Emma Norton Services

About Us

The purpose of Emma Norton Services is to foster stability and person growth for women and families who are homeless –or at risk of becoming homeless -by providing affordable, secure housing and supportive services in a respectful, healthy atmosphere. ENS fills a crucial housing need in our community that is not being met by any other provider. The doors of Emma Norton Services are open to all homeless and at risk women, regardless of age, severity of problems, background or ability to pay. Our transitional housing program in St. Paul is often the last chance for women who have been dismissed from other programs due to chemical dependency and mental health issues. Our permanent housing program in Maplewood serves homeless families with children that range in age from infant through age 18. Many providers are not able to serve large families, and many will not accept children over age 12. No other housing program in the Twin Cities offers the breadth and depth of services to these families that ENS provides.

Why We Need a New Website

You –smokin’ I.T. Website design maven with uncommon empathy.

Oh, we need you bad. The website at this place is old and boring. That’s because we don’t have any money to make it better. Our $3,000 budget only covers the upkeep of current equipment, email for the folks who work here, and web hosting. We rely on the kindness of strangers to help us. And it’s a big deal ‘cause it’s the link between Emma Norton Services and folks in the community who give money, time, and talent to keep this place going, and to others who want to live here. In this day and age there are lots of other social service places looking for that same money, time, and talent. And givers are in a hurry. When they’re in the mood to give money or time, it’s right now. Or they may go elsewhere. So we need a website that stands out! We need you to make our site sing! And when we want to change it, update it, keep it current –that’s got to be easily done by the people here. You can do that, can’t you?

Bottom line –we can’t get community support if we don’t have a good website.

Visit our website

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Messages From Supporters

When the judges choose which non-profits will be selected to participate in this year's F1 Challenge they will take into account testimonials from beneficiaries, donors, volunteers, board members and other

I started as a volunteer at Emma's because I've seen loved ones fall through the cracks before and helping others is one way I prove to myself that there is always hope. I visit Emma's every week and always come away refreshed and inspired by the women who work there and by the residents. These are women working extremely hard to turn their lives around; they are joyful, gracious, talented women who have had more than their share of pain and suffering. Such strong women--such an empowering organization--should have the necessary support to keep programs successful. The website is Emma's face to the world, and I hope you will make it as warm, welcoming, and beautiful as its residents and employees.

Haden Bowie, Volunteer

I came across Emma Norton on craigslist.com They were looking for free furniture and I had a new mattress to offer. When I delivered it to Emma's Place there was a little girl, about 8 years old, highly interested in the mattress as I unloaded it. I asked her if the mattress was to be hers. "Yes, sir." She went on to say she had never slept on a mattress before. I was hooked. And now I'm a volunteer.

Bill Klein, donor & volunteer

I have been impressed with how much is accomplished at Emma Norton Services with a very limited budget. This is an organization that is always working to better the lives of the women, children and volunteers that are touched. The twenty first century is about communication. We are busy reaching people who need to be served and unable to fund efforts to reach out to the greater community. I hope your creativity can be added to our passion to move us into the future.

Walter Lockhart, Board Treasurer

Emma Norton Services is an amazing organization, with 90 years of history working in the St. Paul area. As with many non-profits, they have a very limited bugdet, but oh, the wonderful things they do with those dollars! During that 90 year history, countless women and children have been served to give them a secure, affordable place to live, and caring people to help the women with the issues they have. Imagine how much more effective they could be in their mission, with a website to take them well into the 21st century? The possibilities are yet to be seen!

Nancy Gale - Representative on the Board from the United Methodist Women

I am a tenant at Emma Norton and have found that since I have moved in it has been a very pleasant move. I enjoy my case manager Melissa and see that she will be a large help in me moving on in my life toward the direction it needs to be and of that I am very excited. Emma Norton is a facility that helps woman find their direction in life and what I can see is that the woman here are receiving what they need. I am very grateful to be given another chance myself here because I have relapsed but am back on track and very happy to be in a safe place for my recovery from my addiction as well as TBI. Again I thank Emma Norton. Sincerely, Elizabeth Christianson

elizabeth christianson Tenant

Write a testimonial.

Emma Norton Services
670 N. Robert St.
St. Paul, MN 55101

Our Mission

Looking for love. Separated, recovering, homeless, with three kids seeks I.T. PRO with a heart of gold.

You can find me at Emma Norton Services. The people who run this place took me in when other social service houses turned me away. It was my last chance. It’s secure – the ol’ man can’t find me here. I’m straight first time in years thanks to my strength and their housing and support. And, best of all, I have the chance to start my life over again from scratch, go back to school, start earning money in a real job, and get my family back on the right track.

The women here with me have lots of struggles like mine. Some of us have been kicked out of other Twin Cities’ programs because we’re considered too tough or time-consuming. So we support one another. We have a warm place to sleep and good food to eat. And the staff here helps us hold onto our hope and belief that we can build new lives. They’ve got programs to help us to do just that. It’s the first good news I’ve had in many years.

Note -just to inject a bit of formality: Emma Norton Services fosters stability and personal growth for women and families who are homeless –or at risk of becoming homeless –by providing affordable, secure housing and supportive services in a respectful, healthy atmosphere.

Pretty honorable mission, hey?