Services that meet resident’s needs

Deqa Mohamud is a woman with her hands full! A single mom of 6, Deqa spends her days creating a supportive and stable environment for her children.

A resident of Ames Lake Neighborhood for the past seven years, Daqa was originally drawn to Ames Lake Neighborhood because of its clean and safe neighborhood, but she knew it was the place for her family when she learned of the onsite family support services.

The services and programs have created a network of support for Deqa and her children, one that you’d be hard pressed to find at other rental complexes in the Twin Cities. The no-cost after-school and summer day camp have provided options for her children when they are not in school, including her 13 year old autistic daughter who attends the program a few times a week.

Deqa has also found support from the Resident Services Coordinator in locating resources for her family, as well as help with completing and submitting paperwork required annually by the county. As Deqa shares, “I have a case worker at the county, but they do not help me complete paperwork. They only send it to me and ask that I complete it. Kacee, (the Resident Services Coordinator) has been a huge help to me. Without her, I would have no one to help me fill out the forms correctly.”

To many of us, this may seem like a trivial need, but for many residents English is not their primary language making forms difficult to understand and complete. Oftentimes, forms that are not completed correctly can delay a resident’s approval for certain benefits and assistance, including housing.

Because of the onsite programs and services at Ames Lake Neighborhood, hundreds of families just like Deqa’s are able to get the additional support they need to succeed and thrive.