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Jon Collins
St. Paul, Minn.

Homelessness fell in St. Paul in national survey report

Dorothy Day Center
A homeless woman sits among the sleeping mats at the Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Julie Siple / MPR News 2013

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A survey released Thursday shows homelessness in St. Paul decreased slightly over the last year, even as demand for food assistance in the region increased.

The data in the U.S. Conference of Mayors Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness report included numbers submitted by representatives of local government.

St. Paul's data shows a 2 percent decrease in the number of people who are homeless in the city, although it indicates that shelter capacity in the city is currently stretched to the limit.

"To accommodate an increase in demand, shelters had to consistently have clients sleep on overflow cots, in chairs, in hallways, or use other subpar sleeping arrangements; they also had to convert buildings into temporary shelters," according to the report.

A survey of the homeless population shows that 51 percent of homeless adults in the city are physically disabled, 26 percent are severely mentally ill and 22 percent are victims of domestic violence. Almost a quarter of the homeless in the city report that they are employed, which is higher than the 18 percent national average.

The city expects the number of homeless adults to remain steady this year.

About 9 percent of homeless adults in the city are veterans — who have been a target of state and city programs designed to get them into permanent housing.

Veterans who have served at least 181 days on active duty may be eligible for a one-time payment from the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans that can help them with transportation, housing or other costs. The typical cost for that program is $500 to $700, although it can be higher if the veteran needs to find new housing.

The data submitted to the report shows that regional emergency food assistance programs associated with city residents led the country in providing assistance. Demand at food shelves increased about 8 percent last year, and the emergency food assistance budget allocated to residents increased about 20 percent.