Supporting Isaac, a Black Unhoused MPLS Community Member

Mutual aid is a practice of community solidarity. It is a direct way of keeping our neighbors alive. The violence of capitalism, colonialism, anti-Blackness, and ableism have isolated and displaced our neighbor, Isaac. It is our community responsibility to be in direct, material solidarity to support Isaac’s wellbeing. Isaac lives at the intersections of being an unhoused, disabled, and Black man who has faced extreme physical and psychological violence. We are called to action with donations of material support for Isaac.

We’re so glad we met Isaac at Community Kitchen MPLS. He stopped to chat one day outside our kitchen, and it was clear he had a story to tell. We invited him inside, and the conversation continued. And then he came back the next week. And the next.

As Isaac became a friend of the kitchen crew, we learned a lot about him. We learned that he immigrated to the US and has no family here. We learned that he is honest and kind. We learned that he is extremely knowledgeable about medicinal plants. We learned that he cares deeply about community.

Isaac has practiced mutual aid for the community of Minneapolis for many years. He has been a leader in buying and repurposing 16+ vehicles for people without transportation access. He has been generous in offering loans to people going through economic hardship. As an unhoused and food insecure person himself, he volunteers alongside us in preparing meals for our neighbors. Undergoing a medical emergency myself, he has offered his knowledge of plant medicine. We have deep conversations about the harms of colonialism and the power of collectivism to sustain us.

The team at Community Kitchen MPLS has been supporting Isaac through a recent eviction, which has isolated and displaced him to living in his car. This has exacerbated the conditions of his disabilities–causing great pain in addition to isolation.

Months ago, he came home to the apartment he was subleasing to find that his housemate had changed the locks without warning. Though Isaac was not on the official lease, he had been paying rent for months and was therefore legally owed 30 days notice before eviction. He has tried to fight this eviction in court but has been unsuccessful thus far. Without a place to stay, he has been living in his car.

Living in a car is hard. It’s stressful. It hurts. Isaac suffers from multiple medical conditions–including a tendon injury that requires surgery he has not been able to afford. His poor living conditions have only worsened his pain.

Living in a car is exhausting, and it tends to follow an already draining struggle. Isaac has continually fought for stability since immigrating here. He has faced vicious harassment and discrimination as a Black man. Past landlords have mistreated and even physically abused him. Due to losing his housing, he has also lost his job and is currently unemployed.

Living in a car is lonely. Though Isaac has supported his community by volunteering extensively with social service organizations over the years, he himself has been without support. Isaac has approached life with a genuine desire to connect and help others, and he has been met with a great deal of cruelty.

But we can change that. We can show up for Isaac. We can help him reach the health, safety, and belonging he has needed for so long. Despite everything, Isaac still has hopes of thriving. He wants to heal, establish a home, continue his education, and start a career in IT.

We’re asking the community to come together and help Isaac secure an apartment, pay for surgery, and hire a lawyer to support his eviction case.

Let’s show Isaac that there are people who care about him. Our primary ask is for monetary donations through this GoFundMe. If you are able to offer other forms of support–please DM us on instagram @communitykitchenmpls

In solidarity,

Community Kitchen MPLS