CommonBond Communities partnerships reimagine affordable housing

A new affordable housing community has opened in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Rise on 7 is CommonBond Communities’ first development in the neighborhood, an area of the Twin Cities noted for being both in-demand and expensive for individuals and families to live. CommonBond will hold a grand opening celebration on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 8:00AM.

CommonBond has partnered with Rise Early Learning Center and Way to Grow to provide Minnesota’s first ever co-located housing and childcare community. Rise on 7 provides 120 units of housing and six units reserved for individuals who have experienced homelessness, and the childcare facility serves 62 children.

“We believe everyone should have a home, and everyone should have a community. That’s what this building brings to the neighborhood,” said Deidre Schmidt, CommonBond president and CEO.

CommonBond’s unique approach to affordable housing includes access to Advantage Services such as education and professional opportunities, community-building programs, health and wellness initiatives, and much more. “Our services are what transform a building into a community,” said Alecia Leonard, CommonBond Communities’ vice president of Advantage Services. “Residents know they are not alone. Staff on-site can be their coach and advocate, while connecting them with opportunities to meet their goals.”

Rise on 7 has a full-time Advantage Services coordinator, who is available to provide personalized support to each resident. “Moving into St. Louis Park, we’re continuing to build new partnerships and learn from the organizations that have been serving the community,” said Leonard. “Our staff will provide services and adapt them as they learn what our residents need.”

  At the top of the list of resident needs is accessible childcare. The Rise Early Learning Center was founded by Westwood Lutheran Church and developed with CommonBond to provide Rise on 7 residents with high-quality, early childcare options right at their front door.

“Well-funded early childhood care and education, when done well and intentionally, can be a solution for a lot of the challenges facing residents,” said Kylie Cooper, executive director of Rise Early Learning Center. 

“An investment in children is an investment in our community. Study after study shows that it is money well spent. Children who enjoy quality care go on to have increased earning potential, greater stability, and a better chance of avoiding food insecurity.”

Minnesota is currently the fourth most expensive state in the country for childcare, which creates an unsustainable situation for working families. Rise on 7 and Rise Early Learning Center make quality childcare available to all residents, along with a range of services that create community and support residents. “The way that Rise is braiding these services for residents and creating a real sense of community can be a model for other organizations in Minnesota and across the country,” said Cooper.

Residents have been living in Rise on 7 since the fall of 2023 and Rise Early Learning Center is currently serving children, including CommonBond residents. “This grand opening is an opportunity to celebrate the partners and the community that made this project possible,” said Schmidt. “It’s another step in a partnership that is allowing our mission to grow long-term.”