2026 Message from the Executive Director

Champions of the mission of The Landing MN,

As we enter a new year at The Landing MN, we do so grounded in reflection and energized by possibility. Last year, our guiding word was Tenacity—and it was through tenacity that we persevered, adapted, and continued to show up in the face of growing need and systemic challenges. Tenacity carried us through hard conversations, complex barriers, and the daily work of refusing to accept homelessness as inevitable.

That tenacity has now brought us to a new place—one where our work is increasingly defined by Connection.

Connection is the natural evolution of resilience. It is what happens when persistence opens the door to trust, collaboration, and collective vision. It is the thread that ties together every guest we welcome, every partner we work alongside, and every supporter who believes in the dignity and worth of every person.

Because of your support, connection was lived out in powerful ways this past year.

In 2025, 40,440 visits were made to our Day Center by 1,095 unique individuals—each visit representing a moment of safety, relationship, and possibility. Our Medical Clinic provided 1,201 visits, meeting urgent needs while also building pathways toward long-term health and stability for hundreds of unique individuals. These numbers tell a story not just of service, but of sustained presence and trust.

Connection has also shaped our role beyond The Landing’s walls. This year, we continued our deep involvement in Any Path Home, a countywide coalition united by a bold and shared mission: that everyone in Olmsted County has a home. We are honored to have been voted onto the coalition’s Leadership Council, a responsibility we hold with great care. This role allows us to help shape coordinated strategies, influence systems-level change, and ensure that the voices of those with lived experience remain central to our community’s response to homelessness.

Looking ahead, our vision is clear. We see a future where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring—not because of isolated efforts, but because of deep, intentional connection. In the year to come, we are committed to:

• Strengthening relationships with guests so that each person’s path forward is guided by trust, dignity, and individualized support.

• Expanding collaboration across healthcare, housing, and social service systems to create clearer, more effective pathways to stability.

• Advocating boldly for policy and systems change, recognizing that connection without justice is incomplete.

This work is only possible because of you. Your generosity, advocacy, and belief in our mission are part of a growing network of care that reaches far beyond our doors. Together, we are moving from tenacity to connection—from perseverance to transformation.

Thank you for walking with us. Thank you for believing in what is possible. And thank you for helping build a community where everyone belongs—and everyone has a home.

With gratitude and vision,

Alexander Hurlebaus, MSW, LGSW

Executive Director

The Landing MN