Homeless Services
Washington County Community Services recognizes that homelessness exists in Washington County, and that those experiencing homelessness deserve access to services to assist them in becoming stably housed, as well as assist them with accessing other resources to meet their basic needs. The Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) provides these services to residents of Washington County. HOST consists of four social workers, a supervisor, and one support staff person. Together, they manage a housing resource line where calls may be placed 24/7, and will be returned within one business day. The housing resource line number is 651-430-6488. HOST also manages public walk-in hours where households seeking homeless services may meet with a HOST social worker in person without an appointment. HOST is only able to see four households per day on a first come, first served basis during these hours.
- I need shelter
- I need access to Coordinated Entry
- I am facing eviction
- I need financial assistance to get into housing
There are two shelter options in Washington County. Families seeking shelter should contact the St. Andrew's Resource Center at 651-762-9124 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Singles or families that have completed an intake with St. Andrew’s and are waiting for space contact may contact the County Homeless Outreach Services Team. Households must be seen in person to seek shelter. HOST has walk-in hours.
Coordinated Entry is a regional system that connects homeless households with housing programs, and includes Anoka, Dakota, Scott and Carver counties, as well as Washington. Anyone assessed by an approved access point within these counties will be placed on the same housing priority list. Fine more information about coordinated entry.
Once a household is placed on the priority list, it is prioritized for housing programs based on a number of factors, such as length of homelessness, make-up of household, existence of a disabling condition, and assessment score. Agencies trained to complete assessments are called access points, and Washington County has three access points:
• For youth ages 18-25, outreach workers assigned to Washington County can be found through Youth Services Network.
• For singles adults ages 25 and older, the Washington County Homeless Outreach Services Team may be contacted through the resource line at 651-430-6488
or during walk-in hours.
• For families, contact is through St. Andrew’s Resource Center at 651-762-9124.
The access point will determine if your household is eligible to receive an assessment. If you are not, mainstream resources will be provided.
Three financial resources are available to assist with eviction prevention.
2. If denied emergency assistance, contact the Salvation Army at 651-739-6288.
3. If denied for emergency assistance, you may also contact the HOST as they have limited funds available to assist with eviction prevention. You may contact them through the housing resource line at 651-430-6488 or walk-in hours.
It is essential that all households apply for Emergency Assistance first. The other two resources can only assist if households have been denied Emergency Assistance.
See information on other financial programs that the county administers.
The Washington County HOST does have access to limited grant money to assist households with a damage deposit and/or first month rent if that is a barrier to housing. To be considered for this resource contact the housing resource line 651-430-6488 or walk-in hours for HOST services.