Catholic Charities Partners to Address Increasing Homelessness

Every day, Catholic Charities partners with public and private sector agencies to respond to changing conditions that affect our most vulnerable neighbors.  An example:  this coming August, the Green Line light rail will be suspending services from 2 to 4 a.m., and many who ride the light rail in lieu of shelter will seek other shelter options.  In response, a coalition of East Metro partners–including Catholic Charities—is taking action. As part of the response, Catholic Charities is expanding the capacity of its Higher Ground Saint Paul shelter to accommodate an additional 36 people in our shelter areas.  This will bring our total Higher Ground Saint Paul shelter capacity to 356 men and women.

Homelessness has reached record levels in Minnesota according to recent data released by Wilder Research. Because homeless shelters in the region are at capacity, people who have no place to call home are resorting to sleeping in cars, tents, light rail trains, and other places not meant for human habitation.

As Catholic Charities Director of Housing Stability Tracy Berglund states in this Star Tribune article about the Ramsey County efforts: “We are clear the solution is housing, [and] there is more that needs to be done.”

Catholic Charities will continue to advocate for investments in proven solutions—including housing program and infrastructure –to ensure that everyone in Minnesota has a place to call home.

Read this article from the Star Tribune to learn more about efforts to help in Ramsey County. http://www.startribune.com/ramsey-county-to-open-its-own-yearround-homeless-shelter/511598122/

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