The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Duluth has been awarded $8.85 million in the State of Minnesota bonding bill to help fund construction of the Mission Engagement Center, a new low-barrier homelessness stabilization facility planned for Duluth.
The project, which will be operated by Union Gospel Mission, is designed to provide coordinated services for individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability and related health challenges.
According to project leaders, the Mission Engagement Center will function as a triage and engagement hub offering meals, showers, laundry services, clothing assistance, medical and behavioral health connections, addiction recovery support, outreach coordination and overnight stabilization space.
Officials said the center is intended to create a pathway from crisis stabilization into permanent housing, treatment and long-term recovery support.
The Duluth HRA is developing the project in partnership with Union Gospel Mission. Under the arrangement, the HRA will own the facility to comply with state bonding requirements, while Union Gospel Mission will oversee daily operations and on-site programming.
Project leaders said the state bonding award could also help leverage a pending $17 million funding request through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. If approved, that funding would support construction of the building’s second and third floors, including 40 units of permanent supportive housing.
“We are incredibly grateful to the State of Minnesota for recognizing the urgency of this need in our region,” said Katie Hagglund, executive director of Union Gospel Mission. “This project represents years of collaboration, planning, and community partnership focused on creating a more coordinated and compassionate response to homelessness in the Northland.”
Hagglund also thanked state lawmakers, including Pete Johnson, Liish Kozlowski and Jen McEwen, for supporting the project during the bonding process.
“We are especially grateful to Representative Pete Johnson, Representative Liish Kozlowski, and Senator Jen McEwen for championing this project and continuing to advocate for the needs of our region at the Capitol,” Hagglund said.
Union Gospel Mission also thanked Mary Franson for bipartisan support of the request.
“This project will change the way our city responds to serving our unhoused population,” said Jill Keppers, executive director of the Duluth HRA. “Having a center where people can have their immediate, basic needs met in order to move towards housing stability is a goal we all can get behind.”
Officials said the Mission Engagement Center is part of a broader community effort to strengthen connections between emergency shelter, outreach, treatment services and long-term housing resources in Duluth.
Construction timelines and additional project details are expected to be announced after remaining funding components are finalized.
