Saturday Afternoon Inside a Family Shelter

Catholic Charities Family Service Center hosted an arts and crafts event to celebrate the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday – with the help of four student volunteers from Prior Lake High School’s Junior Optimist Club. Children and parents staying in the emergency family shelter joined Catholic Charities staff and volunteers for some artmaking, puzzles, and treats.

A Small Event with a Big Impact

The event offered a “normal” and enriching environment for families experiencing homelessness. This meant time to set aside some of their stresses, bond with each other, and get to know staff. Family Service Center staff frequently arrange special events as they work to provide respite for families who are enduring difficult times.

And for some parents, an event’s most valuable service is a couple hours of childcare. One family arrived at the shelter just two days before the MLK Day event, so the parents used the afternoon to access the computer lab and begin important paperwork. Another set of parents dropped off their young son and daughter before running errands to prepare for the week ahead.
 

Addressing Rising Need in the Twin Cities

The Family Service Center is vital for families experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities. With rising cost of living and a shortage of family shelter beds, Catholic Charities has seen need rise drastically. Between 2022 and 2023, Catholic Charities Twin Cities saw a 168% increase in the number of families served through the agency’s Family Housing Crisis Response programs — including the Family Service Center, one of the only places where families can access shelter in Ramsey County.

Staff at the Family Service Center do everything they can to get families connected with stable housing as quickly as possible. But a family’s needs don’t end once they find somewhere to live. Because of this, the family shelter also works hard to provide supplemental services. Special events, case management, mental health care, and employment support all help families prepare to thrive once they secure housing.