Ward 2 annual meeting gives sneak peek at 2023 happenings

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Inmid-January, Ward 2

Councilmember Rebecca Noecker hosted the Ward 2 annual meeting, highlighting some accomplishments in the ward last year and offering a peek at developments in the pipeline this year. She was joined by representatives of city departments and community organizations, as well as a roomful of citizens. Here are the highlights of the meeting.

Homelessness - The city’s Department of Inspection Homeless Assistance Response Team (HART) now takes longer to find housing for people living in tents or encampments. When HART was created in fall 2021, it was able to provide temporary housing in hotel rooms for people experiencing homelessness, thanks to American Rescue Plan Act funding from Ramsey County. That funding ended last June and now the team must do a deeper study of each case of homelessness to learn how to best help the unsheltered individual or individuals. Andrea Hinderaker, coordinator for the 3-person team, said that HART has found housing for 25 people previously living in encampments and is currently tracking 64 indi- viduals across 34 sites. Citizens may call 651-266-8989 to report a person camping in their neighborhood or in a public area.

Housing - Construction of affordable housing continues to remain a priority, said Tara Beard, the city’s housing director. Affordable housing is identified as costing 60% of the area median income – just over $70,000 in St. Paul – and deeply affordable housing as 30% of the area median income.

In 2022, the city awarded American Rescue Plan Act funds to five projects that are creating a total of 110 deeply affordable units. This is a sharp increase compared to the 20 affordable units that were permitted citywide from 2019-2021. One of the five projects is in Ward 2 and will have 35 of the 110 units. Soul Apartments broke ground at Robert and Plato in November and is expected to be completed in spring 2024.

In related news, a few guidelines have been altered to the city’s downpayment assistance program and homeowner rehab programs. People can now receive more money through the programs, have quicker loan forgiveness options and have more choices for how to use the money. Applications to