January 11, 2021

“It can take several months to get people into housing. Closing encampments can make it harder for people to access services and meet their basic needs. As a service provider, it’s challenging for us because it takes time to build rapport with people.”

David Katzenmeyer, Program Supervisor of our Street Outreach and our Project Recovery programs, discusses with the Pioneer Press the complications of closing homeless camps in St. Paul. The article talks in-depth about the growing number of individuals experiencing homlessness in the city, and how the solution is much more involved than just finding people shelter. It takes a long-term strategy of how to help these individuals gain access to various supportive services, such as a case manager who provides connections to medical, mental health and substance use support.

Read the full article.