More than a year after ground was broken in Saint Paul for a new affordable housing building, Restoring Waters officially became a home offering innovative supportive services for 60 families.
About 100 people gathered Tuesday afternoon for the grand opening of Restoring Waters, created by the Twin Cities nonprofits Project for Pride in Living and Emma Norton Services to support small families that have experienced homelessness.
“To walk into the building was very calming and enlightening,” said Cecilia Adette, 62, at the opening event. She moved into Restoring Waters last month.
Services that Restoring Waters will offer its residents include a peer support specialist, a meditation room and a fitness room. There will also be a center, called the Living Room Model, designed as an alternative to emergency rooms for those experiencing mental health crises — the first such center in Minnesota. Services will be provided free of charge by a peer specialist.
Nellie Francis Court, a second nearby property developed by Project for Pride in Living that also officially opened on Tuesday, will provide 75 apartments for low-income working families.
“We need housing like this in our city … housing that is affordable with service-providing homes that will strengthen our community members and our families, and really allow them to see their full potential and build their communities up,” said Saint Paul City Council Member Saura Jost.
Adette said she experienced homelessness in 2015 and again in 2023. Emma Norton Services found her housing at the Emma Norton Residence in Saint Paul.
About $22.9 million in construction and permanent financing for Restoring Waters came from the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, Minnesota Housing, the Metropolitan Council, Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul. That included $6.5 million in private equity from the Minnesota Equity Fund through the federal low-income housing tax credit program.
The total development cost of Nellie Francis Court was approximately $24 million from various funding sources, including debt and equity from the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund/Cinnaire and financial support from the City of Saint Paul and others.
Read the full story online from the Sahan Journal.
Photo credit: Aaron Nesheim, Sahan Journal
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