Programs & Services

Community Centers

The PHA owns and manages Community Center facilities in three of the four family developments: McDonough Homes, Roosevelt Homes and Mt. Airy Homes. Dunedin Terrace has a community facility but not a complete Community Center. Space in the Community Centers is leased (free of charge) to a variety of service providers who primarily serve the residents in each family development. The PHA, through its Resident Initiatives funds, provides resident clerks to staff the reception areas of some of these Centers. These positions are training positions for residents and provide the opportunity for residents to develop skills and abilities as they handle the administrative needs of the Centers. Space is provided for Resident Council meetings and other Council activities. Residents may rent the Community Center for a nominal fee for family celebrations, etc. The PHA is responsible for maintenance of the Centers and currently contracts for cleaning services with companies that are also required to employ and train residents in building maintenance.

Hi-Rise Designated Housing (Elderly-Only Hi-Rises)

The PHA owns and manages sixteen hi-rises constructed between 1959 and 1976 that were originally intended to house elderly residents. Over the years, Congress has expanded eligibility to include persons with disabilities and non-elderly/non-disabled adults. In 1992, Congress passed a law allowing housing authorities to designate some of its units for elderly-only residents. Upon approval from HUD, the PHA designated one hi-rise for elderly-only residents (Hamline Hi-Rise). The other fifteen PHA hi-rises remain for mixed-populations (elderly, disabled, and non-elderly/non-disabled adults).

Adopt-A-Hi-Rise Program

The Adopt-A-Hi-Rise was developed to link PHA hi-rise communities to their surrounding communities. Corporate sponsors agree to "adopt" a specific hi-rise and in doing so agree to maintain a strong interaction between the hi-rise residents and volunteers from their organization. Sponsors put on special events for the residents, typically on a monthly or quarterly basis. Types of events include dinners, dances, field trips, games, and picnics. Some sponsors simply spend time talking with residents. Sponsors periodically donate other services and goods to the hi-rise for general use and enjoyment or provide matching funds to a Council for a specific purchase.

Community Policing Program

ACOP (A Community Outreach Program) is a community policing partnership program involving the City of Saint Paul, Saint Paul Police Department, PHA, and public housing residents. The goals of the program are to improve the social conditions which foster drug use and abuse at the public housing sites, improve the level of trust and general relations between the citizens living in public housing and the St. Paul Police Department, improve the delivery of police services to the community, and empower residents to be active in community safety issues.

Congregate Housing Services Program (CHSP)

The PHA's home management services program (also called CHSP, for Congregate Housing Services Program) provides case coordination, housekeeping, daily meals and monitoring, plus other needed services at six PHA hi-rises to assist frail or disabled residents who are at risk of nursing home placement. Residents contribute toward the cost of services by paying a percentage of their income (between 10 and 20%); HUD and matching local resources cover the remainder of program costs. Two daily meals are served 365 days per year, one in conjunction with the Community Action Congregate Dining Program. CHSP operates at Mt. Airy, Valley, Ravoux, Edgerton, Montreal and Iowa Hi-Rises.

Wilder Assisted Living Program (ALP)

The Wilder Assisted Living Program provides comprehensive supportive services to assist frail or disabled residents at risk of nursing home placement at four PHA hi-rises: Ravoux, Dunedin, Hamline and Edgerton. Basic services include three daily meals, 24-hour on-site staff that provide housekeeping, laundry, personal care services, medication monitoring and a day activity program. The program was created through collaboration between the PHA, Wilder and Ramsey County. It is licensed through the state under the Home Care Rule. Community resources augment base services to meet specific residents' needs. Payment is made through direct client reimbursement, Alternative Care, Elderly Waiver funds and/or Minnesota Supplemental Assistance funds.

Step-Up Apprenticeship Program

Established by HUD, the Department of Labor and the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, Step-up is a state and federally approved apprenticeship program under the "Building Maintenance and Repairer" classification. Through a partnership between the St. Paul Building and Construction Trades Council and the PHA, the program provides residents of public housing (and other eligible participants in PHA programs) with a wide range of construction craft-line experiences over a two-year period. Participants gain trades experience while earning wages. Union contractors employ participants at PHA and other job sites. Earned income from this program is excluded when determining public housing rent capability for up to 24 months.

Police Officer-In-Residence Program

Through a joint effort between the City of Saint Paul, Saint Paul Police Department and the PHA, the Officer-in-Residence Program provides a police presence in public housing hi-rises to help deter crime in the buildings and their immediate surrounding neighborhoods. After screening by both the PHA and the police department, interested Saint Paul police officers who are accepted for this program live in a selected PHA hi-rise for a period of at least one year. In exchange for free rent, each officer parks their police squad car in the building parking lot during their off-duty hours, schedules regular office hours for resident contact, attends hi-rise meetings and resident get-togethers whenever possible, and provides information and assistance to staff and residents related to illegal activity in and around the building.

Community Action Congregate Dining Program

Weekday noon meals are served at ten PHA hi-rises under the Community Action Title III Senior Nutrition Program. Residents must sign up for meals at least two business days in advance. Monthly menus are posted at each hi-rise. Residents are asked to make a donation toward the $5.25 cost of the meal.

Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS)

HUD designed the FSS Program, in conjunction with the Section 8 Rent Assistance Program and Low Rent Public Housing Program, to enable families to improve their educational and employment status and thereby achieve a greater measure of economic independence and self-sufficiency. Participants develop a training and services plan that includes a work plan to achieve their employment and other self-sufficiency goals. Participants can also escrow a portion of their rent as their household income increases for use upon graduation.

Homeownership Made Easy Program (HOME)

HOME helps PHA families residing in public housing or participating in the Section 8 Program buy a home in Saint Paul on the open rental market by providing financial assistance, credit counseling, homeownership training and other assistance.

Accessible Space, Incorporated (ASI)

The Accessible Space Inc. (ASI) New Beginnings Brain Injury Program (NBBI) provides twenty-four hour personal care attendant service and support services for residents who have experienced a brain injury including training in apartment management, social skills, vocational involvement and a broad array of independent living skills. The ASI office doubles as a training and social center. Apartments for each ASI New Beginnings participant are equipped with special communication equipment that is hooked up to the ASI Manager's Office. The ASI Valley site uses a similar model, but provides personal care services specific to persons with mobility impairment.