We were lucky to catch up with Dan Fifield recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dan, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

In early 2020, we were in the throes of praying over our future and pursuing the purchase of a building to house a permanent day center. Enter Covid. We were forced to pivot. Then pivot again. And again and again. Thankfully, we had an idea on the back burner that began coming to fruition right as the pandemic began, once again showing the power of God’s timing. In late March 2020, we introduced M.O.U. (“Moe”), our Mobile Outreach Unit. This 14-foot box truck allows our team to take operations mobile, heading straight to the camps, bridges, parks and streets where those we serve are found. We come stocked with toiletries, food, water, clothing, camping gear and other necessities. An on-board work station also allows our social services team to provide Housing Intake Assessments and more on the spot. This pivot proved to be a catalyst to what would bring us where we are today.

M.O.U. allowed us to continue services and be a consistent presence during the uncertain and stressful days of the pandemic. The question arose. Where do you shelter in place when you have no shelter? In response, the City of Rochester opened an emergency day center using the Civic Center that was not being used at the time. MOU would pull up and provide services to those who frequented the shelter. In November 2020, The Landing MN was contracted by the City of Rochester to operate a day center as part of their continued emergency response to Covid. This opportunity allowed our organization to learn, grow and refine its model of care. Though the city’s emergency response has officially ended, The Landing MN remains committed to the continuation and expansion of day center services in Rochester and has been privately funded since August 2021.

Today, we are only weeks away from opening the doors of our very own day center facility that we have worked toward for the past 4 years. The challenges and pivots along the way have made us smarter, stronger and better equipped to serve the members of our community facing homelessness.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

After coming face to face with the realities of homelessness while working as an emergency room nurse, Co-Founder Dan Fifield left his job to start The Landing MN, alongside his wife, Holly. The organization’s services began with Dan walking the streets and skyways of downtown, interacting with those that were experiencing homelessness. He had a single backpack in tow, packed with bottled water and sandwiches. He’d have conversations, learn of needs, and come back the next day with whatever he could provide to help his new friends such as sleeping bags and wool socks to combat the harsh Minnesota winter or pill sorters to help with medication reminders. This grew into distributing boots, socks, gloves and other necessities from the back of his SUV that was designated the “Landing Mobile”.

Quickly – very quickly – the organization grew. We had a logo, established a vision and mission statement, and our name started to spread.

We created an online presence, launching initiatives to engage the community in the service of others. Peanut Butter Jelly Time gathered groups to make PB&J sandwiches that were then taken downtown and distributed. A few months in, this event grew legs and became Saturday Suppers, where community groups prepared a meal and joined our team on a Saturday evening to serve those facing homelessness from a pop-up tent and folding tables. Every two weeks we were joined by a community group for Saturday Supper and the public interest grew. A waiting list began. Our community was interested because we were providing a way for them to give back at a level they’d never before been able. They became the boots on the ground, getting to sit down and engage with those we serve, hear their stories and see the direct impact of their efforts.

Over the years, we have grown, morphed, and become a widely-known organization that community members are proud to stand behind and support, with numerous community partnerships that help us to provide care to our clientele.

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The Landing MN is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that serves those experiencing homelessness within Rochester, Minnesota.

Our facility bridges the gap between our guests and the services they need. We bring as many of the services and solutions under one roof as possible, effectively lowering barriers and increasing utilization of resources. Our day center staff and social services team work directly with each individual to assess their needs, assist with program applications and other needs that can be incredibly daunting to one experiencing the stress of homelessness.

The Landing MN currently provides the following:
– A safe, welcoming environment where guest can rest and recover from the stress of
homelessness
– Nutrition/Hydration
– Showers
– Laundry
– Social Services
– Medical Care
– A legal kiosk for remote attendance of court proceedings or meetings with parole officers
– A resource room

We are exploring the potential of adding:
– Mental health services
– Addiction counseling and support programs
– Life skill education
– Mentoring for those that move into permanent housing

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

For anyone working in this space, it is imperative to unlearn the stigmas surrounding homelessness. Frequently, homelessness is described as a dirty thing by using terms like “lazy”, “junkies”, and “deadbeats”. This verbiage creates an insensitive and inaccurate generalization of those experiencing homelessness.

Children are often taught to avoid those that appear unsheltered as they sit on the sidewalk or fly their sign on the corner asking for a few dollars. Many are raised with the understanding that you don’t make eye contact or that these individuals are dangerous.

We encourage you to unlearn that behavior! Make eye contact. Smile. Ask them their name. Ask how you can help. If nothing else, greet them and wish them a pleasant day. These simple things can make a huge difference to someone in need that may not believe they are worthy of your kindness or attention, but need it to survive.

The reality is that the challenges of addiction and mental health exist at every societal level and homelessness could happen to any one of us at any time. A job is lost, a medical diagnosis is given and hospital bills pile up, or a natural disaster occurs. When you step into the day center, you enter a world where the rose-colored glasses of privilege come off and you quickly see the reality of homelessness. You see your reflection in the faces of some of those being served. Their struggles, stories and journeys may vary, but one thing is certain. They are human. Just like you and I, they deserve to be seen, supported and cared for.

We have met some amazing individuals at The Landing MN. When you take the time to see these individuals for the beautiful souls they are, for the talents they have, and witness the fact that they care more about others than they do themselves even when they have nothing, your perspective on homelessness will change for the better. Your heart will change for the better.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Building a reputation as a new non-profit can be challenging. Defining your mission, building your brand, engaging the community and rallying the support of donors is no small task. We are confident that our successes are entirely because of our unfailing God that has blessed the efforts made in service to those he loves. Our reputation and credibility have been built by measuring every decision against the values of the organization which include respect, kindness, humanity and grace. We have developed partnerships with other community agencies and served those in need by building relationships based on these values rather than focusing on tasks or transactions. These trust based relationships are necessary in order to facilitate meaningful conversations, goal-setting and positive change.

We strive to be transparent, real, raw and honest in all that we do and encourage our professional partners and community supporters to lead with their hearts, then serve and give as they are called to. No grandiose, no guilt, no expectations. Just kindness, humanity, respect and grace.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thelandingmn.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelanding_mn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandingmn

Image Credits
Twelve Ten Photography