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Where to Find Help?

Coordinated Entry is the process to access supportive housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Supportive housing resources are extremely limited. Because of this, individuals and families with the highest vulnerability, most significant service needs, and longest history of homelessness are prioritized. Housing is not guaranteed through this process.

To be eligible for a housing assessment in Ramsey County, households must meet one of the following homeless definitions:

    • Chronic HUD Homeless - staying in shelter, outside, or in other places not meant for human habitation; exiting an institution where person/household resided for 90 days or less and who resided in shelter or other place not meant for human habitation prior to entering the institution; and/or fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence - time must be equal to at least 1 full year, or having 4 episodes in the last 3 months, where each episode is separated by 7 days (housed or doubled-up) and where the 4 episodes equals to 1 full year, and at least one person in the household has a documented disability.
    • Minnesota Long Term Homeless (LTH) - lacking a permanent place to live continuously for a year or more or at least four times in the past three years.  Time spent in an institutional care or correctional facility (if longer than 90 days) shall be considered "excluded time" and does not count toward length of time a household has been homeless.  Episodes of homelessness can include time doubled-up or couch-hopping.  Doubled-up or couch-hopping is considered homeless if that arrangement has persisted less than 12 months.
    • For Youth (ages 24 and younger) and Families with Dependent Children (age 18 with a dependent child): First time HUD Homeless - staying in shelter, outside, or in other places not meant for human habitation; exiting an institution where person/household resided for 90 days or less and who resided in shelter or other place not meant for human habitation prior to entering the institution; and/or fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence.
    • For Youth (ages 24 and younger) ONLY: Minnesota Homeless - any unaccompanied youth or youth aged heads of households that is without a permanent place to live that is fit for human habitation.

To read more Ramsey County Coordinated Entry System (CES) Policies and/or the Policy Manual: Please Click Here

To access the Ramsey County CE Grievance, Transfer and Appeals form: Please Click Here

To become a Ramsey County CE Assessing Agency, please contact: Leigh Ann Ahmad, CoC Coordinator, at @Ahmad, Leigh 

 

Families Seeking Emergency Shelter:

Shelter space is reserved for Ramsey County families with minor children. To determine eligibility, call the United Way at 651-291-0211 for a pre-screen. If a family is currently unsheltered, you can also call Ramsey County's Homeless Services Team directly during business hours (Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 5:15pm) at 651-266-7818.

Space for families experiencing homelessness in emergency shelter is limited and beds are not immediately available. Completing an intake with Ramsey County shelter staff is the only way to be placed on the shelter waitlist. Intakes are completed over the phone. 

For those experiencing domestic violence, Day One Services may be able to help find a safe place for families fleeing abuse. Call Day One Services at 1-866-223-1111. 

Seeking Coordinated Entry (housing assessment):

Families who are sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation (streets, car, camping, public transit, etc.) or staying at a domestic violence shelter and are only looking for supportive housing (not shelter) can call Catholic Charities at 651-215-2262 for a housing assessment.

Seeking Emergency Shelter:

Single adults who are 22 years old or older and seeking immediate shelter can call Catholic Charities - Higher Ground (formerly the Dorothy Day Center) at 651-647-2350 - option #7 or Union Gospel Mission at 651-292-1721 (Shelter for men only). Catholic Charities - Higher Ground has a daily lottery for their shelter beds; people can call or show up in-person daily from 9am to 3:30pm (starting 9/7/2020). Names are then drawn through a lottery system at 4pm each day (starting 9/7/2020). Additional shelter beds are available at Safe Space emergency shelter (these beds are by referral only).

 

Seeking Coordinated Entry:

Single adults who are 25 years or older, currently experiencing homelessness and staying in a shelter, will need to complete a housing assessment via coordinated entry (CE) to determine long-term housing options. Contact the Catholic Charities housing assessors at the St. Paul Opportunity Center (SPOC) Service Desk at 651-404-6406 for an assessment over the phone.

Single adults who are 25 years or older, currently experiencing homelessness and not staying in shelter, will need to complete a housing assessment via CE to determine long-term housing options. Single adults not staying in shelter can contact Caroline with Minnesota Community Care. Assessments are being done over the phone or by appointment at Healthcare for the Homeless, 424 Dorothy Day Place, St. Paul. Caroline can be reached by phone: 651-793-2219 or email: [email protected]. Caroline holds walk-in hours for CE assessments at the following locations:

  • Tuesdays from 1pm-3pm at Healthcare for the Homeless
  • Thursdays from 1pm -4pm at the George Latimer Library, 2nd floor
  • Fridays from 9am - 12pm at Union Gospel Mission Clinic

 

Seeking Outreach Teams for resources only:

Single adults in need of homeless resources can attend CROP (Community Resource Outreach Project) on Wednesdays from 1pm - 3pm at SPOC or on Thursdays from 10am - 12pm at the George Lattimer Library. 

