Rachel's Light was established as a safe haven for women and children in need of housing.  More than a decade ago, community professionals working with those experiencing homelessness pooled their scarce resources to create a housing-focused organization in Steele County through a 501c3 after witnessing the highs and lows of a once vibrant local shelter, Lily Sparrow, close its doors.  This group realized the vital need for a safe haven for women and children and started organizing fundraisers to fuel their vision.  Through community support and organic outreach, a local church came forward to offer their parsonage for rent.  This would be the turning point for the home and represent the official location of Rachel’s Light, which officially opened its doors on September 9, 2019.  

Since the beginning, the mission and purpose has remained clear:  “to instill faith and empower women experiencing homelessness to become self-sufficient by utilizing a strength-based approach,” is achieved through programming, specifically, the use of a stabilization plan. And the purpose: to recognize the barriers to safe and affordable housing and provide temporary shelter and personalized programming to break the cycle of homelessness, is something we can thank the “core group” for, their innovative vision stood the test of time, has helped countless people and children, and has become a vital resource in the community. ​​

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The Hospitality House started in the Spring of 2007 when Peter Connor,  the  former Mayor of Owatonna,  called local leaders together as group to discuss homelessness in Owatonna after seeing a former student of his living homeless in Dartt's Park. They found that on average 200-300 were homeless on any given night. This number was increased to over 500 homeless individuals in 2024.

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In 2008 a member of the group offered a facility he had purchased for the group’s use, as a rental.  The property, located on State Avenue, Owatonna, was a former cottage of the “State School.”  It was outfitted with donated furnishings and the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer were stocked with donated food, both canned goods and perishables, from supportive people, including restaurants and grocery outlets.  The House was able to accommodate five men, but during the winter months, that number could swell to a dozen.  We had a place to call home where our guests had their own beds and an address to use for job applications. A homelike atmosphere was created.

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