No.
The two “sacred settlements” currently operating in Minnesota — Sacred Settlement Mosaic in St. Paul and Sacred Settlement: Prince of Peace in Roseville — do not require that residents believe in a particular religion or attend religious services to live in the community.
These settlements of tiny houses, built on church property, are set up to provide housing and support to people who are unhoused. Residents live alongside “intentional neighbors,” who have moved into the settlements to provide community. The idea of sacred settlements is the brainchild of Settled, a Minnesota nonprofit.
According to Settled, it is up to individual churches to define residency requirements for their tiny houses. Currently, however, all intentional neighbors in these settlements are people of faith.
Another sacred settlement, associated with the Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, is set to open in 2026, and it’s not yet known what its requirements will be.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
MinnPost partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs.
Sources
- Settled email correspondence: Questions about Sacred Settlements
- Settled: FAQ
- Settled: Family of Settlements
- Settled: Full Community
- Church of the Open Door: Sacred Settlement Open Door