Radias Health Homeless Services: 651-783-5427 or email: [email protected]

People, Inc. Homeless Services: 651-774-0011

Find resources on the Youth Services Network website at YSNMN.org

If you are a young adult or under 18, experiencing homelessness, and want to access supportive housing, the first step is to complete a Coordinated Entry Assessment. There are several ways to access Coordinated Entry for youth (16-24 year olds): 

Drop-in Center – Assessments are completed at SafeZone for 16-24 year olds, which includes parenting youth ages 16 to 17 years old. SafeZone Drop-In Center for Homeless Youth: 130 East 7th Street, St. Paul, MN 55101 – Call to schedule at (651)-224-9644

Resource Line: Youth (ages 12-24) who are homeless or at-risk may also contact the Youth Resource line through the YMCA.  The Youth Resource Line is a free message line where YMCA staff will assist in problem-solving information on community resources and referrals; resources include food shelves, housing, employment, legal services, education, and health care.  The Youth Resource Line is available from 8am - 8pm, 7 days a week by calling 763-493-3052

Outreach: Youth between the ages of 16-24 who are currently homeless but not staying in a shelter can find out if they are eligible for Coordinated Entry by meeting with a StreetWorks Outreach Worker. Outreach Workers schedules and contact information can be found at YSNMN.org.

Shelters: Shelters have trained assessors for participants in their program. For live, up to date shelter availability for youth, you can visit ysnmn.org.

Parenting Youth (ages 18-24)

Parenting Youth ages 18-24 connect with Coordinated Entry for Families (CAHS) in Ramsey County by calling 651-215-2262. If you are staying in a shelter, let your shelter staff know that you are interested in completing a Coordinated Entry for housing assessment.

Immediate Help

Need Immediate Help? Call this 24 hour hotline- 612-377-8800 or Txt4 Help 612-400-SAFE Learn more.

The Bridge for Youth
1111 W. 22nd St.
Minneapolis, MN 55405
612-377-8800 

When all family shelter space is full, the Emergency (Cold Weather) Shelter Program is available for homeless families with minor children residing in a place not meant for human habitation who are on or need to be added to the waiting list to get into Ramsey County Family Emergency Shelter.

A family must have an unsheltered status within the last seven (7) days and the unsheltered homeless status must be verified by a third-party professional (ie: case manager, school counselor, outreach worker, police officer, etc.). 

Any families that are residing in a place not meant for human habitation may contact the Ramsey County Homeless Services Office directly at 651-266-7818. This program currently operates during the St. Paul Public Schools calendar (September - early June).

RAMSEY COUNTY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE/EMERGENCY GENERAL ASSISTANCE (EA/EGA)

Help with rent/mortgage back payments and utilities shutoffs. Emergency Assistance/Emergency General Assistance (EA/EGA) funds can help with housing, such as past due rent, a damage deposit, or to stop foreclosure. EA/EGA can also help pay for utilities when there is a threat of disconnection. Utilities include electricity, heat, and water. To apply for help, call 651-266-4884 or apply online at applymn.dhs.mn.gov or at www.ramseycounty.us/emergencyassistance 

More information available online here: https://www.ramseycounty.us/residents/assistance-support/assistance/financial-assistance/emergency-assistance

 

FAMILY HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FHPAP)

Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) funds is an on-going grant that Ramsey County receives through Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MN Housing) to fund four different service models within Ramsey County: street outreach, prevention assistance/homeless assistance, rapid rehousing and coordinated entry. FHPAP funds target single adults, youth ages 24 and younger, and/or families with minor children that are at risk of homelessness (ie: past due rent, mortgage or utility disconnection) or already experiencing homelessness (staying outside and/or with friends).

Prevention assistance can assist households with late rent and/or utility shut off payments. Homeless Assistance is to assist households with a one-time deposit and/or 1st month's rent payment to move into new housing if the household is already homeless and not eligible for Coordinated Entry (CE).  Households seeking rapid rehousing (RRH) programs must have a housing assessment via coordinated entry (CE) and be placed on the priority list for Coordinated Entry (CE).

Please click on the link below to obtain a contact list of the currently funded FHPAP providers in Ramsey County or, to access the prevention providers only, please click on the attached pdf down below.

FHPAP Prevention Resources as of October 11, 2023

 

EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT (ESG)

Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) is available to St. Paul residents through Ramsey County via a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with the City of St. Paul.  ESG funds can be used for street outreach, operational costs of emergency shelters, rapidly rehouse homeless individuals and families (through Coordinated Entry), and/or to prevent individuals/families from becoming homeless (ie: late rent assistance and/or utility shut off assistance).  For more information on ESG funds or to receive a list of funded agencies, please contact the CoC/ESG Coordinator.

2022-2023 Extreme (Cold) Weather Strategy

Ramsey County Housing Stability operated warming spaces every night this past winter during the months of December, January, and February to supplement existing shelter beds; provide referral and transportation to and from those warming spaces through February of 2023; and provide referral to and transportation between shelters through June of 2023. Warming Spaces were at Union Gospel Mission, Phalen Activity Center, Newell Activity Center, and St. Paul Reformation Church. 

 

Hot Weather Resources

In the event of hot weather, Ramsey County has mapped out Cooling Center Locations here.