City celebrates first anniversary of Lake Street Safety Center

November 6, 2025
Public Service

The City of Minneapolis and its partners are celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Lake Street Safety Center. Those staffing the center have provided vital resources, created a welcoming space for community members, and responded to community members’ needs.

Since opening last November, hundreds of visitors have received information and direct access to support. The welcoming hub is designed for city, county, and community partners to work side-by-side and deliver services more efficiently. Community members looking for a specific service could easily find another needed resource available in the center.

“We heard directly from the community about what safety should look like — and then we built it together,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “The Lake Street Safety Center is proof that local government can listen, act, and deliver results that matter. I am proud of the City staff, community partners, and neighbors who have worked together to bring resources right to neighbors.”

Pilot project

Community safety centers are a foundational to the City’s systematic and cultural reform of community safety. The pilot project, launched last November, has been a valuable access point for the South Minneapolis community, where everyone can find resources and assistance from several City partners.

Video: Minneapolis Lake Street Safety Center: A welcoming space with vital resources for the community

Lake Street Safety Center Resources

Located at 2228 E. Lake St., residents and visitors can find the Lake Street Safety Center next to Metro Transit’s Lake St. light rail station. After hearing from South Minneapolis community members about their vision of community safety, the City determined that the Lake Street Safety Center would serve as a temporary home for City resources and community service providers. The City is grateful to partners that include:  

"It took many years of working together with community, small businesses on the Lake Street corridor, and the Lake Street Greenway Partnership to get the Lake Street Safety Center up and running," said Council Member Jason Chavez, Ward 9. "In the last year, we've seen a continuous growth of the services available in our neighborhood, including housing services, free NARCAN and fentanyl test strips, and emergency medical services, among many others. I'm proud of the efforts that went into the creation of the Safety Center, and I'm committed to continuing the work so that we can meet the needs of community where they are."

The center recently welcomed the Community Safety Ambassador pilot program. Based at the Lake Street Safety Center, they create a visible presence on the Lake Street and Franklin Avenue corridors, offering wellness checks, walking escorts, and resource connections. Read more about Ambassadors for safer communities.

The center also offers a number of services related to education, housing, substance use disorders, and business safety issues:  

“I want to thank everyone involved with the Lake Street Safety Center for their partnership in improving service access and delivery for our residents and community members,” said Office of Community Safety Director of Design and Implementation Will Christenson. “The cooperation and collaboration are clearly showing positive results in this neighborhood. What we are learning from this will continue to inform the development of the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center.”

Seeing Results

The City and its partners are helping change lives. Examples include:  

Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches (GMCC)

GMCC serves the unhoused population and families—especially within immigrant communities—by offering free groceries and fresh produce at their nearby location.

“Having the space and connection to the safety center helps us reach people in real time in this area and make sure they don’t go without support when they need it,” said GMCC Resource Navigator Lesia Dembley.

Let Everyone Advance with Dignity (LEAD)

The collaboration between the City and LEAD helped connect clients to housing and legal support.

“LEAD is very proud and happy to be able to build relationships with other service providers at the Lake Street Safety Center and to be part of the change in the community,” said Maria Zavala, Lead Case Management Supervisor. “We are better together.” 

Subscribe to the OCS Dispatch for the latest community safety news.

Share