Hamline Church’s longtime ministry partner Emma Norton Services will be opening a new location in the Highland Bridge neighborhood of Saint Paul in 2023.
One of Emma Norton’s goals is to use collective power to build collaborative communities and partnerships to achieve systemic change, while also providing inclusive, safe, secure, affordable housing for women, individuals, and families in transition. After years of planning, they will now be able to create community more boldly and intentionally than ever before with their new development, Restoring Waters in Highland Bridge.
Emma Norton Residence in downtown St. Paul, a National Mission Institute of United Methodist Women, has served as the organization’s headquarters and main residence since 1967, housing hundreds of people for more than 50 years. The housing and services provided in this building has transformed so many lives, but as Emma Norton grows, their needs for a physical space has changed. In the past 50 years, developments in the neuroscience and architecture behind creating healing spaces has also evolved. In December 2020 the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency announced the approval of $18 million for Emma Norton to build a new residence.
It is a tribute to the excellent work of ENS that they were selected for this grant. Emma Norton needs to raise an additional $3 million to complete the project and so they are asking their supporters and partners including United Methodist Women and UM Churches in Minnesota to be a part of this exciting effort.
Pastor Mariah was asked to serve on the Restoring Waters planning and capital campaign team. The team set a goal of raising $500,000 from United Methodists in Minnesota.
The Hamline Church Council is passionate about the services Emma Norton provides to our community and is excited about the new location. As one of Emma Norton’s primary congregational partners and the largest UMC in Saint Paul, the Council wanted to make a significant contribution to the Restoring Water project. In March the Church Council voted committed up to $50,000 as a matching grant challenge to our congregation, in the hope of making a total contribution of $100,000. The Hamline Women/UMW have also taken the lead in supporting this effort with pledges from individuals and the group as a whole.
Pledge your support
Pledges can be made online at: https://forms.gle/hVJMbapcAQxG15wY8, online via Realm or paper pledge cards are available in the office.
Our matching pledge goal has been met, and we have so far raised over $130,000. Pledges are still being accepted! Pledges can be paid over 2022-2024.
Please consider how you can contribute to Emma Norton’s future location with a financial donation and by helping to spread the word about our important work to provide transformational housing and growth to women and families in our community. Contact Maureen Freberg (mfreberg@hamlinechurch.org) for more information about pledging.