Statement from Catholic Charities Regarding State Bonding Bill
Critical State Investments Mark Significant Milestone in Completing Dorothy Day Place
Contact:
Therese Gales, Catholic Charities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
therese.gales@cctwincities.org ; 612-221-5161
Saint Paul, Minn. (May 31, 2017)— Governor Mark Dayton has signed the bonding bill, which includes two critical state investments necessary to complete Dorothy Day Place and to address critical housing needs throughout Minnesota:
• $12 million in General Obligation (GO) bonds to fund the Saint Paul Opportunity Center, the second and final phase of Dorothy Day Place
• $55 million in Housing Infrastructure Bonds (HIB) to Minnesota Housing for affordable housing statewide; Catholic Charities will submit an application to Minnesota Housing for a portion of the Housing Infrastructure Bonds to support approximately 170 units of permanent housing on the upper floors of the Saint Paul Opportunity Center.
Dorothy Day Place, a two-building, $100 million public-private partnership, is the largest public-private partnership in housing and social services in Minnesota history. The critical state investment announced today follows on the heels of the completion of the Capital Campaign to raise $40 million in private funds to support Dorothy Day Place. The private Capital Campaign was chaired by Doug Baker, Chairman and CEO of Ecolab; Mary Brainerd, President and CEO of HealthPartners; and Andy Cecere, President and CEO of U.S. Bank. Ramsey County and the Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority have also committed to critical funding.
Tim Marx, President and CEO of Catholic Charities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis:
“We are grateful to Governor Dayton and the legislature for making the final investment to complete Dorothy Day Place and to support critical housing needs statewide. This marks a major milestone for this historic public-private partnership and will allow us to continue our work to complete the Saint Paul Opportunity Center and Dorothy Day Residence.
Dorothy Day Place represents the best in our community and shows what can happen when Minnesotans from all sectors and political backgrounds come together around a shared goal. Together, we are achieving the true promise of this bold and transformational vision to prevent and end homelessness and to contribute to the vitality of the region.”
About Dorothy Day Place:
Dorothy Day Place is a $100 million vision for the Dorothy Day Center in Saint Paul. The new vision is based on an innovative and proven model in Minneapolis which is also run by Catholic Charities.
• Phase 1 – Higher Ground Saint Paul: The first phase of the new vision—Higher Ground Saint Paul—opened in January 2017 and offers 473 people experiencing homelessness permanent homes, dignified shelter, and a pathway out of poverty.
• Phase 2 – Saint Paul Opportunity Center and Dorothy Day Residence: The second phase consists of a six-floor, 50,000-square-foot building to be built on the site of the current Dorothy Day Center. The building will include (1) the Saint Paul Opportunity Center, an integrated, one-stop location connecting people to critical services to improve their health, income, housing stability, and well-being. Services will be provided by a variety of community partner organizations, including Catholic Charities, Ramsey County, the Veterans Administration, and health care providers. The building will also include the (2) Dorothy Day Residence, approximately 170 permanent housing units above the Opportunity Center. Catholic Charities hopes to complete construction on the Saint Paul Opportunity Center in 2019.
The project is the largest public-private partnership in state history in housing and social services, securing broad support and funding from both public and private sources. For more information, including how to get involved, visit www.dorothydaycampaign.org.