360 Lewis House Campaign

Build Safety, Dignity, and Hope with 360 Communities

When you invest in this campaign, you’re doing more than building a shelter. You are helping 360 Communities deliver lasting change by disrupting the harmful impacts of violence.

At the heart of our mission is the belief that healing begins with trust. We meet people where they are, honoring their stories, building relationships, and recognizing their strengths. Through a holistic, survivor-informed approach, we help individuals not only find safety but also reclaim agency and hope.

The new Lewis House will reflect this vision: a calm, secure, and empowering space where privacy and healing go hand in hand. With your support, we can expand the foundation of safety and stability that allows individuals and
families to break free from cycles of violence and poverty and build toward
a brighter future.

This is your opportunity to stand with survivors, strengthen our community, and be part of something transformative.

This trauma-informed domestic and sexual violence shelter:

Promotes privacy and dignity

Independent living units provide privacy and dignity for individuals and families staying in shelter.
More dignified services improve mental health and support people’s individual needs.

Delivers holistic services with a Survivor Support Center

A Survivor Support Center will provide wraparound support for residents and non-residents with access to programs and services.
Community-based resources to break cycles of violence.

Improves inclusivity & accessibility

Support all physical abilities
Gender-inclusive
Strengthen cultural needs and practices

Creates space for pets at shelter

One in four survivors says concern for a pet kept them from leaving. The new shelter design provides space for pets.

More than doubles the current Lewis House capacity

Increases the available beds for those fleeing violence from 23 to 50.

Our Project Partners

Dakota County Community Development Agency

What Our Project Partners Are Saying

The Housing First Minnesota Foundation cares about this project because it addresses a critical need in Dakota County and across Minnesota for safe shelter for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Too often, survivors return to abusive situations because they have nowhere else to go, forced to choose between homelessness and abuse. Minnesota’s homebuilding industry has the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by lending our expertise and industry partnerships to help 360 Communities expand its housing capacity, giving survivors a safe place to stay and a chance to rebuild their lives.

Sophia Humphries

Executive Director, Housing First Minnesota Foundation

Greiner Construction cares about this project because we care about being a part of a greater good that has a direct impact on this community, providing supportive services that create a space where people can heal and feel safe! We strive to provide a smooth construction experience so that 360 Communities may focus on the important services they provide.

Kate Carlson

Administrative Director, Greiner Construction

Strong communities are built when people have access to the support and resources they need to thrive. Organizations like 360 Communities provide critical services that help individuals and families navigate challenges, achieve stability, and build brighter futures. Wings Credit Union Foundation is proud to invest in work that creates lasting impact across our local communities.

Sarah Manes

Director of Philanthropic Engagement , Wings Credit Union Foundation

Watch Our Campaign Video

Campaign Committee Members

Scott Arves (Chair)
Kimberly Switlick-Prose
Derek Boeve

Judy Keliher
Monica Jensen
Jennifer Robinson

Todd Goderstad
Brian Cohn
Steve Lepinski

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this needed? Why not renovate the current shelter?

The current Lewis House has served survivors of domestic and sexual violence for decades, but it no longer meets our community's growing needs. The new Lewis House will more than double shelter capacity, provide private apartment-style living units, and offer trauma-informed spaces designed to promote healing. This investment will allow 360 Communities to serve survivors for generations to come.

Domestic violence is more common than many people realize. One in three women and one in seven men will experience domestic violence during their lifetime, and shelters across Minnesota are frequently operating at or above capacity.

Just as importantly, at least half of those staying in domestic violence shelters are children seeking safety alongside a parent or caregiver.

With only 23 beds, the current Lewis House cannot meet today's growing demand. The new shelter will increase capacity to 50 beds while creating a safer, more healing environment for survivors and their families. All services are provided at no cost to survivors.

The existing facility cannot be expanded or renovated to meet today's needs. Building new allows us to serve more survivors while incorporating trauma-informed design, modern security, accessibility, and operational efficiencies that simply aren't possible in the current building.

What will be different about the new Lewis House?

The new facility has been designed around the needs of survivors and will include:

50 shelter beds, up from 23 today.
Private apartment-style living units for greater dignity and healing.
A dedicated Survivor Support Center to serve survivors not staying in the shelter who need services such as therapy and safety planning.
Child-friendly and pet-friendly spaces.
Universal Design features for accessibility for those with disabilities.
Enhanced safety and security throughout the building.

Safety

Every aspect of the new Lewis House has been designed to help survivors feel safe enough to heal.

Key safety features include:

Controlled building access.
Covered, secure resident parking.
Protected outdoor play spaces for children.
A location within a campus dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

What is the goal of the campaign?

