What if one bench could transform the way our community sees homelessness?

24 Hours of Live Conversation

How do people in our community feel about homelessness? What can we learn when we slow down, listen closely and engage with real stories—person to person? What solutions can we come up with together to interrupt the cycles of homelessness around us?

During World Homeless Day, we’ll be broadcasting live for 24 hours from a bench right outside our doors. You can listen in as neighbors experiencing homelessness, team members, local pastors, community officials and leaders stop by our bench for raw, authentic conversations.

A Meaningful Dialogue

What do you want to know about homelessness? These bench conversations offer a safe space where we will ask questions, dig deep and listen to real conversations about homelessness in the Twin Cities.

Nothing can change if we aren’t willing to have a conversation.

A Way to Engage in Change

Watch live! Join us starting October 9 at 2 p.m. as our CEO, Pam Stegora Axberg, kicks off the livestream.

We will be joining over 70 other missions that are members of Citygate Network—a movement of 300+ nonprofits dedicated to life transformation for individuals facing homelessness, addiction, poverty, and other life-controlling challenges.

Tune into the event on our YouTube channel or Facebook page October 9-10!

Interested in volunteering for the event? Contact volunteers@ugmtc.org for more information.

Update

The event was a huge success! Pam had engaging and important conversations with 50 people on the bench in 24 hours. From pastors to police officers. From government officials to UGMTC guests. From business leaders to nonprofit leaders. One theme came up over and over: community. Together, we can interrupt cycles of homelessness and get people off the streets for good.

In case you missed it, you can watch the event here. You can also read the powerful prayers spoken over the event from our Director of Chaplains here.