06/06/2026
Up next in our “The People Behind the Mission” series in celebration of is Lillian, Southwest Minnesota Continuum of Care Coordinator.
“My childhood photo shows my family in front of the HUD home I grew up in, a small duplex in Mapleton, MN. (I'm the small, blonde, boyish child being held in place for the picture by my dad.) I grew up poor, but I grew up with a family who loved me and who showed me the importance of helping our fellow humans. My mom was a mental health advocate. My dad was a consistent presence every holiday season at the downtown Mankato HyVee ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. My sister grew up to work in the healthcare field caring for patients. Forty years and several deaths later, I'm the last remaining member of my immediate family. I got into the work of housing and homelessness because of their example, and I continue the work of caring for people as part of their legacy as a way to honor the lives they lived.”
In her role, Lillian leads and coordinates regional efforts across Southwest Minnesota focused on homelessness response, prevention, and system-wide collaboration. She works with community partners to strengthen housing stability, improve coordination of services, and support efforts that address homelessness across the region.
Follow along throughout NeighborWorks Weeks as we continue highlighting the people, stories, and values behind our mission.
