Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
In 2017, PPL’s life-changing services resulted in long-term, positive impact for the people we serve and the community at large. Highlights of our 2017 success measures (as of December 31, 2017) are listed below:
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH SERVICES:
-We acquired, created, or renovated 131 units (Goal 134) of affordable housing, including a 75-unit development in North Minneapolis and a 51-unit building in Hopkins that responds to the growing need for affordable housing in area suburbs.
-90% (Goal 88%) of households achieved 24 months of housing stability, an especially important result since data analysis shows that 73% of residents who exit PPL housing for a negative reason leave within the first two years.
EMPLOYMENT READINESS SERVICES:
-86% (Goal 80%) of individuals placed in jobs retained or advanced in their employment for 12 months.
RACIAL EQUITY AND DISPARITY REDUCTION:
-45.6% (Goal 45%) of staff and 28% (Goal 25%) of PPL Board members are people of color.
NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT:
-Neighborhood teams in 3 (Goal 3) targeted neighborhoods have developed impact metrics that will define success of engagement efforts.
Current Goals
PPL’s 2018 Goals include:
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH SERVICES
-100 units of affordable housing will be created, renovated, or recapitalized by PPL, including nine units that will be offered for sale to homebuyers with lower incomes. A project in Minneapolis, developed in partnership with YouthLink, will provide 46 new units of housing for youth who are experiencing homelessness.
-88% of resident households will achieve 24 months of housing stability.
EMPLOYMENT READINESS SERVICES
-85% of participants placed in jobs through our employment readiness services will reach 12-month job retention.
-88% of credit-eligible seniors will graduate from our alternative high schools.
RACIAL EQUITY AND DISPARITY REDUCTION:
-50% of staff and 30% of PPL Board members will be people of color.
NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT:
-Two or more specific partnership strategies in the three targeted neighborhoods will be refined.
Community or Constituency Served
PPL serves individuals and families with low incomes throughout the Twin Cities region, with a focus in south and north Minneapolis, east and central St. Paul, and several suburbs including St. Louis Park, New Hope, Hopkins, and Robbinsdale. While our services are open to all, 83% of participants are people of color. Following is a breakdown of participant demographics: African/African American, 70%; White, 17%; American Indian, 4%; Asian American, 3%; Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 1%; Multiracial or another race, 5%; Women, 54%; Men, 46%. Of people of all races/ethnicities, 6% identify as Hispanic or Latino. People of all ages benefit from PPL’s array of programs.
Last year, we served 13,891 individuals, with 89% having household incomes below 200% of federal poverty (defined based on household size, in 2018 as $24,280 for an individual, $50,200 for a family of four), with the majority significantly lower: 66% of participants had incomes below 100% of poverty ($16,460 for a family of two, $25,100 for a family of four, etc.). Racial inequity, generational poverty, lack of access to educational resources and technology, language barriers, mental illness, chemical dependency, and criminal histories are a few more challenges that impact our participants. Often, they face overlapping barriers, which challenge their ability to achieve housing stability and to advance economically.
Geographic Area Served
PPL serves the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, and several suburbs.
