A St. Paul emergency homeless shelter that’s been searching for its own new home for months announced it’s found one in a church near the intersection of Snelling and University avenues.
Safe Space Shelter, an emergency overnight shelter operated by nonprofit Model Cities in partnership with Ramsey County, announced in a news release Wednesday it will open at Central Baptist Church, 420 N. Roy St. in St. Paul, in November.
“We are incredibly grateful for the partnership with Central Baptist Church,” Kizzy Downie, the CEO of Model Cities, said in the release. “Their support has been instrumental in making this relocation possible. This collaboration embodies the strength of community and shared compassion for our fellow neighbors experiencing crisis.”
The Safe Space Shelter is currently located in Government Center East, an aging downtown St. Paul facility that Ramsey County owns and plans to sell. The shelter began looking for a new space in 2023.
The shelter was slated to move to a building at the Luther Seminary campus in St. Anthony Park, but the plan was canceled in May when Luther Seminary backed out, citing neighborhood opposition. The shelter had temporarily leased space at the seminary in the past.
Central Baptist has been operating winter warming space for people in need. In the news release, Craig Dahl, the church’s pastor, said the congregation had expressed interest in expanding emergency shelter services.
“Our mission calls us to serve those in need, and this collaboration is another way we can directly support individuals experiencing homelessness. Together, we can help restore hope and dignity to those who need it most,” Dahl said.
In a statement, the county praised the announcement as a demonstration of the power of community-driven solutions.
