40 Years and 40,000 Stories of Home
For 40 years, CommonBond Communities has been providing affordable housing with life-enhancing services. Since 1971, roughly 40,000 people have called us home. To honor our 40 years of service to the community, we are gathering the stories of our residents, donors, partners, supporters, and volunteers. Some of them are listed below.
Ahmed, Resident and Hero
 17-year-old Ahmed and his mentor, Jonathan, throw sidelong grins at one another when asked what they’ve learned in the last two years as Study Buddies. |
From Homelessness to Health
 "I never realized how much of a problem homelessness is for just regular people." |
Advantage Center Angels
 "When I came to America, this was my reality. While my mother played catch up in the game of surviving in America, I had to manage the house and raise my younger siblings." |
I Feel Like a New Woman!
 "I didn’t realize how depressed I was in my old apartment until I moved into this new place that’s so bright and beautiful. I feel like a new woman!" |
Getting Somewhere
 “I have no shame about telling my story, because it could happen to anyone. It’s happening today, more often than we know." |
Building a New Life
 "Now we are in a stable, affordable home, and instead of frantically trying to make ends meet, I’m able to spend time making plans and goals for our future.” |
The Van He Called Home
 Ray lived in a small apartment in Northeast Minneapolis until the owners of the building didn't renew his lease. Ray found himself homeless, unable to afford another adequate place. |
Letter From A Resident
 "I’d always fantasized about living in a sleek, contemporary loft apartment with a gorgeous view…but I never thought I’d be able to afford it." |
An Urban Homecoming
 If you have been following stories about mortgage lending over the last couple of years, Kerrilynn’s story is one that’s all too familiar: “I couldn’t afford my home anymore.” |
New Home, New Life
 “The three weeks we spent sharing one room in a shelter felt like three months.” |
A Home Full of Grandparents
 "There’s a lot available for us here and the neighborhood has anything you might need. Really, it’s like a small town, and we’re like a family in the building.” |
Finding a Home, Finding a Job
 “In America everyone lives the same. Here, we all have freedom.” |
The Door to Education
 To Steve and Ellie, CommonBond’s Yorkdale Townhomes stick out: it is here that their growing family found the door to new opportunities. |
A Safe Place for Her Family
 “I’m thankful that we have a safe place to live, and I don’t have to worry about who’s hanging on the corner...When I leave work, I feel like I'm going home." |
We All Need Each Other Here
 “It was a time when I needed help and I cringed asking for it.” |
Stable Home, Strong Future
 "Because of our experience with CommonBond, my husband and I have good jobs, a home that we love and a healthy place for our kids to grow up." |
