Serenity Homes - Rochester, MN

03/07/2024

Lunch served at Serenity Homes 🥘

05/05/2023

We have opened up our 2nd community based setting here in Rochester! It is a duplex with 3 bedrooms in each unit. We are so excited to provide 6 more people a place to call home.

11/03/2022

My mentor is the nun who founded the homeless shelter I have worked at more than half of my life.

Sister Rose Marie recently moved to Iowa.

A few months ago, I went out there to get the next installment of her wisdom.

I felt a bit like Luke Skywalker flying to the Dagobah System to learn from Yoda… except I drove in a car… and Iowa has more corn.

There was one question that has haunted me for a while.

Years ago, late at night after everyone at the shelter had gone to bed, Sister Rose Marie told me THE secret.

And I didn’t understand.

She told me that the entire philosophy underpinning the shelter and her life’s work (and mine) was based on the idea that people are basically good.

Everything, she said, flows from this one truth.

At the time I was too embarrassed to admit that I didn’t understand.

With the humility that comes with being a middle-aged apprentice, though, I finally just asked her to explain.

I will do my best to pass on the wisdom that was passed to me…
People are basically good.

That doesn’t mean that people always do the right thing.

(Actually, most people do the right thing most of the time. That isn’t what this means, though.)

It means this:

Each person is of intrinsic value and worth, by virtue of nothing more than their humanity.

(Note: Some religions explain this by saying that we are all made in the image of God).

Our value is irrespective of who we are or what we do.

Do you believe that?

Do you believe that EVERY person is of incalculable value?

Do you really, I mean REALLY, believe that?

Do you believe that each homeless person, and every drug addict and all convicted criminals and Donald Trump and Joe Biden and Brad Pitt and Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Paris Hilton are all of inherent value and worth?

That is the essence of the philosophy that has guided my life.

And here is why it is the center…

If each person is of inherent value, then:

• We must care when someone has no food.

• We must act when someone has no shelter.

• We must do something when someone lacks healthcare.

It calls us to meet peoples’ basic needs because there is no dignity in deprivation.

But it also calls us to justice, because:

• Injustice strips the oppressed of their humanity.

• Injustice corrodes the humanity of the oppressor.

I think that last one is my favorite because it is so counterintuitive.

If EVERY person is of inherent value, then that includes those who oppress others.

When we stop their oppression, we increase the humanity of both oppressed AND oppressor.

So, here is my challenge to you:

For the next hour, every time you see someone think to yourself “That person is of inherent value.”

Make sure you do it when you see someone you don’t like. That is where this exercise can change your heart.

It is such a simple concept: The inherent value of humanity.
And entire social movements have been built on its truth.

Empathy is the answer,

Ryan
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LIVE TRAINING
HOMELESS DE-ESCALATION 101 WORKSHOP

Title: Workshop - Homeless De-Escalation 101: Trauma basics & the five most important seconds of conflict
Topics:
• Analyze filmed scenarios that were not in the Homeless De-Escalation 101 training
• Physically practice the skills from Homeless De-Escalation 101 with a colleague (thus, this training is best watched in a group or with a buddy)
• Q&A
Date: Thursday, November 10th, 2022
Time: 11AM Pacific / noon Mountain / 1PM Central / 2PM Eastern
Length: 60 minutes
Recording: The recording will be available for 1 month after the live event. The training will also be added to the Homeless Training Academy in Niche Academy where you can view and obtain a certificate.
Cost:
• Free – Organizational members of our training (the registration link is being emailed to you). Libraries in the following states are covered through your statewide membership: Alaska, Arizona, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, and Wisconsin. If you'd like to be added to our system to receive the webinar link directly to your inbox, give us your information using this link: http://bit.ly/MonthlyWebinarSignup

• $49 – One person (includes Homeless De-Escalation 101 Training + Workshop) - go to https://www.homelesstraining.com/next-live-training/
• $99 – Five people (includes Homeless De-Escalation 101 Training + Workshop) - go to https://www.homelesstraining.com/next-live-training/

10/20/2022

The asphalt trucks have arrived! Looking forward to a new lot!

10/11/2022

We have lost track of how many loads of gravel have come in but we are making progress!

10/06/2022

HELP NEEDED! 🙏🏻

Serenity Homes is seeking cash donations to help cover extra expenses that have incurred during our lot renovation. Part of our mission as a non-profit is to transform distressed housing into energy efficient, sustainable, accessible housing for those transitioning from homelessness. We have been at this location since 2007 and went non-profit in 2021. Replacing the lot and driveway was essential to reroute water away from the buildings and to save the foundation which has been damaged from the years of water draining into it. After the demolishing of the old lot it was found that extra work was needed to repair some of the foundation. The total cost of this project is now $56,000. We have secured $36,000 so far and are looking for support so that we can continue to do what we do well, provide safe, sustainable housing to those that are less fortunate and have no place to call home. We appreciate your consideration and look forward to the success of this project.

10/03/2022

Serenity Homes is officially ready for Halloween! Or rather a new project started with safety measures in place. Bring on the new lot!

06/21/2022

Today marks the opening of our community based setting! All of our hard work has paid off and the first tenant has moved in. This is a completely furnished 2 bedroom apartment that includes cable, internet and phone with all utilities included. It is in a secure building. Many thanks to Gift of Life Transplant House for their donation including 2 brand new full size mattresses, dishes, and an air purifier! Good night sleep guaranteed!

06/04/2022

Part of Serenity Homes’ mission is to turn distressed property into energy efficient housing. That begins with the envelope of the structure. Here’s another update bringing us that much closer to our goal! Photography credit to Victor Cabadas

05/28/2022

Help needed!

HIRING: The Dorothy Day Hospitality House is hiring an individual for one of our overnight positions. In exchange for free room and board in the house next door to the shelter, the overnighter will be responsible for overnight coverage three nights a week, every other week. These nights will be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Orientation and training will be provided.

This is an ideal position for a retiree, college student, or working individual. We are currently scheduling interviews with an anticipated start date of July 1. Please reply to this message or email [email protected] with interest.