The St. Paul City Council on Wednesday approved the distribution of about $3.3 million to a dozen organizations to help prevent homelessness.
The money, which came from the 2008 federal Housing and Economic Recovery Act, will be used to pay a portion of rent to help people stay in their homes or to get people who recently lost their housing out of a shelter and into a new place as fast as possible. It's one-time money that is expected to last for two years.
The money isn't intended to be used for long-term homeless people, said Joe Collins of the St. Paul Planning and Economic Development Department.
Instead, he said, the money will be aimed at helping people who are at risk of becoming homeless, including refugees and new immigrants, renters in foreclosed buildings and veterans.
"This sounds like a lot of money, but there is a lot of need," Collins said.
Cities and counties across the state have been seeing increases in homeless populations, and the bad economy has put more people teetering on the edge of losing their homes.
Catholic Charities, which runs a family shelter and the Dorothy Day Center, will get the largest portion, about $1.8 million. Money will be used to help pay portions of rent or security deposits, said Tracy Berglund, director of housing and emergency services for Catholic Charities.
"If you can get people into housing quickly, it's a better value, and it's better for children," she said.
