Mayo Clinic Health System in Barron donated $25,000 to the Salvation Army of Barron County Family House Emergency Shelter. The funding will enable the emergency shelter to open a larger shelter to help serve individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or those who need transitional housing. Transitional housing is provided to individuals and families with a history of drug or alcohol abuse. 
Programming within the Family House Emergency Shelter is designed to provide emergency shelter and assist severely mentally ill individuals secure social security benefits. The primary goal of this program is to increase the receipt of Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance among people experiencing long-term homelessness, especially for those who have mental illnesses or co-occurring substance use disorders.  
Other goals and objectives of the project include: to provide income to individuals and families with mental health conditions to ensure self-sufficiency, to secure permanent housing for individuals with mental health conditions, and to ensure all individuals and families apply for all mainstream resources, such as WIC, food stamps, community and health programs. Located in rural Barron and operated 24 hours by Salvation Army staff, the site will offer services to people in Barron and Polk Counties.  
As it aims to support rural populations in new ways, Mayo Clinic Health System is honored to fund initiatives that prioritize the work of meeting the needs of residents in local communities, including those struggling with homelessness, financial and food insecurity, substance use and abuse, and mental health issues.