Aeon

In 2018, Franco was living out of his truck after experiencing the loss of his husband and, eventually, his home.

Then he found a home at Aeon’s Renaissance Box in Saint Paul! Franco found stability, community and a place where he could begin rebuilding his life. He became deeply involved in caring for nearby Wacouta Commons Park, dedicating hundreds of hours to tending its gardens and creating a welcoming space for his neighbors, and won an award.

Through loss, homelessness and even a cancer diagnosis, home has remained an important source of stability for Franco.

Today, his story shows what can become possible when someone has a safe, stable place to call home.

Read Franco’s full story: aeon.org/resident-story/francos-story/

Franco's Story - Aeon Affordable Homes In 2018, on his birthday, Franco became homeless. Years later, he’s found home, community, and hope. Here's how stable housing changed his life.

At Beyond Bricks & Mortar in May, guests were treated to performances by Sounds of Blackness, a renowned Minneapolis/St. Paul vocal ensemble known for its blend of gospel, R&B, soul, and jazz. Their music brought incredible energy to the event.

Listen to their classic hit, Optimistic, which was performed at the event:
https://vist.ly/5jwa3

Thank you to Sounds of Blackness for an amazing morning!

Did you know? One of the first ways Aeon was able to create housing was through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program (LIHCT), created by the federal goverment in 1986. Aeon held one of the country's earliest funded projects with LIHTC.

The Low-Income Tax Credit program is not only still around, but plays an even larger role in developments across the United States. In fact, in 2026, LIHTC was allowed a ceiling of $1.2 billion and is extremely competitive!

We’re excited to celebrate our Seasons Park team in Richfield, winners of the Maintenance Team Award at MADACS 2026! 🎉

We are so grateful for the Seasons Park team; their thoughtfulness, kindness, and dedication to their work and the residents they serve is evident every day.

Congratulations to the entire Seasons Park maintenance team on this well-deserved recognition! We’re so proud to have you representing Aeon. 💙

Buri Manor marked the beginning of Aeon's story!

Not only did it make a lasting impact that continues to this day, but it set a pattern into motion that has continued: listening to the needs of the community, obtaining funding, and building quality homes that stay affordable for all, with the help of generous partners.

We are so grateful to our community for helping us make homes- like Buri Manor- possible.

The New Strategies Program at Georgetown University brings nonprofit professionals together to strengthen their fundraising skills, explore new strategies, and learn from peers and leaders across the sector.

We were excited to have Autumn, our Executive Vice President of Advancement & Resident Connections, take part in the program this week and bring new ideas and perspectives back to her work at Aeon!

After this experience, Autumn shared:
"I'm very grateful for the opportunity to connect with other leaders who are supporting their communities across the United States. I am coming back to Aeon with connections that will improve our work long into the future."

A special thank you to the Target Foundation for their support and sponsorship of this opportunity. Their investment helps create meaningful opportunities for nonprofit leaders to learn, grow, and strengthen the work happening in their communities!

💙 Employee Spotlight: O'Shia

We're proud to shine the spotlight on O'Shia, one of our Portfolio Directors whose passion for people can be seen in everything she does.

After five years at Aeon and a career built through a variety of roles, O'Shia continues to lead with compassion and purpose. We asked her what she loves most about her work:

"The best part of my job is helping provide housing to individuals who, without our support, might still be experiencing homelessness. We look beyond the challenges people face and recognize the humanity in every person. Everyone deserves dignity, stability, and the opportunity to build a better future."

Thank you, O'Shia, for the leadership, compassion, and dedication you bring to Aeon every day!

In 1986, downtown Minneapolis had lost 4,500 affordable homes; Aeon formed in response.

That loss was not an abstract statistic. It meant fewer choices and less stability for thousands of neighbors. Protecting affordable housing starts with recognizing what is at risk and organizing to preserve it.

This photo is from Buri Manor, our first grand opening 40 years ago! We're excited to see what the next 40 will have in store.

Since 1986, Aeon has grown from a neighborhood response into a lasting commitment to affordable housing across Minnesota. This fall, we are sharing the people, places and choices that shaped our beginning.

Follow along as we share Aeon's story in the coming weeks!