Sue Baysden - Board Member, Anoka County Chapter Organizer

I first became involved with MICAH in the late 90s when I began participating in the MICAH North Chapter. We worked on establishing a housing trust fund for Anoka County and we testified at city council and city planning meetings in Coon Rapids regarding their comprehensive plan. We also studied the impact of the North Star rail line which runs from Big Lake to downtown Minneapolis.

In 2009, I helped establish Family Promise in Anoka County, which operates the only shelter for families experiencing homelessness in Anoka County. I have served on the board for 10 years and also serve on the Congregational Relations Committee. Our over 20 host and partner congregations began hosting families in their churches in September 2010; during the pandemic we continue to serve families in an extended stay hotel.

I joined the board of MICAH in January 2020, and I was asked to work on forming a chapter for Anoka County itself. To start this new chapter, I have reached out to organizations serving the homeless and local congregations. As we continue to grow we will discuss issues that relate to Anoka County and affordable housing. We meet on the third Tuesday, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.

I am honored to be part of MICAH because of their advocacy for affordable housing and also helping people who are, or have been, experiencing housing insecurity.