Keep RYE house in the community!

Hi everyone, we are Rye House and we are an intentional community in Ventura Village in South Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jack Childs (they/them) and Ezra Waskey (he/him) started Rye House as an intentional community in July of 2021 to provide housing to trans youth, create a space for trans radicals in Minneapolis to gather, and generally be a safe space where queer and trans people in Minneapolis can be safe and exist without having to explain our gender or sexuality. Ezra has moved on to other housing but is still involved in the community. Jack still lives in Rye and has had the fortune to welcome many new members into the house.

Jack repotting seedlings for the garden, May 2022.

Over the last year and a half, we have supported water protectors fighting against Lines 3 and 5, provided housing and storage for transgender activists working on housing and food solidarity projects, opened a community bike garage, and even started a garden to name a few things. Rye House is a gathering space for queer and trans people, focusing on hosting community events: house shows, skill shares, radical discussion study groups, and seasonal celebrations.

Some art on the wall in the front office of the house.

We are founded on the principles of solidarity, anti-racism, anti-fascism, community, and disability justice. We believe that anything about us without us is not for us. Our goal is to work towards collective liberation for all people, centering BIPOC, trans people, the unhoused, and people living with disabilities.

We started in partnership with a catholic non-profit named Call to Action (CTA), but the non-profit informed us the morning of December 23rd, 2021 that we have until February 1st to buy the house, move out, or get evicted because they plan to sell the house. We intend to buy it. Help us keep this house within the Minneapolis community and keep it working for our liberation.

Some members made a cake the day we got our eviction notice.

As of January 2023, Rye House has incorporated as a housing cooperative under Minnesota statutes 308A and finally exists as a legal and taxable entity! Donations made to this GFM will be deposited directly to Rye House Cooperative's bank account, and donations through Venmo will be collected by Jack. To donate through Venmo, send it to @crumbdumpster with Rye House somewhere in the note. All donations will be used to get a down payment together, make an offer to CTA, and pay our mortgage.

We believe in the continuation of radical change, and the growth of Rye House, and stand in solidarity with principles and projects that work toward accessible and autonomous housing.

With love, stay safe and stay dangerous.

~Rye House