The Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority took action on February 22 to keep the Project Home family shelter operating in Highland Park for at least another year.

The HRA amended a joint powers agreement with Ramsey County and allocated up to $827,244 toward Project Home’s continued operations. The agreement will be in place beginning in July and running through March 31, 2024.

Project home has operated since a conditional use permit was approved for the shelter in 2021. It leases the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet’s four-story provincial house at 1880 Randolph Ave. The shelter is overseen by Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul. It has space for about 20 families.

The family shelter operated for more than two decades out of schools and places of worship. However, it had to find a different space when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

City and county officials were able to initially draw on federal assistance for Project Home. As those funds were exhausted, other sources had to be sought.

The dollars earmarked on February 22 are from the city’s Housing Trust Fund. The same allocation was made in June 2022. The city funding is considered to be temporary as Interfaith Action seeks an ongoing source of financial support for Project Home.

— Jane McClure

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