Build Forward Together Strategic Plan

Building a vibrant and equitable Twin Cities

Home. It’s where children take their first steps and turn the pages of their first book. Homeownership is directly linked to healthier lives, continuing education, a viable workforce, and generational wealth.

Through this strategic plan, we’re responding to our community, expanding homeownership opportunities, and working to build forward together to create a community where every family has access to the transformational power of home.

Join the Movement—Give Today!

Your support powers the Build Forward Together movement to engage the community, expand homeownership, and advance racial equity in housing.

Please send your most generous gift today to help us reach our campaign goal of $80 million!

With your donation, you bring us closer to a Twin Cities region where all families have access to the transformational power of homeownership.

We can do more and do better

Homeownership is unaffordable and out of reach for too many people in Twin Cities communities. Racial gaps are slow to close, as Black Minnesotans continue to face the steepest barriers to attaining and sustaining homeownership.

We recognize that we need to make our programs work better for Black families, and are building forward to do just that.

Building forward with intentionality

As an organization, we are building forward with intentionality – centering our work around those most historically impacted by housing discrimination, redlining, racial covenants, and systemic racial housing practices.

We know that when we improve how we serve families and those most impacted by housing discrimination, our organization will be better and do better as we build forward together.

91% of Habitat homeowners

feel better about their children's futures

68% of Habitat families

say their kids’ grades improved after buying their homes

41% of homeowners

say they go to the doctor
less now

Expand homeownership
opportunities

We're increasing homeownership production across the seven-county metro area through large-scale developments and innovative building strategies.

Key innovations:
Harrison Townhome Development in Minneapolis

The Heights Development in St. Paul

Focus on sustainability at The Heights

Advance racial equity

We are building forward with intention by centering our work around those most historically impacted by systemic housing practices - advancing Black homeownership.

Key innovations:
Advancing Black homeownership through the Special Purpose Credit Program

Volunteer and Learn creates a more equitable approach to the former 'sweat equity' program

Partnership with Black Men Teach to unlock homeownership for their clients

Inspiring innovation across the region, including the Advancing Black Homeownership Community Fund

Angela stands outside the front door of the home she bought with Habitat

Watch a powerful video about Angela, one of the first clients in our Advancing Black Homeownership Program

Engage the community
to strengthen our foundation

We're cultivating meaningful partnerships while building an inspiring organization where we can all thrive. We are balancing growth with financial and operational strength.

Key innovations:

Carter Work Project engages thousands of volunteers, sponsors, and community members in fall 2024

Intentional relationship building with the Greater East Side community as we develop The Heights

Star Tribune Names Twin Cities Habitat a 2024 Top Workplace

Home Loan Impact Fund - celebrating 500 closings (Twin Cities Habitat and Bremer partnership)

Pathways to Success partnership with Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) and Twin Cities R!SE

Live Your Healthy Lyfe group_800x450

3 - bags at community event (IMG_6252) - horiz

“Habitat provided my mom a great opportunity to be a homeowner, to give us a sense of security and comfort, knowing this is ours... Donating to Habitat can change lives, literally. My Habitat home changed the course of my life, which ultimately changed the course of my daughter's life."

- Jerome, adult son of Habitat Homeowner Kenisha

Community icon-1

Serving 25% Black households

We are centering our work around serving more Black households to advance racial equity

Creating 500+ homes

We are creating more opportunities designed to stabilize and preserve homeownership in the Twin Cities 7-county metro area

Raising $80 million

We're raising $80 million to
support the community - so that all families have access to equitable homeownership

2022

January

Launch Build Forward Together Strategic Plan

March

Receive transformational $13.5 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott

March

May

Renew historic $125 million partnership for Home Loan Impact Fund with Bremer Bank

August

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity partners with the City of Lakes Community Land Trust to develop 17 townhomes in the Harrison neighborhood.

August

October

Launch Special Purpose Credit Program pilot to support existing families in our pipeline

December

Home Loan Impact Fund celebrates 500 closings

December

2023

January

Awarded $1 Million from Fannie Mae to develop regional approach to Advancing Black Homeownership

January

February

Welcome six new board members to help guide this bold strategic plan

March

Host Town Hall to share progress on the Build Forward Together plan, including work to expand homeownership, advance racial equity, and engage the community to strengthen our foundation

March

April

Announce partnership at The Heights redevelopment, including creating 147 Habitat homeownership opportunities

June

Launch Pathways to Success partnership with Minneapolis Public Housing Authority and Twin Cities R!SE

June

Summer

Sponsor and participate in several community events, including Live Your Healthy Lyfe, Selby Jazz Fest, and Open Streets

October

Announce Twin Cities Habitat will host the 2024 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, which will bring thousands of volunteers to the Twin Cities in fall 2024 to build homes at The Heights

October

December

Launch a groundbreaking partnership with Black Men Teach to provide pathways to homeownership for local Black male teachers

2024

February

Local families begin closing on homes in our Harrison Townhomes development in Minneapolis

February

March

Andersen Corporation steps up as first Diamond Sponsor for Carter Work Project

June

Construction begins at The Heights, our largest development ever

June

June

Star Tribune names Twin Cities Habitat a 2024 Top Workplace, a testament to our work to build an inspiring organization where we can all thrive.

August

Cross Advancing Black Homeownership
program milestone of unlocking home for
50+ Foundational Black families

August

Sept 29 - Oct 4

Host Carter Work Project with 4,000 volunteers working on 30 homes at The Heights

October 1

Build Forward Bash at The Armory - join the movement now

October 1

December

Honored with Impact Award for Community Leadership by the Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity for creative partnerships, collaboration, and commitment to Black Minnesotans

December

Advocacy win: Minneapolis budget includes increased funding for Affordable Homeownership Preservation Grant, which helps fund our critical home repair work

December

2025

January - March

Winter Warriors volunteers needed to continue building homes at The Heights

January

Celebrate 2 years of the Advancing Black Homeownership program

January

March

Announce partnership with Framework Homeownership to improve homebuyer education

April

Experience record-breaking generosity at Hard Hat & Black Tie Gala and celebrate 40 years of Twin Cities Habitat!

April

May 13, 2025

Raise your voice at Habitat on the Hill - Minnesota!

And beyond

Stay tuned for updates!

2 min read

Celebrating One Year of Volunteer and Learn

Mar 25, 2025 by Amy Weiss

One year ago, in spring 2024, Twin Cities Habitat announced a new program for homeowners and homebuyers: Volunteer and...

4 min read

Stories from the Field: Our Strategic Plan in Action

Feb 5, 2025 by Kaitlyn Dormer

Our Build Forward Together strategic plan is more than words on paper—it’s a bold vision for a vibrant, equitable Twin...

3 min read

Local Leaders Join Board of Directors at Twin Cities Habitat

Jan 31, 2025 by Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

The Board of Directors at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity welcomes three new board members. The new cohort joins as...