The Problem

Why is ending homelessness so important?

Because homelessness is costly – personally, socially, and financially.

 1. Over 1500 individuals - including families and youth are homeless in Ramsey County each night.

  • Young People: Nearly half are young people 21 and under.

 2. Harsh realities exist for homeless adults, youth, and children

  • Abuse Histories: Homeless youth are at high-risk of abuse (physical and sexual) and are more likely to become involved in prostitution, drug abuse, and dangerous behavior. Many families are homeless due to domestic violence.
  • Barriers to Working: Forty percent of adults who are homeless are working. For those who are not working transportation and housing are the most commonly cited barrier to employment.
3. Homelessness makes our community less viable.
  • Financially Vulnerable: Many within our communities are without permanent housing or at-risk of homelessness, both homeowner and renters. At the wages earned by homeless working adults, even a modest one-bedroom is unaffordable. Lack of permanent affordable housing presents a serious barrier for people to move towards higher paying, more sustainable jobs.
  • Blight: Many communities are struggling with vacant buildings due to foreclosures.
  • Safety: Many feel unsafe when they see signs of street homelessness in our downtown core and surrounding communities.
4. The financial costs are staggering.
  • Costly Emergency Services: People without permanent housing are more likely to access costly medical, mental health, and law enforcement services. While at the same time not addressing underlying issues.
  • Jail and Detox Use: Outreach teams work with long-term homeless individuals in Saint Paul to help them into permanent supportive housing.

  Facts about Ramsey County Homelessness

  • In September 2011, Ramsey County turned away 710 individuals within families from emergency shelter. One-quarter of those seeking shelter were able to receive it.
  • For the first time since Dorothy Day Center opened they have had to turn away people for lack of space.  It is estimated that 50 additional beds are needed for overflow to keep people safe this winter.
  • One in 12 youth that seek shelter are able to be served through Safe House Youth Shelter in Saint Paul.
  • The number of youth seeking services at Safe Zone Drop-In Center has doubled since 2008.

We need to invest today to keep from growing the problem and creating even more instability in our community. 
It costs considerably more to fund emergency shelter than to provide housing assistance, but our system in strained in our ability to provide direct assistance to those in need due to lack of funds. Less than 10 percent of calls to the Housing Crisis Response Lines (singles and families) were able to receive direct assistance.