Bandana Square hotel turns into shelter

Project Home’s shelter for families will soon move into its new home – the former Best Western Plus Como Park Hotel at Bandana Square. The last of three community meetings to discuss the project was held May 13, 2025 at Hamline Church United Methodist.

Interfaith Action announced the building purchase earlier this spring, for $7.2 million. Pacific Lodging LLC was the previous owner. Part of the purchase was covered through federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars allocated by the state.

The building, originally part of a large Northern Pacific railroad shops complex, will provide housing for almost 100 people. It will also be a site where meals are prepared, job coaching and other services are offered.

Interfaith Action worked with Como Community Council and neighbors to get the word out about the change in use and hold meetings to hear concerns. Questions were raised about security, program rules, traffic impacts in Energy Park and volunteer opportunities.

“The growth and impact of Project Home, which started as a mobile shelter hosted by our member faith communities, shows this strength in action,” said CEO Liliana Letran-Garcia, in a news release. “This milestone enables Interfaith Action to write the next chapter of our story with ownership of a new home, providing shelter to even more unhoused families while continuing to strengthen our roots and relationships in the community.”

The purchase means renovation to the former hotel, including converting its longtime swimming pool space to an indoor play area. An opening date will be announced soon.

Sara Liegl, Project Home director, gave a brief history of the program. Project Home began in 1997, providing overnight shelter for families with children. It started as a winter program and then expanded to year-round service. 

Many places of worship and schools served as overnight shelter on a rotating basis. Families would stay at a place for a month or two at a time, with air mattresses, bedding and other items traveling with the program, via volunteers and program staff.

Hosts would volunteer to stay during the evening, stay overnight or serve a weekend breakfast.

Day shelter was provided downtown, first at Family Place and more recently at Central Presbyterian Church. 

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the program to move into hotels. Then Project Home worked with the Sisters of St. Joseph to lease the Provincial House near St. Catherine University, using that since March 2021. While that has meant less moving around for families, the dormitory-style housing isn’t ideal.

Buying the Como property gives Interfaith Action space for offices, housing and most of its programs. The Department of Indian Work, which provides programs for emergency services, health services and youth enrichment, will remain in Little Canada.

At the Como facility, an array of support is to be provided to help families make a smooth transition out of shelter and back into the community. The intent is to move families into housing quickly, with most stays averaging 2.5 months. Families get six months of support when they move out to help with that transition.

Liegl said a big plus is more space for families. About 30 families can stay at Provincial House. That number could triple at the new location.

Children at the shelter can go to school and adults can go to work or school. Families must follow rules to be residents, including a 10 p.m. curfew.

One question was security. The facility will have security on-site. Project Home doesn’t accept people with violent felonies, sex offenses or open warrants on their records. It will be a sober facility.

Families cannot have guests while staying at Project Home. They can check out to visit family on a weekend.