The ROOF Project, an innovative transitional housing program, is a collaboration of organizations committed to assisting homeless families in Ramsey County rebuild their futures. We do this through strengthening community ties, providing opportunities for skill building and connecting families to resources.

Since 1995, Wilder and its collaborating partners in the ROOF Project have assisted over 500 homeless families. The ROOF Project is one of the few scattered-site transitional housing programs in Ramsey County that can provide services to single mothers, single fathers, and two-parent households with children. The program serves head of households age 16 and up.

We have helped families move from shelter and off the street into housing that is affordable. Because we work with more than 70 private landlords in Ramsey County, we have been able to provide housing options for large families as well as for those who need one or two bedrooms. We provide intensive in-home services to the entire family; we believe that our approach is holistic and will assist families to realize their potential. We help families find and maintain employment and educational opportunities. We provide education and support around mental health, substance abuse and domestic violence issues. We work very closely with parents and their children of all ages. We encourage families to be connected to their children’s schools and provide educational resources for their children in order to achieve school success.

Our primary program goals include:

• Obtaining permanent housing for participants.
• Improving participants employment skills and/or increase their income.
• Maintaining regular school attendance and achieving academic success for school-aged children.

Many families have excelled and accomplished these goals while participating in the ROOF Project. No matter what the situation, the ROOF Project encourages families to persevere, and supports them in fulfilling their hopes, dreams and visions.

The ROOF Project is a collaborative effort funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Ramsey County, The Family Housing Fund, the State of Minnesota, Target.com, Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless and the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. Current collaborating service providers include: Model Cities, Inc., East Metro Women’s Council and the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation

Measuring results

• Demographic data collected when families enter the program
• Discharge data reflecting changes in families’ housing, employment, and educational status
• Follow-up data gathered from interviews conducted six months after families leave the program