The Saint Paul City Council has approved an 11 million dollar plan to tackle Unsheltered Homelessness citywide.
The Council voted 6-0 to approve resolution that calls for a 60-day investment period, the creation of a temporary winter shelter, and other long term investments for the city's growing homeless community.
Ward 5 Councilmember Hwa Jeong Kim says the most recent count of unsheltered residents living at an encampment near Shepard Road and Randolph Avenue has grown to over 410 and the time to act is now.
" This is a crisis for everyone that calls St. Paul home," says Kim, " what is clear, is that St. Paul needs a plan. The city council has brought together partners from the mayor office, to Ramsey county, and service providers to outline a three phase blueprint on how the city can and should respond to encampments."
The issue highlights a shift in policy away from Mayor Kaohly Her's administration, which has heavily relied on encampment sweeps.
The plan also gaining praise from local partners including, Ramsey County Commissioner for District 6 Mai Chong Xiong.
"I'm proud that the city council is setting a clear blueprint and signaling to partners such as the county and the state about where they want to make investments."
The measure will now move to the Mayors office for final approval. The resolution specifies that the mayor's office must identify sites for the permanent shelter and report back to the council by February 3rd.
