The Pentagon House Project

Veteran homelessness is a pressing issue in our region. Such homelessness is caused by many unique veteran issues (such as PTSD), but also compounded by not-so-unique issues of drugs and alcohol. Vets service organization, MACV (whose mission is to end veteran homelessness in Minnesota) had a recent client list of over 50 veterans in SE Minnesota needing housing assistance of some sort.

We need to raise $450,000 ($75,000/unit) to transform the Mayowood Acres shop into 6, large studio apartments, set aside to serve veterans. In order to start construction June 1, 2022, we would like to have $200,000 in gifts and pledges. Donations to date (May 1, 2022) are as follows:

  • $60,000 is pledged by the Coalition for Rochester Area Housing

  • $50,000 ($25K is pledged + an additional $25K is available as a matching grant from the Otto Bremer Trust)

  • $30,000 is pledged by the Disabled American Veterans

  • $10,000 is pledged by the Carl and Verna Schmidt Foundation

  • $5,000 is pledged by the Rochester Elks Lodge

  • $3,000 is pledged by by Tee-It-Up For the Troops

  • $29,000 is pledged by numerous VFWs, American Legions, churches, and individuals.

  • $13,000 is still needed to meet the $200,000 fundraising goal.

MACV will provide the case management to vets who are getting back on their feet. Your support will allow rents to be very affordable, serving people that make less than 50% of the area median income. To learn more, contact board member Kenn Roehl (roehlkenn@gmail.com) or call us at 507.258.4992. Click here for donation options.

Pentagon House In The News

17 NEW Studio Apartments

Untitled.jpg

Overview (finished, fall 2021)

6,300 sq/ft of college classrooms on the former Crossroads Campus (now called Mayowood Acres) was converted to 17-studio apartments. Rents are $600 (including utilities &internet), making the units affordable to folks just below 40% of the area median income (people making approx. $12/hr full-time). The units are transitional in nature, with tenants stays up to 2-years in most cases, while they finish education, employment training, or establish a solid employment record.

These units were built with generous donations and volunteerism, costing less than $45,000 unit ($750,000 total).

Major Gifts to Date: $136,000 forgivable grant from the Coalition for Rochester Area Housing; $35,000 grant from the Hanson Family Foundation; $10,000 gift from Bigelow Homes; $9,000 grant from the Rochester area Knights of Columbus; and many area businesses and individuals! A $500,000 low-interest gap loan from the Coalition helped finance the balance of the build-out.

How It Started

In 2010, Bear Creek Church realized a number of Rochester area residents were living in substandard and unsafe housing. Starting in mobile home parks, the church started to repair homes at cost, with volunteer labor and at times even donated materials. Over the years dozens of homes were repaired and many lessons learned. Today, Bear Creek Development Center (BCDC) oversees this repair program (now called The Shelter Project) and utilizes volunteers from many area churches and the greater Rochester area.

In 2016, Crossroads College, located in SW Rochester, closed its doors. About 1 year later (on a handshake agreement) Bear Creek Church started to convert the college into an affordable housing complex and non-profit center (now called Mayowood Acres). By June, 2018, Bear Creek had formerly purchased the campus with the goal of serving individuals and families getting back on their feet. With a combination of very affordable rents, volunteerism, and donations, the campus has been able to pay its bills and serve many, many people. Currently, there are 43 apartments on the campus, ranging from rooms to rent to 4BR units, along with commercial space.

Now, in 2021, Mayowood Acres is owned and operated by Bear Creek Development Center, a 501c-3, non-profit. Read on to learn about the new Mayowood Acres projects that are getting underway.

News Highlights