Who Ya Gonna Call?
Over the past several weeks, staff and volunteers have noticed more persons on our campus who seem like they might be unhoused. We’ve talked to several of these folks, leading us to ask how we can help them. Who might we call?
To improve our ability to respond—especially regarding the unhoused—we recently reached out to the city. That led to a meeting that Angela and I had with Chris Michels. She’s the administrator for a St. Paul program called “The Familiar Faces Initiative”. She’s working on two ways that could help us help people needing shelter and other services.
One way is to improve coordination among first responders, such as:
• COAST: Community Outreach and Stabilization Unit, which draws on the Police Department and the Office of Neighborhood Safety;
• CARES: Community Alternative Response Emergency Services, which involves the Fire Department;
• HART: Homeless Assistance Response Team, which is a group from the Department of Safety and Inspections.
Chris also shared a list of community providers who provide essential services. They include:
• Catholic Charities – Higher Ground
• Emma Norton Services
• Listening House
• Lighthouse Way Emergency Shelter
• Safe Space Shelter – Model Cities
• St. Paul Opportunity Center
• Union Gospel Mission
The second way, Familiar Faces, works to provide “a targeted approach to assist individuals who frequently use emergency services.” That means doing more than just finding a bed for the night. Familiar Faces is working to ensure access to stable (longer-term) housing and personalized support for people’s unique needs.
Please let me know if you’re familiar with any of these groups, or would like to know more. I’d like to see us improve our ability to respond—to know who to call.
Have a great week!
Phil Grant, Administrator
Safe Environment Coordinator
651-224-9793
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