Bridging Celebrates Longtime Agency Partner Agate Housing and Services
Sara Wenzel, Associate Director of Time-Limited Housing at Agate Housing and Services, recalls many special moments that contribute to the organization’s long and rich history with Bridging.
“As an intern, nearly thirty years ago, I remember loading up the station wagon and driving clients from the shelter to their new homes. If they needed furniture, we coordinated a referral to Bridging to furnish their homes. One of my jobs back in the day was accompanying families to Bridging for their shopping trips.”
Fast forward to today, Agate Housing and Services and Bridging maintain a strong agency partnership guided by a common goal of helping individuals and families achieve housing stability and hope.
Agate strives to end homelessness and relieve hunger through action and advocacy. The agency’s 100+ staff members build relationships with community members who are unhoused or facing housing instability. They offer holistic support to ensure families and individuals achieve stability and a hopeful path.
“Agate believes that Housing is a human right, and we operate through the lens of Housing First,” says Sara. “We believe everyone deserves stable and dignified housing. From the beginning, our case managers work to empower their participants to gain skills for long-term independence.”
Agate’s Street Outreach Teams connect with community members who are staying outside and offer shelter and other resources. Many find dignity, safety, and community at Agate’s two shelters: First Covenant, a shelter for couples, and Valiance, a women’s shelter with 54 beds for women.
“Agate shelters offer a safe space for guests to address their most pressing needs,” says Sara. “The Valiance was created with direct input from people who have experienced homelessness and lived in shelter.”
Within its Supportive Housing Program, Agate partners with Trellis to offer 111 units of permanent housing plus 38 units of affordable housing. Agate also has 519 units of scattered site housing across the Twin Cities. Participating individuals and families receive long-term housing assistance and case management support.
Agate’s Rapid Rehousing Program (RRH) serves 96 households, providing up to two years of financial assistance and case management to mostly families and a few single adults. A case manager with this time-limited housing program for many years, Sara now provides essential leadership to the team.
“One of my favorite parts of my job is supporting the managers and case managers as they do their extraordinary work of helping participants with their housing search and providing ongoing case management,” she says. “In October and November of last year, our housing programs worked alongside their participants and found permanent housing for 30 households. This will result in many upcoming Bridging appointments!”
Agate’s team of housing locators specializes in finding safe and affordable housing options and advocating for participants with barriers as they seek housing.
“Families ask, ‘How am I going to be able to afford this on my own?’ Existing and potential funding cuts cause a lot of anxiety for people who are already dealing with inequities. Our team’s goal is to help families bridge the gap and become independent when we pull back time-limited financial support.”
When families in Agate’s programs move into their homes, Bridging serves as a vital resource in their paths to housing stability.
“Bridging is our best resource,” she says. “It’s an extension of what we do: Our mission is to end homelessness, and Bridging provides the dignified, furnished home,” she says.
One of Sara’s responsibilities is coordinating Bridging referrals for participants across Bridging’s programs. From 2021-2025, Agate made 463 referrals to Bridging.
When participants shop at Bridging, Sara observes the dignity and healing nature of Bridging’s person-centered approach.
“We had a recent participant who really opened up and shared about their positive experience at Bridging and how comfortable they were. There is significant trauma in losing their home, belongings, and basic human needs. By going to Bridging, this dignity and hope are restored.”
Ultimately, Sara sees the impact that a furnished home has for individuals and families in their housing journey. Bridging is an affordable option that sets up families for financial success, and the hope of a furnished home is long-lasting.
“Recently, a mom was so excited because she got a new couch for her living room and her kids got a desk. They were all so happy.”
“Most families would not be able to afford all of the beds, a couch, and all of the smaller yet important household items without Bridging. And to see the excitement in the faces and hear the voices of the families as they walk us through their homes, showing their nice furniture, pictures on the walls, and their decorated kids’ rooms … It’s really special,” she says.
“Bridging goes well beyond the furniture.”
Thank you, Agate Housing and Services team, for your decades-long partnership!
