Model Cities of St Paul

Model Cities' service continuum creates pathways to move people from homelessness and poverty to housing stability and homeownership. Outcomes from our past year demonstrate the efficacy of our approach:2,891 individuals were served across programs with 70% identifying as black, indigenous and people of color (bipoc)95 parents and children living in our service-enriched housing were supported with connections to culturally responsive community resources for basic needs including food, furniture, and other supports. 48 individuals with low incomes gained safe, affordable housing through our brownstone loft apartments.2,159 unsheltered adults accessed emergency overnight shelter and basic services including showers, toiletries, and bagged lunches at the safe space shelter 584 individuals were helped to meet their financial goals in debt reduction, homeownership, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and homebuyer education. 63 of these households purchased their first home. Commercial retail space provided to 5 bipoc business owners who created 22 livable wage jobs.additionally, in 2023, the organization completed its 2024-2026 strategic plan. Over the triennial period, the organization will focus on the following organizational goals: 1.develop community-focused housing solutions that address root causes of racial and socioeconomic inequities.2.increase capacity through funding, organizational development, and improvements in workplace culture.3.cultivate opportunities for strategic growth and long-term organizational sustainability.our core offerings include the following:housing support services (hss): addressing housing instability requires a whole-person approach with a continuum of services to meet a household's holistic needs and help them access resources to build skills and become self-sufficient. In 2023, housing support services were provided to households through the following: families first supportive housing (ffsh) - ffsh provides permanent housing to homeless families with one or more members enduring a chronic disability and/or the head-of-household is recovering from chemical addiction. Sankofa supportive housing provides permanent housing to young adults ages 17-25 years old who are either pregnant or parenting a child under the age of three years old.youth services: Model Cities also provides services to youth. Programming provided though the youth services department provides youth with supportive relationships, educational opportunities, and access to community-based resources. Youth from Model Cities' supportive housing, community coaching, family coaching, and commercial tenants received backpacks. Youth services supported youth and their families in building healthy relationships, providing access to opportunities, and life and work-readiness skills needed for positive development. This work concluded at the end of 2023.homeownership services: Model Cities provides both homebuyer education and pre-purchase counseling services to families who need support with learning how to successfully navigate the homebuying process. Services include:the home stretch workshop is an 8-hour educational course offered in a day-long session on weekends and weekdays to accommodate a variety of schedules. In addition to information on choosing the right mortgage, avoiding scams and preparing for a closing, course materials are delivered in an interactive way that incorporates discussion, multi-media, additional resource materials, and presentations from volunteer professionals who have experience in housing, lending and real estate.pre-purchase counseling is designed to assist households with understanding barriers to becoming a homeowner. The homeownership advisor meets one-on-one with households to analyze their income, credit, debt and work history in order to map out a strategy to overcome any homeownership obstacles. Fiscally fit provides financial wellness services to small business owners, youth, individuals and low-income households, with a goal of eliminating economic disparities while fostering financial health and wellness. Shelter services: in november 2019, Model Cities began operating safe space, an emergency shelter located at 160 east kellogg boulevard in downtown St. Paul. Emergency shelter services are provided for up to 64 men and women on a nightly basis and the shelter operates daily from 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. Safe space is considered a low-barrier, temporary shelter where police and other authorized organizations bring homeless individuals who are found sleeping outside on the light rail, in skyways, or in other unauthorized buildings. The ultimate goal at safe space is to ensure unsheltered individuals have a safe place to stay while they look for other long-term solutions to affordable housing. Brownstone services: since opening in 2017, brownstone has been at or near 100 percent occupancy (approximately 97% on average each year) for the 35 units of affordable housing included in the project. The population of residents is diverse with a mix of races, ages, and families residing at brownstone. Interest continues to remain high in the residence as we typically get multiple applications for vacancies when they arise. In addition to apartment units, Model Cities leases affordable retail space to commercial tenants at brownstone. In 2023, all 5 retail spaces were operated by bipoc entrepreneurs. One new entrepreneur opened an events center at brownstone in 2023. These five businesses also employ community residents and others from the area, and there has even been a Model Cities youth resident who was an initial volunteer at the barber shop and has now gone on to become a licensed barber.