Our Overview
Elim Transitional Housing, Inc. is a Minneapolis, Minnesota based transitional housing program that offers affordable housing opportunities to people experiencing homelessness, doubled up, or living in substandard housing. We also work with people who are at risk of becoming homeless.
We serve approximately 6,000 people per year within the metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul through our programs and services. Our housing programs include prevention, screening, rapid exit, transitional housing, permanent housing and permanent supportive housing, and tenant based rental assistance.
Our Mission
Elim's mission is to end homelessness by providing affordable housing opportunities to individuals, couples, youth, and families in an effort to foster self-reliance and stability in the community.
Our Philosophy
Elim is committed to a philosophy that stresses the importance of directly involving people who have experienced homelessness in the administration and staffing of the organization. Seventy percent of the Board of Directors and fifty percent of Elim's current staff have experienced homelessness.
Our History
Elim Transitional Housing is the outgrowth of an overnight winter shelter and transitional housing program begun in 1983 at a church in Northeast Minneapolis. In 1985, Elim was incorporated as a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization. Elim was the state's first transitional housing program for homeless people. The program has been a model used in the development of state and federal housing legislation.
Our Awards
Elim has received many awards for its pioneering work in assisting homeless individuals and families find affordable housing and become self-reliant. In addition, Elim has been featured in local, state, national and international newspapers as well as on national news programs. Our awards include:
- Certificate of Commendation by Minnesota Governor Rudy Perpich, 1988
- Certificates of Commendation by Governor Arne Carlson, 1993 and 1994
- Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Award for being a "Partner in Affordable Housing.", 1996
- Susan Watlov Phillips, 2005 Building Community Award, Central Community Housing Trust
- Certification of Appreciation awarded to Sue Watlov Phillips in recognition of service as a member of the Hennepin County Community Advisory Board on Homelessness, 2007
Our Founder
Elim's Executive Director Sue Watlov Phillips
Sue Watlov Phillips, M.A., (Retired L.P., L.M.F.T., L.I.C.S.W.) has worked with youth, families, couples, and individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness for 32 years.
Sue developed and is the Executive Director (1983-present)of Elim Transitional Housing, the first transitional housing program in Minnesota (1983), which was the model for state legislation and a model for the McKinney Vento Act. Elim serves 5700-6000 people/year, with an annual operating budget of $2.5 million, through prevention, rapidly exiting individuals, youth, and families from shelters into permanent housing, provides transitional housing, and over 200 units of permanent supportive housing and permanent housing. Over 70% of Elim's Board and over one half of Elim's staff have experienced homelessness. Sue is committed to ensuring that people with limited incomes and people who are or are at risk of homelessness are significant decision makers in ending homelessness and ensuring everyone has a place to call home.
‘God doesn’t ask about our ability or inability but our availability to Him'
-- Sue
Sue was a founding Board Member (1984-present), President (1984-1994) and Legislative Chair(1984-2000) of the Minnesota Coalition For The Homeless. Sue is a Board Member (1986-present), Executive Committee Member (1996-2005) and served as Acting Executive Director of the National Coalition For The Homeless (2000-2001) and is the former Board President of the National Coalition for the Homeless. She is a founding Board Member and former President of MICAH- Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing which is made up of over 150 Congregations of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths advocating for affordable housing. Sue is the past Board President of Seward Towers Corporation (640 units Project Based Section 8).
Sue owns two for profits: Community Psychologists of Minnesota and a consulting company, Integrated Community Solutions. She started another non-profit, Community Home Ownership to provide cooperative homeownership opportunities for people with incomes at or below 30% of median income. Sue is a national consultant on Continuum of Care, legislation, program development and operations, board and staff development.