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Grand Rapids Police Chief Andy Morgan and Ron Oleheiser, Executive Director of the Grace House of Itasca County. Chief Morgan also serves as secretary on the Grace House Board of Directors. Photo by Pam Dowell.

It has been 20 years (2005) since the Minnesota Department of Human Services conducted a one-day survey in Itasca County and reported that at least 25 people had no idea where they would sleep at night. The number of homeless people, lack of shelter and affordable housing have grown since that time.
Itasca County currently sees up to 200 cases of homelessness per year. In a 2024 study, Itasca County had the highest percentage of severe renter cost burden in Minnesota at 35%.

Executive Director Ron Oleheiser, of the Grace House of Itasca County, standing at the podium on Thursday, May 8, for the county shelter’s grand re-opening (via expansion and renovation) told the crowd of more than 100, “I accepted this position 10 years ago and was advised homelessness could end in five-years and I would be without a job.” 

The supportive crowd in attendance, including some of the current shelter guests, all laughed with skepticism. Oleheiser addressed the continued basic needs of Maslow’s Hierarchy:  food, shelter and sleep. Itasca County’s emergency homeless shelter strives to meet the physiological necessities of individuals and families, helping them rise to success on Maslow’s triangle – the hierarchy of needs.

Grand Rapids Police Chief Andy Morgan, who started as a GRPD patrol officer in 2001, has seen the growth and changes from a homeless shelter organized out of a church to a stand-alone facility that offers wrap-around services for people battling homelessness. Morgan currently serves as the secretary on the Grace House Board of Directors. 

“The collaboration between the professionals at the Grace House and law enforcement benefits our rural region as our officers work to assist people in crisis, often without shelter and support systems,“ Chief Morgan said. Morgan praised Oleheiser and his staff for their commitment to a robust program that works to break the cycle of homelessness.

“The Grace House isn’t a place to just spend a night – it is a program that builds members of our community back with potential for success,” Morgan said. “A community is better served when care, shelter, services and safe housing is provided to those asking for a hand up.” 

The Grace House acronym was chosen with great thought by empathetic community members determined to bring aid to rural homelessness. GRACE stands for Give hospitality, Rest and renewal, Access to appropriate resources, Compassion and Empowerment of the future. In 2006, the Grace House became a formal operation based out of Zion Lutheran Church in South Grand Rapids. The initial plan was for several churches in the area to participate with a rotation schedule for shelter housing. The idea was eventually scrapped as organizers recognized that the stability of one location was beneficial to those experiencing homelessness. The area churches supporting the project helped with volunteers and added financial and material support. 

The beginning.
Roll-away cots and a community space for rest – guests arrived between 5-8 pm for an overnight stay and an evening meal. Restrooms and showers were available. The following morning breakfast was served. Guests were guided with area services, resources and job guidance training if needed. They were asked to leave during daytime hours to work on their housing goals while the church operated its daily and Sunday services. It took five years to get to the next stage – securing a fully-operational stand-alone shelter. 

In December of 2011, the Grace House officially relocated from Zion Lutheran Church to its own space, the former Jehovah’s Kingdom Hall set in a quiet neighborhood on its own block, located at 501 SW 1st Ave. in Grand Rapids. 
A building of its own. 

The building was spacious and nestled in a quiet residential setting, surrounded by beautiful trees, shrubs, grasses and areas for family play space. At first the neighbors were suspicious and raised concerns directly about safety, loitering, crime and decreases in property value, citing their voices were unheard. 

Those concerns were quelled as the neighbors saw solid management and organization based on structure, guidance and success. The Grace House would not be an unsupervised “flop house.” It never was. Every applicant was interviewed, a background study was performed and each guest was expected to follow the policy and procedures in the program, which included daily chores, job and housing searches. Community agencies provided strong support, local businesses pitched in, and community volunteers stepped up to ensure the Grace House would provide a welcome space to those in need. 

Material donations were abundant and generous. The Itasca County rural region wanted to give and to sustain this homeless shelter, understanding that stronger communities offer resource assistance to build security. Community members recognized that providing support for others with no safety nets gives strength to building self-esteem for citizens who temporarily need shelter. The new building offered real beds – no roll-away cots. There were eight rooms with 10 beds, two of the end rooms served families. A full kitchen and basement dining room offered sustenance with a communal family-like dining atmosphere. 

