Simpson Housing Services — Local services in Minneapolis

In October, everything changed for the intake, but as for the rest, it still needs improvement. In many respects, it is better than Salvation Army's services. The staff are largely fairly respectful and complaints on improper behavior are taken serious. They make an effort to be fair towards their clients but are often a little lenient.

The process for checking in is either calling Homeless Connect, which has been donated space by St. Olaf's and hoping for some bed to open or calling for an overnight bed. These come up rarely, however. They are in high demand and women usually take their time leaving.

The food is 9 times out of ten very good and freshly made. It's always provided by volunteers and volunteers are given room to do their work in a very excellent kitchen.

Unfortunately, outside of a good-sized cafeteria, there's less offered to clients. A room filled to the gills each for men and women, with all the smells that homeless can accumulate-not washed enough bodies, stale feet, urine and other unpleasant smells of too many people in a space. This is often due to a lack in facilities for bathrooms and showers. There's only one shower for the women to use and many look to drop-in centers such as Opportunity Center or other options for bathing. They do, however offer limited free laundry to their clients.

Unfortunately, they lack a 24-hour program and turn people out with no clue as to where to go for further help.

It is telling that even with these issues, many people who are homeless vastly prefer Simpson to Salvation Army. Those that aren't seeking housing can go elsewhere and those that do can get extensions on time.

For those planning on coming to Simpson, I highly suggest to already have started proceedings for housing and be in case management. Have an income. While they can give you shelter, that's all they can really do.

And you know what? Between them and Salvation Army, most prefer the more limited location.

Let that sink in for a second.

Disclaimer: I am a client, not a staff at Simpson Shelter. I have not been compensated or asked to make a review or led in any way in my review....

What a special place! They have turned helping people get off their feet into a well polished machine. Thankfully there are still brilliant people who choose public service over money...because I bet any fancy corporate leadership team would benefit from the skills of whoever is running this place. In summary, they offer a safe place to stay for single women and men, provide a small locker for personal items (while they go to work, etc.), provide meals each evening, provide counseling and medical services, and give care packages when they finally have enough money to get their own place. My company volunteered to cook (and pay for) a nightly evening meal for the homeless folks staying there and I volunteered to help. They let us plan and handle every last detail of the meal. We made tacos and included a lot of extras like tons of homemade guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, fancy deserts, etc. We learned tacos wasn't an original idea but you could tell how appreciative everyone was about the special extras. Can't wait to volunteer again. Also, planning to collect bras, underwear, razors, shaving supplies, etc. to donate. Turns out they have plenty of other essentials like shampoo but rarely have enough of the things I listed. Why can't I look for sales at places like TJMaxx, Ross, etc.? I highly recommend the volunteer experience and/or donating to such an...

Lots of other down and out men and a few women in an old church basement with bad restroom facilities. Besides the sometimes hot breakfast, and having to deal with crummy people, it is just a shelter and will get your nowhere, just a place to crash. It seemed like the people who work there are younger, college aged people who have zero experience being homeless and navigating the systems, and are more interested in getting credit and doing whatever it is they do, because I was never helped enough. The sleeping area is "staffed" with a desk person who leaves a light on all night Lottery every Monday, and if you get in, you sleep on a mat on the floor...Better than nothing, but, after 28 days, (if you win a bed) you are out of the...