Model Cities

What Model Cities does

Model Cities of St. Paul, Inc. is a nonprofit community development corporation founded in 1967 and headquartered at 839 University Avenue W, Saint Paul, Minnesota. The organization delivers an interconnected portfolio of human services targeting unhoused adults, families experiencing housing instability, prospective first-time homebuyers, and small business owners in the Frogtown neighborhood. Core program lines include Safe Space Shelter (a 64-bed overnight emergency shelter operating year-round at Central Baptist Church), Families First and Sankofa permanent supportive housing (~33 units for families and young parents), BROWNstone Lofts affordable rentals, BROWNstone Commercial retail leasing for small businesses, HomeStretch HUD-certified homebuyer education workshops, one-on-one Pre-Purchase Counseling, financial education workshops, and Business Development coaching. Underlying technology is light: a property management platform with the BROWNstone Renter's Portal (rent payment, maintenance requests, lease documents), FRAMEWORK online homebuyer coursework, and standard calendar/marketing integrations. There is no API or SDK surface and no AI components.

The revenue model is grant-and-donation-led rather than commercial. Primary funding comes from a diversified set of foundation grants (Target Foundation, Otto Bremer Trust, Saint Paul Minnesota Foundation, FR Bigelow, Pohlad Family Foundation, Schulze Family Foundation, Scoular Foundation, Butler Foundation, Allianz Life, Greater Twin Cities United Way 2025-2028) and government sources (HUD, MN Dept of Human Services, Ramsey County, City of Saint Paul). Secondary revenue includes individual/corporate donations via Pledge, GiveMN, Venmo, and PayPal; rental income from BROWNstone commercial and residential units; room rental fees at BROWNstone (Flynn Family Community Room $40/hour, The Reading Room $30/hour); and HomeStretch workshop fees of $40 per household, partially fee-waived via sponsors such as Bell Bank. Most core social services (shelter, supportive housing, pre-purchase counseling) are delivered free of charge. Customer segments span unhoused adults, single-parent families, youth/young parents, prospective homeowners, affordable-housing renters, and underrepresented entrepreneurs; demand is generated primarily through Ramsey County Shelter Entry/CAHS referrals and community word-of-mouth rather than paid marketing.

Name

Model Cities

Legal name

Model Cities of St. Paul, Inc.

Website

https://modelcities.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Model Cities of St. Paul is a 501-style nonprofit community development corporation, founded 1967, delivering interconnected shelter, supportive housing, affordable rentals, HUD-certified homebuyer education, and small-business support services primarily to Black and low-income residents of Saint Paul's Frogtown neighborhood.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development and Housing Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Community development services
• Affordable housing programs
• Emergency shelter services
• Homebuyer education workshops
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Minnesota City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Grants: Primary funding from foundations (Target Foundation, Otto Bremer Trust, Pohlad Family Foundation, FR Bigelow Foundation, etc.) and government agencies (HUD, MN Dept of Human Services, City of Saint Paul, Ramsey County)
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations through various methods including Pledge, GiveMN, Venmo, PayPal, and check donations
3. Rental Income - Commercial Spaces: Revenue from BROWNstone commercial space leasing to small businesses (currently no vacancies)
4. Rental Income - Residential Properties: Rental income from BROWNstone Lofts affordable housing and other residential properties (Families First, Sankofa apartments, multi-family units)
5. Room Rental Services: Revenue from rental of conference rooms (Flynn Family Community Room and The Reading Room) at BROWNstone
6. Workshop Fees: HomeStretch Workshop fees of $40 per participant (some workshops sponsored/fee-waived through partners like Bell Bank)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Model Cities of St. Paul, Inc. is a nonprofit community development organization that operates an interconnected portfolio of human services for marginalized and underserved communities in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Its core offerings include emergency overnight shelter (Safe Space, 64 beds), supportive housing (Families First and Sankofa Apartments), affordable rental housing (BROWNstone Lofts), HUD-certified homebuyer education (HomeStretch Workshops and Pre-Purchase Counseling), financial education workshops, small business development coaching, and commercial space leasing at BROWNstone. The organization also develops and manages affordable housing real estate across the Frogtown neighborhood.

Product overview

Model Cities is a nonprofit community development organization offering interconnected human services as a unified portfolio of housing, financial education, and economic development programs. The core offerings include: Safe Space Shelter providing 64 beds for unhoused adults; Supportive Housing through Families First Apartments and Sankofa Apartments for families and young parents; BROWNstone Lofts for affordable rentals; Financial Education including HomeStretch Workshops, Pre-Purchase Counseling, and Financial Education Workshops; Business Support via BROWNstone Commercial leasing and Business Development coaching; BROWNstone Conference Rooms for community rentals; and Real Estate Development managing properties throughout Frogtown. BROWNstone serves as the central hub combining residential, commercial, and community spaces, while programs are interconnected so shelter residents can access financial education and business support services to build stability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BROWNstone: Mixed-use residential and commercial property development and leasing brand including BROWNstone Lofts (affordable rentals) and BROWNstone Commercial (retail space for small businesses)
• Safe Space
• Families First
• Sankofa
• HomeStretch
• Safe Space Shelter

