The loss of jobs, rising foreclosure rates, and an extraordinary level of financial instability have had a broad and deep impact on Minnesotans. Many who have never before struggled with homelessness or hunger are now facing the same issues as traditionally low-income populations.

A Response to a Crisis
The Saint Paul Foundation and Minnesota Community Foundation, along with key partners, have allocated over $2 million to a new Community Economic Relief Fund that was created in response to the economic downturn.

The response effort will help support traditionally low-income populations, as well as those who have only recently become economically vulnerable. We already know that the need far exceeds our available resources, and we hope to double the size of the fund so we can respond to escalating needs in a timely way.

The Foundations are partnering with specific nonprofits that have the capacity to reach thousands of people who are desperately in need of support.

The first key investment areas of this response include:

• Housing stability: programs to prevent foreclosure, find people stable housing and avoid homelessness.
• Hunger relief: efforts that support the increased numbers of adults and children accessing food shelves and banks.
• Emergency financial counseling: programs that provide people with guidance about budgeting, debt relief and avoiding bankruptcy.
Future key areas that the Community Economic Relief Fund will support include healthcare, mental health, and jobs and training.

Our Combined Impact
Your investment in the Community Economic Relief Fund—East Metro Response will leverage support for grants to organizations in the East Metro area like The Family Place, a day center for homeless families in Ramsey County and the first organization to receive support from the Community Economic Relief Fund.

The Family Place needed assistance to help increase its capacity. Through this Community Economic Relief Fund grant, The Family Place will be able to expand to accommodate 50 percent more individuals and add additional staff to provide crucial services.

Through our combined resources and efforts, more organizations like The Family Place will increase their service capacity, enhance their service delivery models, and have adequate resources to staff the growing needs of their clientele.

Your financial partnership with the Community Economic Relief Fund—East Metro Response will help provide relief to our community and provide hope and stability to those most in need.