Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul have been working tirelessly over the past year to develop solutions to the serious challenge of unsheltered homelessness. The pandemic and its subsequent economic downturn posed unique challenges for our shelter spaces, removing some existing capacity to apply safe social distancing guidelines and increasing the number of people experiencing homelessness in our community.

Since March 2020, the county and city have added hundreds of shelter beds in five new shelters – Mary Hall for single adults, Luther shelter for women and couples, Bethesda shelter for single adults, and two hotel shelters. Shelter capacity was expanded for 16 families, and the county and its partners are also exploring the possibility of a family shelter at the Provincial House in the Highland Park neighborhood of Saint Paul. Additionally, the city recently opened the Freedom House day shelter to provide additional indoor space for unsheltered individuals during the day. Mary Hall, Kohler Hall at the former Boys Totem Town site, and a dedicated floor at Bethesda Hospital have also been utilized as respite facilities for those experiencing homelessness.

These efforts have been critical to provide the more than 300 people sleeping outdoors in the City of Saint Paul a safe place to sleep indoors and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Due to fire and safety concerns, the City of Saint Paul has begun closing outdoor encampments, and many of the people who live in these encampments have moved into the new shelter spaces.

As the pandemic progresses and winter grows colder, we continue to search for innovative solutions to the housing crisis. Much still needs to be done, and the county remains committed to exploring and advocating for all options to move people out of homelessness and into affordable housing.