Emma’s Place

The newly renovated Emma’s Place is a unique permanent supportive housing development, specifically serving parents with three or more children who were formerly homeless, and who have at least one family member in recovery from mental illness and/or chemical dependency, or who has a physical disability. Many homelessness response services don’t have the capacity for large families, but the townhomes at Emma’s Place have three or four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a full kitchen. In addition to open green space, there is also a playground and a basketball court, as well as a community center where staff work and host youth programming.

The staff at Emma’s Place provide youth programming focused on trauma-informed care, and social and emotional learning. They also work as case managers for families, advocating to make sure parents get consistent care for their and their family’s health, and helping them increase and maintain stability and healing.

Emma’s Place does not accept housing applications directly. If you are looking for housing, please contact United Way’s 211 at 651-291-0211 to be connected with Coordinated Access to Housing and Shelter (CAHS) and begin the process to secure housing.

Emma’s Place 2020-2021 Renovation

Over the summer of 2020, the grounds and all 13 of the townhomes were renovated. For the townhomes, this meant installing new flooring, countertops, and energy-efficient lighting and appliances, as well as redesigning the interior to be homier and more conducive to healing from trauma. The renovation also installed a new basketball court for the youth, which immediately became a popular community activity. The renovation was completed in Summer of 2021 with the instillation of a new playground.

• What does trauma-informed care mean?

  Trauma-informed care refers to acknowledging the widespread impact trauma has on a person and a family’s life, and the integration of this knowledge into all policies and practices. By using trauma-informed practices, we can avoid re-traumatization.

• Why are men allowed to live at Emma’s Place?

  While most of the heads of household at Emma’s Place are single mothers, we recognize that housing for large, formerly homeless families is a critically under-met need, regardless of parental gender(s). Additionally, as a part of our commitment to social responsibility, we do not restrict a parent’s ability to form stable romantic partnerships by requiring single status. Read more about our values here.

• Will I be kicked out of this program for using?

  No; sobriety is not a requirement to live at Emma’s Place. We are a housing-first and harm-reduction program, and we work with parents to make smart and safe decisions for themselves and their families.