Housing Support and Referral Services

Addressing family history and income, East Side Family Center (ESFC) — a Neighborhood House location — identifies appropriate services and outcomes for individual families on a case by case basis, through Resource and Referral Services, Wealth and Asset Building Strategies, Direct Service Support, and Cultural and Social Engagement. ESFC serves approximately 1,000 families per year and 75-80% of requests are housing related. It is a one-stop shop for families in need of referrals, connecting people to services they desperately need.

Four primary components make up for a holistic approach to ESFC service offerings, creating positive long-term outcomes:

Crisis Intervention — Help families with rental assistance, damage deposits, utilities and other financial crisis that can upset their budgeting
Housing Support — Safe and affordable housing placement, landlord/tenant education, helping tenants avoid eviction/Unlawful Detainer (UD), unit inspection and lease review
Case Management — Resource and referral services, outreach and advocacy on behalf of families, employment assistance, school attendance support, addressing health issues
Life Skills Education (including, but not limited to) — Financial, nutritional, housing, employment

At the Neighborhood House main campus, The Wellstone Center, participants can access referral services related to Basic Needs. The Basic Needs program assists families in securing access to food and connects them to community services that help them gain economic and functional stability.

In 2010, two services, Basic Needs Support and Refugee Resettlement, helped 275 families improve their quality of life through access to information on employment, life skills, parenting, plus referrals to additional Neighborhood House services. Those services are defined as:

Basic Needs Support — Connects families in crisis with a caseworker who provides home visits and coaching to improve the health and well-being of an entire family.
Refugee Resettlement — Provides similar services as Basic Needs Support, but for newly arrived refugees and helps them navigate their new community on an individual basis.

Success Story

Participant Snapshot: A Comprehensive Approach from Moving from "Survive to Thrive"
After only two months in the United States, Zema enrolled in the Adult Education programs at the Neighborhood House. During her English Language Learning (ELL) class, a staff member spoke about additional services available through the Basic Needs program. Excited to put nutritious foods on her family’s table, Zema immediately began seeking healthy food and resources. Working with a staff member, she applied for and received WIC (Women, Infant & Children – a food program) and she was awarded a $400 grant by Energy Assistance to help pay her bills while working toward self-sufficiency. She was given a car seat from East Side Family Center so she could safely use transportation. Zema continues to take English classes and encourages her fellow immigrant and refugee classmates to also participate in additional programs at Neighborhood House, helping participants move from “survive to thrive.”

Eligibility

Housing Support & More at East Side Family Center (ESFC): The housing support and basic needs services provided by the East Side Family Center are available to those living within the limits of St. Paul in the 55130, 55106, 55119, and 55117 zip codes. In addition, anyone who has been referred from Neighborhood House is eligible to receive assistance. Please contact ESFC directly, at 651-793-7340, to schedule an appointment. No walk-ins or same-day appointments are accepted.

Refugee Resettlement at The Wellstone Center: Services available for individuals who have resided in the USA for fewer than five years. For more information/referrals, please contact Bwei Paw at bpaw@neighb.org or 651-789-2544.