Itasca County, often gifted with start-up building and program aid from the Blandin Foundation, has been steadfast in the battle against homelessness – community organizers noting that any of us could be one paycheck away from homelessness.  Area church quilters have steadfastly provided beautiful tailored quilts for the guests at the Grace House as an on-going reminder that every person has worth. Each stitch done in warmth when the harsh reality of homelessness feels ever cold and alone. 

The expansion 
In 2023, the Minnesota Department of Human Services offered up a $100,000,000 grant for existing shelters to renovate and improve on existing spaces. The grant competition was fierce, with nearly 100 projects submitting requests that totaled more than $365 million. Oleheiser proposed a grant of $1,927 million for a rebuild. And like opening that prized Willy Wonka chocolate bar golden ticket, Oleheiser described the day when the award email landed. He said he called some of the staff in the office and when they saw they were gifted the full $1,927 million, they didn’t know if they should laugh or cry – the room was brimming with emotion. 

Hawk Construction Company went to work on the expansion project in July 2024. While the building underwent construction, the Grace House continued its program with the support of area lodgers offering up rooms in the interim. The expansion was completed in February 2025 and the staff returned to its base functions in March. The shelter doubled in housing capacity. One tour of the “new” Grace House and the best response to the finished project is “remarkable.” 

The open floor plan of the former shelter, while spacious and bright, lacked one thing – privacy. The door for each room was a pair of curtains, the ceiling was open, and guests had to share bathroom and shower areas – respectively separate but within one-unit space. The upstairs office area was cramped and the layouts didn’t function as effectively as was needed. Noise was ever present. 

The renovated space allows for privacy, good community working spaces, rest areas and a better designed office and conference rooms that will service programming with greater ease upon capacity. Every room is individual with its own full bath and a door. There are 12 singles’ rooms and four family rooms. Generous supporters provided basic furnishings for each room as that was a not a part of the grant. The program allows for a 30-day stay with extension considerations based on circumstance. 

The Grace House continues to seek engaged and active volunteers who are willing to work morning, afternoon and evening shifts to supplement paid staff. Training is offered and volunteers maintain the reward is seeing the success of guests move forward to thrive as engaged members of the rural region. 

Multiple speakers came to the podium to address homelessness and the work that must continue nationwide. Stephanie Martin, from the Grants Program team and support specialist for the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness shared that locally, statewide and federally, the people committed to lowering homelessness are very concerned as federal funding dollars are cut. She said, “Our frontline workers are worried and tired, funding is uncertain, and affordable housing is harder than ever to find.” 

The Minnesota Star Tribune recently featured an alarming story from nearby Brainerd, Minnesota. See: startribune.com/tolkkinen-brainerd-city-council-tells-homeless-to-sleep-outside-this-summer/601329153

In the fall of 2024, the Brainerd City Council voted to criminalize public camping. The Brainerd/Baxter area shelter is not open year-round and the only available shelter currently is a day shelter. For homeless people, this means they can be criminalized with up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine if they are found “camping” overnight in a public space. 

Brainerd Police Chief John Davis stated while sleeping outside can be fun for those who want to do it – “sleeping outside because you have no other choice is pretty horrid.” GRPD Chief Morgan circled back and said, “Punishing people for homelessness is not the solution. We need to continue building partnerships and working to support greater rural housing programs.” 

Itasca County District 5 Commissioner Casey Venema, who spoke at the expansion celebration, said he was really impressed with the Grace House and what it offered to the Itasca County region. After his tour, while visiting with local constituents, Venema, when learning of the Brainerd City Council decision, agreed that homelessness should not be criminalized. Commissioner Venema said, “The best prevention is compassion – people need safe shelter.”

Housing advocates have always championed American psychologist Abraham Maslow and his triangle of human needs. It’s this simple - “Housing is not a privilege; it is a fundamental human right.” 
To learn more about the Grace House of Itasca County, visit gracehousemn.org.