Overcoming homelessness at Restoring Waters

New project provides safe living for women along with supportive services

Emma Norton’s Advancement Director Shawna Nelson Wills (shown) pointed out they incorporated trauma-informed design principals in the new building at Highland Bridge.

Emma Norton’s Advancement Director Shawna Nelson Wills pointed out they incorporated trauma-informed design principals in the new building at Highland Bridge.

Overcoming homelessness at Restoring Waters_Iric Nathanson.mp3

Posted Thursday, February 27, 2025 1:31 pm

Solar installations at Highland Bridge

Hillcrest Avenue in Highland Bridge separates Marvella, Presbyterian Homes’ senior housing development, from two affordable apartment buildings across the street, Restoring Waters and Nellie Frances Court, built by Project for Pride in Living.

Bill Wernz, who lives at Marvella, can look out at the two PPL buildings across Hillcrest, knowing that he has played a role in improving their energy efficiency.

Wernz spearheaded a successful effort to construct solar collectors on the roofs of the affordable apartment buildings across from Marvella.

A renewable energy advocate, the retired attorney was looking for ways to further his cause when he came across a little-known Minnesota state tax incentive aimed at promoting investments in affordable housing. Under the state program, Minnesota tax payers can get an 85% state income tax credit for contributions to newly constructed affordable housing projects.

While the state tax credit is not aimed specifically at renewable energy investments, Wernz decided that he would use the credit to generate funding for those energy saving measures. After persuading PPL to use its tax credit dollars for solar collectors on its Highland Bridge buildings, Wernz was able to raise $70,000 in tax credits for PPL by knocking on the doors of his friends and contacts, including his Marvella neighbors, and encouraging them to contribute to the state program.

Wernz has also raised funds for solar equipment at a PPL project in St. Louis Park and continues to fund raise for solar installations at other affordable projects throughout the Twin Cities.

Already, Wernz’s efforts are having a positive impact on operations at Restoring Waters and Nellie Frances Court, where solar is cutting electrical costs at the two building by more than 50 percent.

Audio

Overcoming homelessness at Restoring Waters_Iric Nathanson.mp3

By Iric Nathanson

The soothing sound of a bubbling fountain greets visitors to the new affordable housing development at Highland Bridge in St. Paul. The fountain is a symbol for the aptly named Restoring Waters, a 60-unit apartment building for women emerging from homelessness.

The Highland Bridge project, which opened in April, was developed by the non-profit Project for Pride in Living in partnership with a St. Paul community agency, Emma Norton Services.

With a history stretching back to 1920s, Emma Norton, named for a prominent St. Paul social reformer, was established to provide safe living space for young women coming to the Twin Cities for school or work. For the last 30 years, the agency has operated a homeless shelter for women on Robert Street in St. Paul. Along with a bed, Emma Norton provides supportive services for women dealing with mental illness, chemical dependency and spousal abuse.

“This project at Highland Bridge came about because our original building in St. Paul was aging,” explains Shawna Nelson Wills, Emma Norton’s Advancement Director. “We were putting more money into maintenance than we were into programs. The Robert Street building was never intended to be permanent housing. It was really intended to be short-term and transitional for people who had very immediate needs. We wanted a building that worked for our clients on a long-term basis. Our last building was concrete with shared rooms. That worked for people for a while, but it wasn’t a permanent solution.”

In 2018, Emma Norton started working with PPL on a new building that would serve the St. Paul agency’s target population. At the same time, PPL was building its own 75-unit affordable apartment building, Nellie Frances Court, on an adjacent block.

Restoring Waters now provides 60 units of permanent housing and serves as the administration center for the social service agency.

As one of several non-profit developers selected to work at Highland Bridge, PPL is responsible for building 300 units of affordable housing at scattered sites throughout the 122-acre development on the former Ford site. PPL’s 300 units are intended to help Highland Budge achieve its goal of providing 760 units of affordable housing for people with incomes up to 60% of the Twin Cities area median. Half of the 760 units are intended for people with very low incomes at 30% of area median. PPL’s Nelie Frances Court has a 60% income eligibility requirement while Restoring Waters is aimed at potential tenants with incomes up to 30% of median.

“Restoring Waters has been a win for both our agencies,” said Nelson Wills. “We have been able to get this beautiful new facility and PPL has moved closer to meeting its affordable housing goals.

“In our building plans, we have incorporated principles of trauma-informed design. The colors, the rounded corners, the open vistas; everything has been built to help people coming here feel calm, safe and comfortable. We also have great programming spaces in the building. These spaces are intended to help people heal and recover.”

While the programs at Restoring Waters are aimed primarily at Emma Norton residents, the agency does provide walk-in-services for non-residents who are in need of short-term mental health services. The walk-in program, known as the Living Room, provides peer counselors who can help clients deal with their mental health needs in a holistic way.

“Our overall goal at Emma Norton is to help our clients live independently,“ Nelson Wills explained. “In St. Paul, we provided three meals a day and other direct services. Here we have communal meals for special occasions but mainly people on their own. With the help of our staff, we do what can to help our residents become more self-reliant.”

Emma Norton’s Advancement Director says that staff and residents have received a warm welcome from their neighbors across the street at Marvella. “The people there have been wonderful. When we first opened, a group of them came over with welcome baskets for each of the apartments, with cleaning and cooking supplies, towels, sheets and other necessities each of our residents would need to set up housekeeping.

“We wanted to make sure than when people moved here, they had a fully furnished apartment. We didn’t want them to move in and then have to sleep on the floor.

“Highland Bridge is a wonderful location – close to jobs, transit and the beauty of the Mississippi River,” noted Paul Williams, PPL’s outgoing Executive Director. “Our folks deserve to be there. They deserve the opportunity to take pride in the place that they live. We are grateful to the city of St. Paul and Ryan Companies for believing in that same opportunity. The community has welcomed us with open arms and in a true sense of partnership, including Marvella residents who have helped pay for the installation of solar panels on top of both the Nellie Francis and Restoring Waters buildings. We couldn’t be more pleased.”