This team addresses the affordable housing crisis through policy work, direct service and education. Affordable Housing Team leader Priscilla Morton can be reached by email at prismorton@comcast.net.




Service Projects
During the month of May, in response to the shortage of emergency shelter beds, the church houses families temporarily without homes in the religious education rooms.  This program, Project Home (see fuller description below), is coordinated by the St. Paul Area Council of Churches (SPACC) to provide overflow shelter when the Ramsey County Family Service Center in Maplewood is filled. Over 100 volunteers are needed to provide hospitality during the evening and overnight giving families with children comfort and a safe place to stay.  For more information contact Anna Newton by email at newtona@comcast.net.  Visit the SPACC Project Home web page at: http://www.spacc.org/

Homeless families spend the day at the Family Place, a shelter in downtown St. Paul.  There are many volunteer opportunities there, including and cooking meals for families and providing activities for the children.   For more information contact volunteer coordinator Bob Fallatt by email at falla1@comcast.net. Visit the Family Place website at: http://famplace.org/

Additional opportunities to help the homeless, one-to-one, occur three times throughout the year through Project Homeless Connect.  These one day events link homeless individuals with hundreds of service providers in a “one-stop shopping” model.  These days take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center and at the St. Paul River Center in May and December.  For more information contact Priscilla Morton by email at prismorton@comcast.net. Visit the Project Homeless Connect website at: http://www.stpaulconnect.com/

We support and participate in Habitat for Humanity with a two week building project each year in late spring. For more information on this opportunity contact Chuck Griggs by email at  griggscb@msn.com. Visit the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity website at: http://www.tchabitat.org/

Education
From time to time the team offers congregational and community forums on issues of homelessness and affordable Housing.

Advocacy
This team advocates for policy and partnerships that will increase the supply of affordable.  Advocacy efforts often take place through a team community partner, the Metropolitan Interfaith Coalition for Affordable Housing (MICAH).   For more information contact Harold Clapp at haroldclapp@comcast.net. Visit the MICAH website at: http://www.micah.org/

Each year, team members participate in legislative days for Affordable Housing at the Minnesota State Capitol.

An Emergency Shelter Beds Task Force of the Affordable Housing Ministry Team was formed in the spring of 2011 to advocate specifically for an increase in the number of shelter beds available to families so more will find shelter and not be turned away.  This group is identifying options, both policies and partnerships, to ensure more families have shelter.  For more information contact Laura Wood by email at laura.d.wood@comcast.net.

Project Home
In Maywe open our church Religious Education spaces for temporary shelter to people in Ramsey County temporarily without homes.  We rely on three evening and overnight volunteers every night to welcome families. Volunteers are also needed to set up rooms on May 1, rearrange the rooms for church school on Sundays in May, and pack up supplies on June 1. Volunteer training is strongly recommended and is offered before and during April and May. Donations of food, diapers, personal care products, toys and art materials are gladly accepted any time in May.  For more information contact Project Home Coordinator Anna Newton by email at newtona@comcast.net. Visit the SPACC Project Home web page at: http://www.spacc.org/