GRAND RAPIDS — Grace House of Itasca County is breaking ground on a new addition that will double its capacity from 10 beds to 20.
The expansion will also shift the homeless shelter from a communal setting to private rooms, a need demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the shelter had to house people in hotels.
A ceremony in Grand Rapids on Thursday, May 9, celebrated the project, which is made possible in part by a $1.9 million grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Maryann Bartos, one of the founding members of Grace House, said it is unreal to think about how the shelter has transformed.
“I remember us going out and speaking with people to do the fundraising is that they were going, ‘There’s no homeless in Grand Rapids,’” she said. “But of course it was hidden, people would bed hop in the houses or camp out when they could. So, it wasn’t all that visible at that time.”
Grace House is Itasca County’s only homeless shelter and began operating in 2006, with a stand-alone shelter built in 2012.
According to its annual report, the shelter served over 180 guests in 2022, and nearly 70% were Itasca County residents. People stayed for 20 days on average, and more than half found temporary or permanent housing to move into.
Grace House plans to host a grand opening for the new shelter space sometime this winter.
Access to shelter for the unhoused across Northern Minnesota is limited, but leaders said focused funding from the state has provided a boost.
Reed Olson, executive director of the Nameless Coalition for the Homeless in Bemidji, said in an interview on the KAXE Morning Show that the 2023 legislative session was beneficial for shelters.
“They drastically increased the amount of funds that they send out to help shelters operate,” he said.
More affordable housing and access to mental health services could help decrease the need for shelters, Olson said. But right now, there are still people who need housing.
-
And: Minnesota-based nonprofit says Big Tech fight reminiscent of Big Tobacco crackdown; and National Weather Service offering free weather spotter classes. -
Contributed/Bastian Riccardi via PexelsA Minnesota-based organization says concerned parents shouldn't settle for the status quo surrounding social media regulation. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEWhile all 10,000 seedlings have been reserved, organizers expect some to still be available for first-come, first-served pickup May 17, 2026. -
Contributed/Shep's ApparelAshkan Thibodeaux, 5, rescued his younger brother from an icy creek but couldn't pull himself out. He was flown to a Twin Cities hospital, where he remains. -
Contributed/USFWS Midwest Region via FlickrThe fires will help reduce overgrown vegetation and protect local communities from wildfires. -
Contributed/Central Lakes CollegeHara Charlier accepted another position to be closer to family. An interim president will be appointed in May, and a national search for the next president will begin in the fall. -
And: Central Lakes College President Hara Charlier is leaving the school; and a new report is concerned with the DNR's plans for electronic licenses this spring.
-
Contributed/Seth Trobec via KAXE-KBXE Season Watch Facebook groupVolunteer Skywarn spotters help the agency deliver accurate and timely severe weather warnings. Training includes thunderstorm safety, the science of storms and cloud formation. -
Karina Kafka/Report for MinnesotaStudents from across Minnesota gathered at the Capitol to showcase their robotics skills and promote education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. -
Contributed/Will Rolf via Report for MinnesotaSweeney’s Saloon is offering a “Dine Across the Aisle” special to Minnesota lawmakers who grab a meal with a member of the other party.
