MINNEAPOLIS - It's obvious to George Lang that his re-entry organization, FreedomWorks, has outgrown its Penn Avenue home.
"This is our administrative space - a 10-by-10 room," Lang said, walking through the office at 3559 Penn Avenue. "Which reminds me of a 6-by-9 cell I've been in."
Lang himself knows, with a criminal history it's hard to find housing and jobs. The need for the work that FreedomWorks is doing is there. That's why Lang says they are moving to 2900 Fremont Avenue.
"We closed on the property on July 9, and what we envisioned at that property is to be able to expand our ministry," Lang said.
2900 Fremont Avenue, along with 2929 Emerson Avenue right next door, used to be an assisted living and nursing home facility. Now, it belongs to FreedomWorks. Lang's organization has already left its mark in several places in that area, including several signs near the parking lot.
Currently, to do the work that he wants to do at that location, Lang needs a Conditional Use Permit approval from the City of Minneapolis' Planning Commission. The application has been filed and most of the paperwork done. Despite the CUP's specifications allowing the space for 180 total beds, Lang says his ministry will not end up growing that big.
"(It's) a small portion of men that are within the FreedomWorks model that have criminal backgrounds," Lang said. "We're talking 30 guys here."
Lang added that currently his Penn Avenue location houses 15 men. He says expanding to 30 men will probably take at least two years. As for the rest of the space, he says he envisions thoroughly vetted assisted living or affordable housing for those looking to learn the culinary or landscaping trades.
Lang says he's just not done brainstorming about the possibilities of ways to help the North Minneapolis community.
"We bought (the building) from the bank and it was in despair," Lang explained. "There were vagrants, there was drug use, we spent a lot of time securing the property."
He says he wants FreedomWorks to get rid of all of that and bring not just a livable space, but a light into the neighborhood. Because as a North Minneapolis man who got to try again, Lang says nothing is sweeter than a second chance.
"I know what it's like to tear down community, now I also know in my new life what it's like to build community," Lang said. "I'm very passionate about that."
The Minneapolis Planning Commission has asked for FreedomWorks to introduce themselves to the community and provide more information about the services it wants to provide outside of its re-entry ministry. After that period, they say they will make a long-term decision about the Conditional Use Permit next month.