DAKOTA WOODLANDS INC

Our mission is to empower homeless women to create stable futures for their families.

Dakota Woodlands, located in Eagan, is the only shelter specifically for homeless families in Dakota County.

Shelter

Families can stay as long as necessary to move from homelessness to homes of their own. On average families stay two months. We shelter 22 families at a time in our facility, assisting 110 families annually.

• Over 1200 people volunteer to assist our residents and our organization annually.
• 86% of our residents move on to safe and affordable housing.

“When I first got there I just wanted to stay in my room with my kids. But the staff encouraged me a lot. I worked with them to set goals right away. I knew what I needed to do. I needed to get on my feet. They helped me do that.” --Diana, former Dakota Woodlands resident

Supportive Services
Residents are provided with a variety of educational and supportive services to assist them in creating stability for their families. These include

• R.E.N.T. (Raising Expectations for Next Time) This series of classes was designed to give our residents the knowledge they will need to make sure they have a successful renting experience when they move into their new homes. Such as building a good relationship with your landlord, taking pictures before you move in, what their legal rights are (and are not), and the importance of keeping their home in great shape.
• Child Care. Dakota Woodlands provides child care which is staffed by our children’s services staff and volunteers. Our childcare provides a safe and fun place for children while their parents are busy taking classes, attending appointments, and doing chores.
• The Store. The store is a favorite of our residents. Residents at Dakota Woodlands participate in all of the cooking and cleaning duties that need to happen at the shelter. By doing these chores residents earn punches that they redeem in the store. This store is full of gently used and new household items that have been donated by the community. Many of our residents come to the shelter with nothing and leave with many of the things they will need for their new home.
• Educational and fun field trips. Our children’s services staff is constantly planning different activities and field trips which provide fun family time away from the shelter. Some examples are: The Como Zoo, Caponi Art Park, and the Science Museum. These trips while often free do have costs associated with transportation and staff.
• G.E.D. Prep. Many of the women who come to our shelter have not been able to complete their high school education. Without a high school equivalency it becomes extremely difficult to gain and keep employment that can support their families. During their stay at Dakota Woodlands our Education Coordinator guides them through the steps of obtaining their G.E.D. Dakota Woodlands provides tutoring & pays for the testing that is necessary.
• Cooking and Nutrition programs. Food is often one of the largest issues facing the homeless families coming to our shelter. Often times their access to affordable and nutritious food has been limited. Our kitchen manager teaches a cooking skills course about how to shop for value packed nutritious foods and prepare it at home
• Follow up programing. When a family leaves the shelter, Dakota Woodlands makes every attempt at keeping in contact with them, introducing them to community connections that will continue to assist them in their recovery and including them in family activities such as picnics, community arts, and school functions. Dakota Woodlands provides transportation for these activities and admission fees. The newly created “Illuminate Fund” assists former residents with emergency expenses: diapers, formula, small loans, and other immediate needs that could bounce them back into homelessness if unmet.

“I feel blessed to have been at Dakota Woodlands. The services were really important. I thought I would have been there longer than I was because of all the goals and plans that we set up. I worked on my GED while I was there. The tutor was great. I got a lot of help with math. That is the big area that I struggle. But, I learned that I could do it.” --Cherise, former Dakota Woodlands resident