A message from Jeff Mortensen
President & CEO

The pandemic has caused increased levels of uncertainty and anxiety across communities. Dakota County experienced a 3,000% increase in unemployment applications, with more than 37,000 people seeking help in just the last 30 days. Although COVID-19 presents an extraordinary crisis in recent history, families who struggle through hardships have always been here. It is precisely why 360 Communities exists. Indeed it was what birthed the organization in the early 1970s. We will trust in our 45 years of experience, the strength of the community, and the resiliency of people to overcome this challenge together.

Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents new challenges for 360 Communities. But as we have done throughout our history, we are adapting and innovating to fulfill our mission. Below are just some of the steps we have taken in our program areas to ensure that we are meeting the need.

Violence Prevention and Intervention

• 360 Communities is participating with a group of metro area domestic and sexual violence shelters to provide two different hotel options to help house victims of domestic and sexual violence during the COVID-19 crisis.  Violence Free Minnesota is leading the work and has obtained funding to pay for 50 hotel rooms to be used as expanded bed space for shelters who are at capacity. Shelters will also be able to move victims they are currently housing who fall into high-risk categories to this hotel as congregate living may not be the safest option for them during the pandemic. There will also be an additional 32 rooms available at another hotel for victims who need to be quarantined because of COVID-19 or other illnesses.
• Before COVID-19 hit, Community Educator Shelly Peters worked out in the community, delivering presentations to students in schools and to other community groups. Now she has taken her curriculum and resources online, hosting Zoom classroom webinars. The 360 Communities website has a form for schools and other organizations to sign up for a presentation that suits them.
• The Violence Prevention and Intervention team has created new online resources for clients, including an anonymous chat room hosted in partnership with RAINN. People will now have another option to reach an advocate for support with sexual and domestic violence. Our team is working to open more pathways for people to access help during a time when victims are especially isolated.

Community Resources

Burnsville Food Shelf volunteers pack and distribute food.

• 360 Communities’ network of five food shelves have all converted to pre-pack models, where families drive up to load their groceries. The doors to our facilities are shut to the public, but we remain open. Scheduling food shelf appointments can be done by phone. Our volunteers wear masks and gloves and practice social distancing. We have distributed 54% more food at our food shelves since the beginning of the crisis.
• We have entered a new partnership with DARTS to help deliver Second Harvest Heartland emergency food boxes from the Rosemount Family Resource Center to the elderly living in senior housing complexes. St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in West St. Paul has stepped forward to fund initial transportation costs. To date, we have delivered more than 240 emergency food boxes to housebound seniors. The plan is to expand this service from our Burnsville Family Resource Center as well.

School Success

• Partners For Success family support workers are staying connected to families and schools remotely. They have adapted to support families with distance learning, connect them with community resources, and help students reach established goals.  Family support workers are incredibly resourceful and creative. They have edited videos to introduce themselves to families, inspire healthy learning habits, and reduce stress.
  • Family Support Worker Cedar created a video to send to the families she works with to help manage stress.
  • Family Support Worker Caleb has a youtube channel for the students he works with to promote fun, healthy habits. 
  • Family Support Worker Grace created this video to introduce herself to families.
• Child Care Aware recently handed out free bleach and hand sanitizer to child care providers. This will help child care providers to maintain a cleanand safe environment for the children of essential employees in Minnesota. 

Child Care Aware staff distribute cleaning products to providers.

From the onset of this crisis, the community has delivered an outpouring of support, with an influx of donations and volunteerism. Community members have found creative ways to inspire their neighbors to give back with online fundraisers and food drives. Others have sewn face masks to keep clients, volunteers, and staff safe and healthy. Read stories.

The health and safety of people is more than a priority for us, it is our mission: 360 Communities delivers safety and stability that improves lives. We have already acted to ensure that our clients, our volunteers, and our staff are as safe as possible. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have instituted measures that:

• Eliminate and/or limit social contact

• Maintain “clean areas” where volunteers and staff are working

For those who need assistance, phone numbers for our sites are listed below.