People Serving People Assistance Programs in Minneapolis
People Serving People is a Minneapolis MN based nonprofit that supports families facing housing instability as well as the currently unhoused. The charity programs range from providing emergency shelter and meals, helping people stabilize housing, early childhood education, and financial empowerment among others. In fact, People Serving People (PSP) (and the programs they offer per below) is the largest provider of family shelter and homelessness prevention in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
Emergency housing from the shelter
An emergency shelter is one of the main programs offered. People Serving People operates a Downtown Shelter in Minneapolis and the charity also includes St. Anne’s Place Shelter as part of its shelter system. Families generally do not enter these shelters by direct admission through the nonprofit; People Serving People directs families to start by calling the Hennepin County Shelter Hotline at 612-204-8200. The Downtown Shelter and St. Anne’s are accessed through Coordinated Entry. Anyone who just shows up at the door only (without prior referrals) will most likely be turned away.
St. Anne’s Place Shelter is a relatively small, home-like emergency shelter in North Minneapolis that houses up to 16 families at a time, focused on women-led or non-binary-led residents. People Serving People has been operating St. Anne’s Place since 2024 and provides on-site programs as well to people in the shelter. Services are designed to help families connect, heal, and rebuild while they work toward stability.
People Serving People also operates supportive housing units that combine transitional services with permanent supportive housing in apartments located within the Downtown Shelter site. The organization offers accommodations including 10 two-bedroom units that are fully furnished and come with a bathroom, living room, and kitchenette, paired with wrap-around services. Staff and families in this programs also look for housing leads and make calls to landlords and property managers while also getting help with county paperwork for emergency assistance
Additional programs for people in the housing units
Family Advocacy is a service offered which is a form of case management that supports families moving from shelter toward housing. People Serving People has advocates that work alongside families to reduce barriers to housing through goal setting, building support systems, and connecting to resources.
Basic needs, including free personal or hygiene supplies, are offered. Other details include toiletries and clothes through its “Head to Toe” program. The goal is to try to provide the basic items people need for short term stability.
Financial empowerment, a form of financial literacy, is offered through the Families for Finance Program. People Serving People offers this service which combines financial literacy, cultural awareness, and financial healing. It also offers one-on-one financial counseling, financial literacy classes, and matched savings account match opportunities to promote economic stability.
Family Engagement is presented as a way to provide stress relief, community building, and opportunities for meaning-making through activities for families staying at the Downtown Shelter. People Serving People offers it to shelter guests. It will create space for families to experience connection and joy while navigating a difficult season.
For children and teens, People Serving People has a K 12 Youth Engagement Program that includes an after-school program (and summer operations) for children in kindergarten through 6th grade, along with homework support, art and STEM activities, and social and emotional learning. The organization also has additional activities such as youth nights and teen nights, with many activities hosted at the Downtown shelter site.
People Serving People partners with Minneapolis Public Schools. They help support students in the shelter by providing transportation to and from school for school-age guests who attend Minneapolis Public Schools, and that MPS staffs an office on-site at the Downtown Shelter to support families with educational need
Basic health services are also part of the current on-site programs at the shelter. People Serving People has a program known as Hennepin County Healthcare for the Homeless which operates an on-site medical clinic at its Downtown Minneapolis shelter, staffed with medical assistants, public health nurses, and nurse practitioners.
- The location aims to provide free basic care such as screenings, physical examinations, vaccinations, and other services. Guests of both shelters and supportive housing units can access the clinic or get referrals to other income-based medical centers in Hennepin County. People Serving People also has on-site mental health support at the Downtown Shelter through a Hennepin County partner.
Additional programs from People Serving People
Homelessness prevention, which may provided direct financial help, is another major component. People Serving People offers its Family Homeless Prevention Program as a short-term, voluntary program that provides flexible financial assistance and case management to help eligible families. This can include funds to pay rent or utilities among other bills. There are also referrals to other places in Minneapolis that may help pay rent. The goal is to help people stay housed and avoid homelessness or re-experiencing homelessness. The application number is 612-709-6905.
The Technology Resource Center is available for free. It can provide people with the ability to conduct job searches, resume writing, allow e-mail access and complete homework assignments. The center includes an advocate support for tasks like job searching, resumes, cover letters, and job applications, and school-age children can use the space for homework. TRC is a computer lab open Monday through Friday, located on the 2nd floor near advocate offices, and that advocates can assist guests with using the lab.
Applying to People Serving People
For families seeking help, People Serving People emphasizes starting with the Hennepin County Shelter Hotline for shelter access or call 612-332-4500.
- Downtown Shelter & Main Office: 614 South 3rd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415. Phone: 612-332-4500.
- St. Anne’s Place: 2634 Russell Ave North, Minneapolis, MN 55411. Phone: 612-521-2128.
- Early Learning Center: 810 S 7th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415. Phone: 612-249-5337.
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