St Louis Park Emergency Program Inc

STEP RESPONDS TO OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO VITAL SERVICES THAT FOSTER STABILITY.

FOOD SHELF PROGRAM PROVIDES FOOD AND PERSONAL PRODUCTS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, STEP DISTRIBUTED 367,267 POUNDS OF FOOD AMONG 4,162 HOUSEHOLD FOOD SHELF VISITS. THERE WERE INDIVIDUAL FOOD SHELF VISITS WITH THE AVERAGE SIZE OF 2.8 PEOPLE PER HOUSEHOLD. AN AVERAGE OF 32 POUNDS OF FOOD WAS DISTRIBUTED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL DURING EACH VISIT TO THE FOOD SHELF. THE KOSHER FOOD PROGRAM SERVED 40 INDIVIDUALS.

SOCIAL WORK SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN THE CONTEXT OF EACH PROGRAM. CLIENTS CAN CONTACT PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS AND CASEWORKERS FOR NO-COST ADVICE AND SUPPORT. FOR IN-PERSON FOOD SHELF VISITS, STAFF PROVIDE CLIENTS WITH ACCESS TO CRISIS COUNSELING, GENERAL SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE, ADVOCACY, AND REFERRAL TO MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, CHILDCARE, JOB READINESS, AND OTHER SERVICES. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, STEP HAD 10,096 HOUSEHOLD CLIENT CONTACTS AND MADE 671 REFERRALS.TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM HIRED DRIVERS TO ASSIST CLIENTS IN ACCESSING HEALTHCARE, SOCIAL SERVICE AND OTHER ESSENTIAL APPOINTMENTS. STEP PROVIDED 121 RIDES TO 21 INDIVIDUALS DURING THE YEAR. STEP MADE 827 FOOD DELIVERIES TO HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE HOMEBOUND.BUS AND GAS CERTIFICATES TOTALING $2,040 WERE DISTRIBUTED TO HELP 144 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH TRANSPORTATION NEEDS IDENTIFIED UNDER SOCIAL SERVICE PLANS.BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED REQUIRED SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND RELATED ITEMS TO ELIGIBLE STUDENTS TO ENSURE ALL COMMUNITY STUDENTS ARE FULLY EQUIPPED TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR. STEP PROVIDED BACKPACKS TO 244 CHILDREN AND CUSTOM SCHOOL SUPPLIES KITS TO 396 CHILDREN IN 2022.CLOTHES CLOSET IS A NO-COST PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES CLIENTS WITH GENTLY-USED CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. IT HAS BEEN MOSTLY SUSPENDED SINCE MARCH 2020 AND WILL FULLY RESUME JULY 2023. STEP HAS DISTRIBUTED 331 COATS DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR.CASE MANAGEMENT IS PROVIDED BY SOCIAL WORKERS AND CASEWORKERS AS PART OF COLLABORATIVE, HOUSING-RELATED PROGRAMS. THE KIDS IN THE PARK PROGRAM SERVES 30 FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN. THE FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM SERVES 21 RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING IN ST. LOUIS PARK.

EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSING AND OTHER ESSENTIAL LIFE EXPENSES. THE PROGRAM IS ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM DUE TO ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, $73,084 WAS DISTRIBUTED TO 54 HOUSEHOLDS.

HOLIDAY PROGRAM SUPPLIED FOOD AND GROCERY CERTIFICATES TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES TO ENABLE THEM TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN HOLIDAY TRADITIONS. GROCERY CERTIFICATES WERE SUPPLIED TO 334 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,060 IN TOTAL. STEP'S HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE SUPPLIED GIFTS AND/OR GIFT CERTIFICATES TO FAMILIES OF 593 CHILDREN.