St. Paul Mayor pushes state and county to pay for new homeless shelter plan
Leaders debate an $11 million budget shift as the city seeks external funding to cover outreach and permanent housing costs.
By Lucia Herrera ·
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her is asking higher levels of government to pay for a homelessness strategy that the City Council has already approved. The plan totals $11 million and would move city resources away from clearing encampments and toward outreach, temporary shelters, and permanent housing units.
Her told reporters that the city has already invested heavily in these services. She stated there is not $11 million available in the current city budget to close the funding gap. Her said she wants county, state, and federal partners to provide the necessary money instead of local taxpayers covering the full amount.
The mayor expressed agreement with the council’s general direction but focused on the source of the funds. She defended a separate $2.2 million expenditure from earlier this year on the Pig’s Eye Park encampment. Her noted that Ramsey County and St. Paul taxpayers paid for that effort, which resulted in shelter beds that remain open today.
City Council President Rebecca Noecker said she hopes to secure the funding within the next 60 days. Noecker told reporters that if that money does not arrive, she does not intend to ask local taxpayers to cover the cost. The council remains committed to the approved plan.
The city continues its current process of rolling closures for homeless encampments in St. Paul. Her said the city has not changed its position on these commitments to residents. Leaders are still exploring funding options while moving forward with the existing encampment management strategy.
