Meeting Increased Need for Shelter
Expanding Shelter Capacity to Respond to Need
We know that unsheltered populations are increasing. According to the most recent Minnesota Homeless Study conducted by Wilder Research, “in both the Twin Cities metro and greater Minnesota, there is a concerning number of people spending most of their time unsheltered.”
This summer, Catholic Charities Twin Cities has been in conversations with government leaders and fellow service providers regarding the planned closure of several homeless encampments in St. Paul.
Catholic Charities’ overnight shelters are consistently at or over capacity each night. To accommodate anticipated additional demand, we’ve partnered with Ramsey County to provide 49 additional shelter beds at our Higher Ground Saint Paul shelter. This decision will expand the total shelter capacity there to 292 beds, timed to coincide with the first St. Paul encampment closure on August 5.
Working to Keep Neighbors Safe
Summer has brought serious challenges to our state and community. We’ve seen one of the longest stretches of extreme heat in Minnesota’s history, and wildfire smoke triggered hazardous air conditions across the Twin Cities. These dangerous conditions pose a serious threat to people experiencing homelessness who often lack accessible indoor spaces to seek refuge.
In response to the heat wave and unhealthy air quality, our team acted quickly to ensure that people were safe. Staff provided access to food, water, and shelter from the elements, and distributing cool beverages and thousands of N95 masks to people in need. This is extremely important because many daytime shelters close their doors hours before evening shelters open, leaving people with nowhere to go in conditions that can be life-threatening.
This work was made possible because of individuals and community partners who made meaningful gifts to directly support the people we serve. Special thanks to the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation and ServiceMaster DSI for recognizing the urgency of our community’s call for help, and to our generous community of supporters who advance our work every day.
Media Coverage
