Government Funding for Project Home is in Jeopardy

Dear Project Home Volunteers and Supporters,

We are writing to you today to ask for your help in a critical situation. Government funding for Project Home is in jeopardy and we need your help. 

COVID-related funding made it possible for Project Home to move into the Provincial House and increase capacity from 40 beds to 100 beds. That funding is set to expire in a few weeks. Our team has been working closely with elected officials and other local leaders to advocate for Project Home funding from the state legislature.

Please add your voice to the conversation by writing a letter that explains the importance of Project Home to the elected officials who will decide about its funding. The deliberations are scheduled to happen this week (week of May 9) so please send your letter as soon as possible.

STEP 1: CRAFTING YOUR LETTER

The following template contains important information (like the bill number) as well as space for you to add your own words:

I am writing today because I am deeply committed to Interfaith Action’s Project Home program and I want you to know how vital this program is to families in our community. Project Home provides 100 beds of shelter to families with children experiencing homelessness in Ramsey County.  Families stay at Project Home on average only 66 days; during that time, the children are able to go to their regular schools, and Project Home’s rapid exit social work team helps the families find better jobs, find positive housing destinations, and secure child care, transportation, and more to support their success in their new homes. Fifty-four percent of Project Home’s guests are under the age of 13. Cuts to this program will have catastrophic results impacting families with children.

I ask you to vote in support of providing $8,000,000, as included in HF 4706. That $8 million is for Project Home and two other shelters and for Ramsey County’s oversight of all three programs. We do not know the exact dollar amount that would be allocated to Project Home.

(At this point in the letter, please insert your own words about your involvement with Project Home and why you think it’s important to keep Project Home alive in our community. Personal stories are very helpful. Then close the letter with the folllowing paragraph.)

I appreciate very much the bi-partisan attention and courtesy demonstrated by you and your colleagues during the hearings on the Heading Home Ramsey Continuum of Care Bill, addressing funding for families experiencing homelessness (HF 3950 and SF 3710). Please continue in this spirit of collaboration as you include $8 million for the Heading Home Ramsey Continuum of Care in the Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill.

Thank you,
<Your name>

STEP 2: WHERE TO SEND LETTERS
Please email or mail your letter to the following three people:

a) Senator Jim Abeler (35, R)  More info about Sen. Abeler
sen.jim.abeler@senate.mn
95 University Avenue W.
Minnesota Senate Bldg., Room 3215
St. Paul, MN 55155

b) Representative Tina Liebling (26A, DFL) More info about Rep. Liebling
rep.tina.liebling@house.mn
477 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 5515

c) Interfaith Action (c/o Amy Dillahunt)
[We’re collecting copies of these letters to share with other elected officials.]
adillahunt@interfaithaction.org
1041 Grand Avenue, #312
Saint Paul, MN 55105

THANK YOU for taking the time to have your voice heard. If you have any questions, please contact adillahunt@interfaithaction.org.

Sara Liegl, Director, Project Home
Randi Ilyse Roth, Executive Director of Interfaith Action