While you won’t see tent encampments strewn along sidewalks as you would in larger cities, in Rice County the need for emergency housing is greater than ever. Rising costs of essentials like food and housing have forced many people to rely on couch surfing, sleeping in cars, and ultimately, emergency housing units. Keeping people sheltered, especially as the weather turns, has inspired Rice County Area United Way to launch a new Emergency Housing Fund through GiveMn.org.
Many people seek out organizations like the Community Action Center (CAC) in Faribault or Northfield for help preventing eviction, communicating with landlords, or emergency aid to help cover the cost of rent. Around 470 households or 850 people, including 285 children, currently need emergency housing, according to Scott Wopata, Executive Director of the CAC. Meanwhile, the number of youths in need of shelter are also growing. Locally, Northfield Union of Youth helps house them through the Wallflower Project, in which community members open their homes to youths who need a safe place to stay.
One newer resource in Northfield is Hillcrest Village, where the CAC provides temporary housing for families. A typical stay ranges from a few weeks to three months. During a stay, the CAC provides case managers and employment advocates to smooth the transition to more permanent housing. Even with the addition of Hillcrest, affordable housing units are difficult to find. Today, the median gross rent is $1,044 and $955 per month in Faribault and Northfield respectively, according to the US Census.
“People are spending more than 30% of their income on their rent, so their personal budgets are precarious. Over half of the renters are paying over 50%,” Wopata shared.
Faribault’s emergency housing infrastructure is not as developed as in Northfield, leaving a gap in resources for those in urgent need, but Wopata hopes construction on additional emergency housing units in Faribault will begin by next summer.
United Way’s local Emergency Housing fund will give nonprofits additional resources to dispense as needed. “Our nonprofit partners are short of funds to meet emergency housing needs,” said Elizabeth Child, Executive Director of Rice County Area United Way. “The fund we’re launching will give them flexibility to meet varied housing emergencies.”
With limited shelter space, the CAC, along with police departments and other community partners, frequently turn to hotels as temporary housing solutions. The cost of one night in a hotel ranges from $65 to $130 with the average around $100. Last year, the CAC spent around $60,000 for approximately 1,000 hotel stays. With the high costs of hotels depleting resources, Wopata said the CAC is forced to pull back on emergency funding. As the financial burden continues to grow, every dollar counts in helping families find shelter and stability during their most difficult moments. By contributing to the new fund, you can make a tangible difference, ensuring that no family is left without a safe place to stay.
Written by Masyn Rykhus
Edited by Elizabeth Child