Products and services

• Safe Space Shelter Emergency overnight shelter providing 64 beds for unhoused single adults, operating from 10pm to 9am nightly at Central Baptist Church (420 Roy St. N) in Saint Paul. Serves more than 2,100 individuals annually with basic needs including showers, toiletries, and prepared lunches.
• Families First Apartments Permanent supportive housing for single-parent families experiencing homelessness, with at least one family member having a documented disability. Offers 28 years of service through five multi-family apartment buildings providing 2-4 bedroom units.
• Sankofa Apartments Permanent supportive housing for youth and young adults ages 17-25 who are pregnant or parenting a child under three years old, serving those meeting Minnesota's Long Term Homelessness definition.
• BROWNstone Lofts Affordable rental housing at Green Line near Victoria Street Station in St. Paul, featuring secure entry, on-site parking, and convenient access to the Central Corridor area.
• HomeStretch Workshops HUD-certified 8-hour homebuyer education workshops offered in-person and online, providing certificates of completion required for access to down-payment assistance programs. Features optional FRAMEWORK online coursework integration.
• Pre-Purchase Counseling Free, confidential one-on-one sessions with HUD-certified counselors to analyze household income, credit, debt, and work history, creating customized action plans for prospective homebuyers.
• Financial Education Workshops Financial literacy programs including Making Ends Meet pre-financial education workshop and Fiscally Fit money management and coaching program to foster financial wellness.
• BROWNstone Commercial Affordable commercial retail space leasing at BROWNstone along the Green Line near Victoria Station, providing opportunities for small businesses. Current tenants include restaurants, event venues, and retail shops.
• Business Development One-on-one coaching, counseling services, and workshops covering risk management, financial planning, and growth opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners in partnership with Neighborhood Development Center.
• BROWNstone Conference Rooms Room rental services at BROWNstone including the 1,060 sq ft Flynn Family Community Room ($40/hour with 2-hour minimum) and 770 sq ft Reading Room ($30/hour with 2-hour minimum), available for community events and gatherings.
• Real Estate Development Developer, owner, and manager of affordable housing units in Frogtown, including properties at 515 North Dale, 625 Chatsworth, 833 University, 914 Thomas, 990 Lafond, and BROWNstone mixed-use development.
• Homeownership Accelerator Program designed to address wealth and homeownership opportunity gaps through homeownership education and support services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,324 individuals served across all programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Frogtown Neighborhood AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization representing the Frogtown neighborhood where Model Cities operates with focus and local partnership
• Housing Justice Center (HJC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal organization providing housing justice support and advocacy partnership
• Hope CommunitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development organization partnership for neighborhood initiatives
• 825 ArtssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts organization partnership for community cultural programming
• Rondo CLTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Land Trust focused on housing equity in the Rondo neighborhood; partnership for housing development and preservation
• NAREB Twin CitiessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Association of Real Estate Brokers affiliate supporting homeownership opportunities for minorities
• Saint Paul PromisesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity initiative supporting educational and economic opportunities
• Bell BanksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of HomeStretch workshops covering the $40 fee for participants; mortgage lending partnership for homeownership programs
• Neighborhood Development CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing workshops and business development support for entrepreneurs
• Central Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost location for Safe Space shelter at 420 Roy St. N, providing physical space for overnight emergency shelter services

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Neighborhood Development Center (NDC): St. Paul-based nonprofit supporting small business development in low-income neighborhoods through coaching, lending, and incubation. Explicit Model Cities strategic partner and directly comparable to Model Cities' Business Development program and BROWNstone Commercial small business tenants.
• Project for Pride in Living (PPL): Minneapolis-based nonprofit providing affordable housing, job training, and economic development services to low-income residents. Comparable to Model Cities in its integrated housing + economic services model serving BIPOC communities in the Twin Cities.
• CommonBond Communities: One of the largest nonprofit affordable housing providers in the Upper Midwest, operating ~10,000 apartments across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Dakota with supportive services for families and individuals. Comparable to Model Cities in mission, resident-services orientation, and family-supportive housing model.
• Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative: Twin Cities collaborative of 50+ congregations providing shelter, transitional housing, and supportive housing programs. Directly comparable to Model Cities' Safe Space Shelter and supportive housing operations, with overlapping shelter referral networks and Ramsey County funding relationships.
• Hope Community: Twin Cities-based community development nonprofit providing housing, economic development, and resident-led programming in Minneapolis. Comparable to Model Cities as a place-based CDC serving BIPOC communities with an integrated housing-to-wealth-building continuum, and an explicit Model Cities strategic partner.
• Rondo Community Land Trust: St. Paul community land trust focused on housing equity and affordability in the historic Rondo neighborhood. Directly comparable to Model Cities in mission around BIPOC homeownership preservation and an explicit Model Cities partner.
• Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis: Large regional social services nonprofit operating emergency shelters (Higher Ground, Dorothy Day Center), supportive housing, housing stabilization, and basic needs services across the Twin Cities. Comparable to Model Cities as a shelter + supportive housing + community services provider funded by similar government and foundation sources.
• Aeon: Minneapolis-based nonprofit affordable housing developer and operator owning and managing thousands of apartment units serving low-income residents across the Twin Cities. Directly comparable to Model Cities' BROWNstone Lofts and Families First multi-family portfolio, with similar reliance on LIHTC and public funding.

Others

• Greater Twin Cities United Way: Regional funder and community investor that has named Model Cities a 2025-2028 Community Investments partner. Comparable as a Twin Cities community impact organization, though operating as a grantmaker/intermediary rather than direct service provider.
• LISC Twin Cities: Local office of Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a national CDFI that finances community development and affordable housing across the Twin Cities. Comparable as an ecosystem player that channels capital to CDCs like Model Cities, often serving as both a peer and a funding intermediary.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/modelcitiesinc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC91g_YzZ5JTvwx1_dnuXs3g
• Facebookfacebook.com/modelcities1967
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/model-cities
• Instagraminstagram.com/modelcitiesinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Model Cities