The Lewis House Capital Campaign seeks to raise $14.1 million to build a new shelter and Survivor Support Center that will expand services while ensuring long-term sustainability.

What is a Survivor Support Center and why is it needed?

The Survivor Support Center (SSC) is a dedicated space designed to expand access to services for victims and survivors of domestic violence and their families. It brings advocacy, supportive services, resources, and community partners together in one welcoming, private, and accessible location.

Survivors often have to navigate multiple agencies, appointments, systems, and service providers while also working to keep themselves and their families safe. The SSC helps reduce these barriers by creating a “one-stop” service center where survivors can access multiple forms of support, receive individualized assistance, and connect with community resources.

Who can use the Survivor Support Center?

The SSC will serve both individuals and families staying at Lewis House and survivors living in the broader community. Our advocates already support people throughout the community every day, meeting survivors wherever they are, helping them navigate systems, access resources, and work toward their goals. What is often missing is a consistent, dedicated place for those community-based advocates to land. The SSC provides that landing spot: a safe, private, welcoming space where advocates can meet with survivors, community partners can provide services, and individuals can access support without needing to enter shelter.

What services will be available?

Services will include, but are not limited to:

Crisis intervention and safety planning
Individual advocacy and community partner advocacy
Goal planning, resource navigation, and application assistance
Legal advocacy, including protective orders, family law, and court system navigation
Counseling and mental health support
Support groups
Connections to housing, financial stability, education, employment, and other community resources
Wellness spaces for physical and emotional well-being

Can 360 Communities sustain the new shelter?

Yes. For more than 50 years, 360 Communities has responsibly served Dakota County through strong financial stewardship and diverse funding sources.

We are already staffed to support the expanded shelter, and ongoing operations are supported through government funding, grants, philanthropy, and community partnerships. The new building is also being designed to reduce long-term operating costs, ensuring resources remain focused on serving survivors.

Project Timeline and Location

October 2026: Groundbreaking.
2026–2027: Construction.
By early 2028: Survivors and staff move into the new Lewis House.

The new Lewis House will be built on land already owned by 360 Communities, directly behind the current Lewis House in Eagan.

Building on our existing campus allows us to maximize resources while ensuring survivors continue to receive uninterrupted services throughout construction.

This location also keeps survivors connected to the trusted services, community partnerships, and support network that have made Lewis House a place of safety and healing for more than 40 years. Services will continue uninterrupted throughout construction. The current Lewis House will remain fully operational until the new shelter opens.

How can I help?

You can make a difference by:

Making a campaign gift.
Connecting us with potential supporters.
Exploring matching gift opportunities.
Donating materials or professional services.
Sharing the Lewis House story.
Joining us at our October groundbreaking celebration on October 19, 2026 at Union 32 Craft House, 2864 Hwy 55 in Eagan. More details to come.
Keep an eye out for future campaign events.

How will my gift be used?

Campaign gifts support the construction of the new Lewis House, including furnishings, security systems, technology, and specialized spaces that help survivors heal and rebuild their lives.

Is my gift tax-deductible?

Yes. 360 Communities is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and charitable contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

What are domestic and sexual violence?

Domestic and sexual violence are not isolated incidents. They are patterns of power and control that can have lifelong impacts on survivors and their families.

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used by one person to gain or maintain power and control over another in an intimate or family relationship. It can include physical, emotional, psychological, financial, sexual, and verbal abuse, as well as threats, intimidation, and stalking.

Sexual violence includes any unwanted or non-consensual sexual contact or behavior. It can include sexual assault, rape, child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, exploitation, and other forms of coercion.

These forms of violence are far more common than many people realize and affect people of every age, gender, race, income level, religion, sexual orientation, and community. While domestic and sexual violence occur everywhere, survivors in historically underserved communities often face additional barriers to finding safety and accessing support.

360 Communities provides comprehensive, trauma-informed services for survivors of both domestic and sexual violence, including emergency shelter, safety planning, advocacy, legal systems support, forensic exam advocacy, support groups, and connections to community resources. We also provide guidance and education for family members and loved ones so they can better support survivors on their path to healing.

Do you have shareable violence prevention resources?

Yes. If you want to learn more about domestic and sexual violence, visit our Violence Prevention and Education Resources page.

Does the 360 Communities Board of Directors support this project?

Every member of our Board has given to and supported this project.

How can businesses support the campaign?

Businesses can partner through financial contributions, sponsorships, employee giving, matching gifts, and in-kind donations of materials, labor, or professional services.

Organizations including Housing First Minnesota, GF Flow Solutions, and many other community partners are helping bring the new Lewis House to life.

Together, we are building more than a shelter. We are building hope, healing, and safety for generations to come.