Year in Review
In 2018, Avivo was immersed in the worthwhile work of advancing recovery and economic wellness for all Minnesotans. Our priority remains addressing the deep needs our neighbors face and removing systemic barriers to success. With your support, nearly 15,000 people were able to transform their lives this past year! Thank you.
Last year, the ugly realities of homelessness, poverty, and addiction in Minnesota became more visible than ever. We saw the presence of the Minneapolis homeless encampment ignite; the crisis of opioid use soar; and unemployment continue for individuals for whom work is out of reach.
We are unswerving in our belief that everyone deserves the chance to live well and work well – individuals living in homelessness and poverty, and with a disability, mental illness, addiction, and chronic unemployment.
We achieved a significant milestone in combatting homelessness. Red Lake Nation asked Avivo to partner in October and house 100 native people living at The Wall of Forgotten Natives in four to six months. Thanks to amazing landlords and committed partners, we were able to house as many as 70 people by the end of 2018 — well on our way to finding housing for one hundred in under six months.
Another milestone for Avivo is in the area of ensuring that everyone has access to the treatment they need. We provided 2,131 chemical use assessments so people could access the best level of care.
Avivo also offers transitional recovery housing for individuals while in treatment. This increases participants’ abilities to achieve recovery. BATC-Housing First Minnesota Foundation and three build partners completely renovated our eight-unit apartment building which is home to 40 mothers and their children each year in our family treatment program. We also purchased two apartment buildings we were renting. This enables us to preserve transitional housing for our participants and eliminate the risk of losing housing in the future!
I remain proud to be a part of one of the largest workforce development organizations that helps people living in poverty economically advance. Avivo helped more than 4,300 individuals, who experience multiple or chronic barriers to self-sufficiency, find employment. And 2,897 individuals and their families moved off of welfare into work!
Avivo wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for you. Thank you for being a champion to individuals and families in our community who are working so hard to transform their lives.
Please take time to scroll through our 2018 achievements and celebrate what we have done together!
With gratitude,
Kelly Matter
President & CEO
Take a Look
Look at what we accomplished together
Together, individuals who face complex barriers – poverty, homelessness, unemployment, chemical addiction or mental health concerns – are achieving recovery and economic stability.
See below!
People Served
Twin Cities metro counties,
St. Cloud, and Princeton
23,000 children benefitted from Avivo services
96% of Avivo participants live at 100% poverty level and below
(family of 4 living on annual salary of $25,100)
65% of individuals served are people of color
4,214
people accessed treatment &
mental health services
4,385
individuals entered
jobs or careers
798
individuals find housing and supportive services to avert homelessness
8 out of 10
participants retained
employment after 6 months
2,897
moved off welfare and into work
265
achieved industry credentials
You Count
Stories behind the numbers
Each person at Avivo counts. Everyone has unique abilities, connections to community, and a path for a healthy future.
Read a few of our participants’ stories.
Hirut
“This job changed my life. I’m very happy,” says Hirut, mother of five children. Hirut immigrated to the United States 22 years ago. She endured many hardships, including leaving an abusive marriage relationship. Needing to support her children, she enrolled in Avivo’s maintenance custodial training program. After graduating she secured a position with the City of Minneapolis.
“I like what I do. I’m so grateful for that,” says Hirut. “They don’t just teach us at Avivo, they take care of us.”
Antoinette
Antoinette, age 24 and mother of a three-year-old daughter, was living in supportive housing for youth. Deciding she needed to find a way to support herself, she turned to Avivo’s youth employment program. With Avivo’s help, Antoinette is on track to start a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). She’s certified now and looking for her first job! She is excited to move off of public assistance and earn enough to rent a two-bedroom apartment.
“I’m trying to go higher up to the LPN, to RN… I’m trying to push all the way,” she says. “But I’m going to take it step by step.”
Tommy
“I’d completed recovery programs two different times,” says Tommy, “but never really stayed sober until I did career education at Avivo.”
Tommy enrolled in the maintenance custodial training program, graduated and passed the Minnesota Boiler’s Operator exam. Avivo’s employment and career services helped him gain confidence for his job hunt. Soon after graduation, he secured his job as a Chemical Maintenance and Waste Treatment Operator for a Twin Cities circuit board manufacturer.
In three years, Tommy has been promoted and received multiple pay raises. “It’s kind of amazing when I think about the changes that I’ve made.”
Keo
With Avivo’s help, Keo signed his first-ever lease on an apartment after experiencing homelessness for 30 years. He immigrated to the United States when he was seven years old. “I didn’t know what is home,” says Keo. “As a teenager I would go anywhere, sleep anywhere, eat anywhere.”
Living in his own apartment, Keo’s quality of life has improved quickly. But he still needs support from Avivo staff. They help him solve other barriers in his life: getting to appointments, registering for health insurance and a green card.
“Avivo staff are awesome.” says Keo. “If you dream, you can have anything. I just want to have my life. A good life.”
Wellness
The Avivo Way
For each unique individual, Avivo pairs services whenever necessary for a foundation that helps participants achieve health, social, and economic wellness that transforms lives.
Chemical & Mental Health Services
Treatment, mental health services, housing & housing support, and care coordination
Avivo Institute of Career & Technical Education
Short-term training courses that launch individuals on career paths for in-demand jobs
Employment Services
Individualized services for youth, under- and un-employed individuals, immigrants, and people with disabilities
Unique Approaches
Children, infant to age 17, can live with their mothers while they are in treatment
Avivo offers one of very few programs in Minnesota that allows children over age 12 to live with mom during treatment
Scholarships for Avivo’s
Institute of Career & Technical Education
100 Avivo participants, who would otherwise not have access, are able to enroll in career training each year
Wellness integrated in services introduced organization-wide in 2018
Tobacco cessation, physical activity, and nutrition initiatives to increase participants’ successes
In case you missed it
Read our most popular media stories and sharables of 2018.
November
Give Folks A Chance: Nonprofit urging landlords to help Minneapolis homeless camp residents
You helped us be the difference in the lives of others!
We couldn’t have done it without our amazing donors, volunteers, and partners.
9,332
hours donated by 701 volunteers
262,696
dollar value by independent sector of volunteer hours
1,456,480
contributed through charitable giving, including United Way
