Ron from the SARA program

Single Adult Rental Assistance (SARA) Program

We have experienced tremendous success with this program targeted towards single adults experiencing long-term homelessness.

The combination of a grant from the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation with rental subsidies from the MHFA (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency) allows us to work with some of the hardest to serve from among the guests of three collaborating shelters: Our Saviour’s, St. Stephen’s and Simpson.

A selection committee made up of advocates from each shelter comes together monthly or as needed to choose participants. Those who have the longest total time homeless among current guests in each shelters are given first consideration and are offered a subsidy. Currently, participants have an average of over 11 years on the streets.

The consensus of the committee determines if someone is unsuitable or unready to participate, in which case the shelter guest with the next longest tenure is selected. Once placed, participants meet weekly with the housing specialist in a combination of home visits, office visits and weekend activities.

Since the program's inception in 2005, 100% of the participants have been placed into housing and 86% have maintained housing. 82% of the participants have maintained or increased their income level.

In 2006, SARA joined  the COHR team, a collaboration of St. Stephen’s, Simpson, Spectrum Community Mental Health and American Indian CDC.  The COHR team began serving an additional 50 single adults experiencing Long-term Homeless ness through funding granted by the Hearth Connection.

Comments from the particpants
“I’m not very good at managing my money, you know. But, then, I’ve never had anyone coming by to remind me every week. (With a chuckle.)

“Mary, be sure to mark down that the front panel of the floor registers are bent.” (Said by a typically silent participant during a pre-move-in inspection.)

“I don’t mind washing someone else’s pan; it’s very satisfying to me to keep the kitchen clean.” (Voiced by a participant experiencing the saga of a roomate's dirty dishes.)

A new participant having heard that he’s approved and will be moving into housing next week, spots the Housing Specialist on the steps at the shelter where he’s been staying for the last several months and with a huge grin, offers a high five and asks: “Did you hear the great news?!”

SARA STORIES
John R.
Cynthia
John M.
Arnold
Ron

Men's Shelter
Women's Shelter

Women's Housing Partnership

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