UPDATE: Ramsey County commissioners approve Bethesda Hospital lease
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Tuesday, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved a plan to lease Bethesda Hospital from M Health Fairview.
The county plans to turn the hospital into a transitional shelter for those experiencing homelessness.
The lease would be for a year and a half and would cost $1.1 million, also providing about 100 people with shelter over the winter.
Although the board agreed on the move, commissioners also stated it’s a temporary solution.
An earlier version of this report appears below.
With temperatures dropping and snow arriving, time is running out for Ramsey County commissioners to decide the fate of Bethesda Hospital.
[KSTP-TV]
Commissioners are considering converting it into a homeless shelter and wanted it to happen before winter, but have been met by backlash from the community.
This move would help provide 100 people with shelter during the winter and because it’s a functioning hospital, it would also allow the county to provide extra help with substance abuse and with COVID-19 concerns.
The board has been in favor of this from the start, but when it announced the move, neighbors wanted more clarity.
More from KSTP.com:
Ramsey County commissioners delay vote on Bethesda Hospital lease until next week
Neighbors call for transparency as Ramsey County prepares to vote on Bethesda Hospital shelter
Cold, COVID-19 complicate situation for people without shelter
With losses of $163M in 6 months, Fairview to eliminate 900 jobs, make hospital changes
The board delayed the vote last week to instead address neighbors’ concerns, including safety. In response to that concern, the board told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS there will be 24-7 security measures in place.
As many as 400 people are sleeping on the street in Ramsey County every night, and converting the hospital would help provide shelter.
It’s not going to be free; the county would lease the building from M Health Fairview.
The hospital became available when the healthcare system announced system-wide changes because of an expected loss in revenue.
The lease would be for a year and a half and would cost $1.1 million.
The hospital is currently being used for COVID-19 patients. Those patients would be moved to St. Joseph’s hospital.
The meeting starts at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Stay with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS and KSTP.com for updates on that vote.