House of Charity History

By spring of 1954, House of Charity had fed more than 50,000 meals on a fewtables in a tiny warehouse on Nicollet Island.

House of Charity bought two more buildings across the street, 21 and 23 East Hennepin Avenue, which became the new dormitory. The old dormitory was remodeled to make another dining room. H.O.C. could now feed 160 at a time.  

Rev. Leo Vetvick, Brother de Paul and others began the Court Screening Committee for Alcoholics, a voluntary group representing organizations involved in work with alcoholics. They made recommendations to the judges of what was the best for the man or woman. This was the beginning for getting alcoholics out of the drunk court and into treatment. In the past, they would be sent to the workhouse for two weeks to “dry out” and then to the Old Pioneer House, a Union City Mission center that kept them off the streets.  

Feels a lot like “Housing First”, doesn’t it?

May 14, 1976– The House of Charity bought it its fourth home, the Field Hotel on 510 South 8th Street, for $300,000. It had been used as a residence for blind people, but the number living there had dwindled since the blind had become more independent.  

In summer of 2020, our Park7 affordable housing project was completed, furnished and occupied. Park7 is a life-saving facility in the heart of downtown.