You may know Avivo Village. Now Avivo wants you to know the whole story.

New awareness and fundraising campaign shows how Avivo connects housing, recovery, education and employment to help Minnesotans move from survival to stability

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — [October 14, 2026] — Avivo Village, the innovative tiny home community for people experiencing homelessness, has earned local and national attention. But while many Minnesotans may know that part of Avivo’s work, far fewer know the full story or the breadth of work the organization has been doing in the community for more than 65 years.

A new awareness and fundraising campaign aims to change that.

At the center of the campaign is a simple idea: You can’t change a life if you don’t see the whole person.

Every day, Avivo helps individuals and families with not just housing but with mental health and substance use treatment, education, job training, employment services and ongoing support. The organization’s approach is built on the belief in the dignity of all people and that challenges are often connected and that real stability comes from connecting the support around the person, not treating one need in isolation.

“The attention we’ve received for Avivo Village is amazing, and we want to remind people that it’s just the most visible part of a much larger mission for us,” said Kelly Matter, President and CEO of Avivo. “Our work is about seeing the whole person and helping them build a connected path forward. Supporting them in moving from trying to survive today to being able to see a real future ahead.”

That philosophy drives the new campaign.

Using intimate black-and-white portraits, the creative literally reveals people in pieces before bringing the full person into view. The idea challenges viewers to look beyond labels like “homeless,” “unemployed” or “in recovery” and see the individual behind them — and the combination of support that can help move a life from day-to-day survival to lasting stability.

The campaign launches alongside a broader fundraising effort designed to build awareness of Avivo and increase philanthropic support for its programs.

“People may have heard about the ‘tiny homes’ without necessarily knowing the organization behind them,” said Robb Burnham, Founder and Chief Creative, of Minneapolis-based creative agency Verve, which developed the campaign with Avivo. “That gave us a powerful place to start. The bigger story is what makes Avivo different.”

The campaign will appear across digital, social and other communications throughout the fundraising effort.

Minnesotans can learn more about Avivo’s work and support the organization at avivomn.org/give-to-the-whole-person-avivo/

Campaign URL: https://avivomn.org/give-to-the-whole-person-avivo/

Campaign Video:

About Avivo

Avivo is a Minnesota nonprofit organization that helps individuals and families achieve recovery, employment, economic advancement and housing stability. For more than 65 years, Avivo has provided an integrated range of services addressing homelessness, substance use and mental health, education, employment and other barriers to stability.

Media Contact

Kelly Matter
President & CEO, Avivo
kelly.matter@avivomn.org
612-752-8003