Project Quest is a permanent supportive housing program that serves families with the most challenging circumstances by offering intensive service delivery in partnership with community agencies. Project Quest’s key goals are to show measurable improvements in participants’ health and productivity, to stabilize housing, to improve school success and to efficiently use public services. The goal is to end homelessness by helping people become more self-reliant and lead healthier, productive lives.

Project Quest was established as part of the Supportive Housing and Managed Care Pilot, a demonstration project led by Hearth Connection. Hearth Connection is an independent nonprofit in partnership with State and county government, supportive housing providers, health plans, consumers, advocates, and others. In September 2006, Project Quest was expanded through the Metro Long Term Homeless Supportive Service Project.

Services
Project Quest works with 59 families in Ramsey, Dakota and Washington Counties at any one time. Housing specialists work with families to help find and maintain affordable housing. A case manager works intensively with each family to address basic needs as well as health, employment and other areas necessary for achieving self-sufficiency. Families are referred to Project Quest by agencies in Ramsey County who work with homeless populations.

Participants
Project Quest does not take direct referrals. Openings in the program are infrequent as families are able to stay in the program until they have permanent housing and no longer need the support of the program.

Referrals for families in Washington and Dakota Counties are made by their Housing Divisions.

Referrals for families in Ramsey County are designated to four sources that have contact with families experiencing homelessness.

• Title I - Homeless Student Liaison for St. Paul Schools
• Ramsey County Family Homeless Shelters - The Family Place and Maplewood Service Center
• Ramsey County Child Protection
• Ramsey County Domestic Violence Shelters - Women's Advocates and Eagles Nest

Measuring results
An evaluation of the program’s impact on participants, costs, and systems is being conducted by the National Center on Family Homelessness.