Redirecting Good Intentions to Create Lasting Impact for Neighbors in Need
If you've been approached by a person asking for help in Saint Paul, it's a reminder of the visible challenges our community faces in addressing poverty and homelessness. While it's natural to want to give directly, "Be the Solution" provides an alternative that ensures your generosity contributes to comprehensive and sustainable support. By donating to local organization through this initiative, you help build long-term solutions that address the root causes of poverty and homelessness.
Our Vision
Our vision is to ensure every resident of Saint Paul has the opportunity to thrive and can access safe, stable housing. The mission of "Be the Solution" is to transform individual acts of charity into collective action that supports lasting change. We encourage the community to invest in structured support systems, rather than temporary relief, to create a more stable and dignified environment for our struggling and unsheltered neighbors.
Enhancing Public Safety
“Be the Solution” also aims to enhance public safety. Panhandling often occurs on busy streets and intersections, where individuals may walk in traffic or sit and lie down, making them harder to see for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians. This poses significant risks to everyone using the roadways. New signs have been put up around our community to raise awareness of these safety concerns and encourage alternate ways to support our neighbors in need.
Engage with Local Partners and Initiatives
Heading Home Ramsey plays a pivotal role as the HUD-designated Continuum of Care for Ramsey County. It coordinates efforts across over 100 partner organizations to end homelessness effectively.
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation is our state's largest community foundation that brings together financial resources of families, individuals, and organizations who care about our neighbors and then invests those financial resources back into our community. Transform your intent to help into effective action. Donate now and be part of a compassionate community solution that ensures every gesture of goodwill contributes to sustainable change in Saint Paul and Ramsey County.
Familiar Faces Initiative
Under the Heading Home Ramsey framework, the Familiar Faces working group targets individuals who frequently use shelters, emergency services, jails, and hospitals. This initiative, integrated with City of Saint Paul resources, provides personalized support and service connections to address the unique needs of these individuals. The initiative prioritizes stable housing as a foundation for improving overall well-being and reducing reliance on emergency services. Familiar Faces also draws on national models to achieve significant outcomes such as housing stability, reduced jail time, and lower use of emergency rooms and inpatient psychiatric care.
The program, which operates via targeted outreach to identified individuals, also includes access to a 24-hour facility. For more information, contact Familiar Faces Program Administrator Christine Michels at christine.michels@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
Community-First Responders in Saint Paul
Saint Paul's Community-First Response teams are crucial in supporting unsheltered neighbors, each with a specific focus.
- The Community Alternative Response Emergency Services (CARES) initiative, led by the Fire Department, delivers crisis intervention and non-emergency medical support, highlighting a health-centered emergency response.
- The Homeless Assistance Response Team (HART), based in the Department of Safety and Inspections, connects unsheltered individuals in encampments with critical health and housing services, emphasizing personalized support to navigate the challenges of homelessness.
Resources for Our Unsheltered Neighbors
Saint Paul is equipped with a multifaceted network of partners that provide resources and essential services to support those in immediate need. From emergency shelters to specialized services tailored to unique challenges such as mental health or addiction, our network is designed to provide crucial assistance and guide individuals toward long-term stability. We offer a comprehensive effort alongside our specialized Community-First Response teams, public safety departments, and community partners.
Unsheltered Resources and Support
For those seeking immediate shelter or long-term housing solutions, the City of Saint Paul and its partners offer centralized shelter bed reservations, coordinated entry points, and specialized services to ensure accessible support. A comprehensive overview of community support can be found at headinghomeramsey.org/where-find-help.