victims had a statement read on her behalf:

“There’s nothing that can truly prepare you for the moment your entire world is taken from you. Losing my mom has left a pain in my heart that words will never be able to explain.”

What’s next:

Minnesota law requires that Steward serves at least two-thirds of her sentence, a bit under eight-and-a-half years, in prison.

Fatal Emerson and 26th crash

The backstory:

According to the criminal complaint, through surveillance videos from the scene of the crash and witnesses, investigators learned that Steward, driving the Buick Enclave, had been driving at a high rate of speed northbound on Emerson Avenue North.

Before the fatal crash, Steward sped through the intersection of Emerson Avenue North and Broadway Avenue North, running a red light and nearly causing a crash, the charges said.

Steward then continued to speed northbound down Emerson Avenue North, and ran another red light at 26th Avenue North, hitting the Ford Explorer, which was traveling eastbound, according to the complaint.

The Ford Explorer had been at the intersection of Emerson and 26th on a green light.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty shared the following statement:

“This was an egregious act that took Rose and Esther’s lives and injured a child waiting to go to school at a bus stop. Ms. Steward was driving at extremely dangerous speeds on city streets and narrowly avoided multiple collisions before the incident occurred. Third-degree murder charges are appropriate to hold her accountable and protect our community.”

The Source: This story uses information gathered from an Olmsted County court appearance and previous FOX 9 reporting.

Crime and Public SafetyMinneapolisRoad incidents

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Minneapolis, MN

Motorcyclist dies after hitting guardrail in Minneapolis

Published

23 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Motorcyclist dies after hitting guardrail in Minneapolis

A motorcyclist is dead after an early morning crash in Minneapolis Friday morning.

The Minnesota State Patrol said that at 1:20 a.m., a Suzuki Motorcycle going north on I-35W at Johnson Street hit the left side of the median guard rail.

The motorcycle continued north for about another quarter mile before coming to a rest on the right-hand side.

State Patrol said the rider came to rest on the left shoulder. He was later identified as 21-year-old Andrew James Neuberger.

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Minneapolis, MN

Rochester boys volleyball sweeps Minneapolis Camden

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Rochester boys volleyball sweeps Minneapolis Camden

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – The Rochester Spartans boys volleyball team played its second game on consecutive nights. The Spartans beat Minneapolis Camden 3-0.

Rochester’s next game will be Tuesday, April 21, at St. Anthony Village at 7:00 p.m.

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