In 2000, it was clear Polynesian Village, a privately owned 364 unit-affordable housing complex in New Brighton, MN, was in trouble. The community was rife with crime creating a volatile situation that demanded immediate attention. In that year alone, there were 680 crime calls to the New Brighton Police Department from Polynesian Village residents. Making the property responsible for 10% of the total number of calls in the City of New Brighton. The complex had become so saturated with drugs, that gangs ruled the property. Residents who stood up to them were verbally assaulted and threatened, making them fearful for their safety. 54% of residents stated they planned to move from the property when their lease expired if not sooner.   The situation wasn’t much better for the New Brighton Police Department, whose officers experienced verbal assaults and threats when responding to calls at Polynesian Village, as well as being surrounded by hostile residents while making traffic stops near the complex. Police officers could no longer leave their vehicles unattended while responding the calls nor enter the complex without backup.

It was clear something needed to be done, and quickly, to stabilize Polynesian Village and reduce the high level of crime. Out of this turmoil, Opportunity Neighborhood was created to be the onsite supportive services provided at Polynesian Village and joined the police department, Mounds View School District, New Brighton Parks & Recreation, Real Estate Equities (property owner and management company), Wilder Research and additional social service providers to work together over the next five years to find solutions for the instability at Polynesian Village. As the onsite social service provider, Opportunity Neighborhood took the lead in working with residents to identify the specific programs and services they saw to be the most needed in their community.

Today, Polynesian Village (renamed in 2012 to Garden View Apartment) is a much improved community. In 2017, the turnover rate was 22% (compared with the national average of 54%), crime calls remained the lowest in 9 years and over 85 community events and 32 open computer labs were provided fostering relationships among resident children and families.

Since then, our agency has grown to serve over 3,000 residents living within 1,180 rental units divided among 4 properties throughout the Twin Cities.