On Monday, more than 200 community members joined Ramsey County, Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet at a virtual town hall to discuss a potential shelter for families with children experiencing homelessness, located in the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Provincial House at 1880 Randolph Avenue. Interfaith Action would operate the Provincial House as part of its Project Home program, with financial support from Ramsey County. The shelter would serve approximately 20 families.

Thank you to everyone who participated! Watch a recording of Monday’s meeting or read the answers to questions asked during the town hall.

More ways to engage
A second virtual town hall about this project is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2021 at 5 p.m.

Virtual Town Hall
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021 5-6:30 p.m.
Join via Zoom or phone.

In a parallel process, Interfaith Action has applied for a conditional use permit with the City of Saint Paul to use the property as a family shelter. The community will also have an opportunity to submit comments about this application to the City of Saint Paul’s Zoning Committee (which will stream here) to answer during its Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020 meeting. Questions and committee testimony can be emailed to pedzoningcommitteesecretary@ci.stpaul.mn.us by noon on Dec. 30. The Zoning Committee’s recommendation will go to the Planning Commission for a vote on Jan. 8, 2021.

If you have additional questions, please send us an email or call us at 651-266-8390.

On Tuesday, Dec. 22, a respite care area with a total capacity of 68 beds for those who have been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19 opened at the Bethesda shelter. Today, the rest of the facility will officially open its doors to serve those experiencing homelessness – right on time for the winter storm anticipated to hit the metro area.

Over the next few weeks, the Bethesda Hospital site will continue to ramp up operations to its full capacity. The facility will add a total of 100 beds for unsheltered residents, who can access services through a referral from other emergency shelters within Ramsey County. This plan for Bethesda will allow us to expand our shelter capacity across our current system and create more space for individuals still sleeping outside to have a place to go.

Who to contact
Ramsey County plans to be present and work in partnership with the neighborhood throughout the Bethesda Shelter’s operation. If you are in the neighborhood and have a concern about the shelter, please call the following numbers for non-emergency incidents. In the event of an emergency, call 911.

Bethesda grounds and garden
Ramsey County security
612-702-7124

Parking ramp
Bethesda
651-471-5555

Neighborhood
Saint Paul Police Department
651-291-1111

We plan to continue to engage the community as the shelter becomes operational. We will share more details about those community conversations soon.