Industry Professionals Recognize the Emergency Housing Services Building

On behalf of the many key stakeholders, the Washington County CDA is proud to accept two new awards recognizing the development of the Emergency Housing Services Building (EHSB), a significant contribution to our community.

On Tuesday, May 5, Washington County CDA Executive Director Melissa Taphorn was in San Antonio, TX, to accept the 2026 Multifamily Award of Excellence Winner presented by the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies (NALHFA). The Award of Excellence is the most prestigious national award in the local affordable housing finance community. And, on Thursday, May 7, Washington County CDA personnel will be in Bloomington, MN, to receive a 2026 Project Award from REjournals.

ABOUT THE EHSB

The innovative EHSB is a two-story, 30,000-square-foot development that redefines emergency housing in the Twin Cities area. Developed by the Washington County CDA in partnership with Washington County, Minnesota, and the cities of Stillwater and Oak Park Heights, the site-responsive building is nestled on the county’s Government Center campus. Its placement adjacent to the county allows support services to be delivered directly to residents who otherwise would need to seek off-site assistance.

The EHSB fills a critical gap in the area’s homelessness response system by offering a dignified and non-congregate shelter model featuring 30 private single- and double-occupancy rooms. The intentional design incorporates a deep awareness of residents’ needs by utilizing natural daylight, outdoor green spaces, calming color palettes, clear sightlines to bolster a sense of safety, pet-friendly accommodations, acoustic attenuation to prevent trauma-inducing sounds from carrying, and private spaces for decompression.

The community kitchen and dining space, laundry facilities, gathering spaces, computer access, on‑site offices for case management, 24/7 shelter operations, and job search center all contribute to an environment that supports residents as they transition toward long‑term housing solutions.

The EHSB opened in the fall of 2025 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by many who saw the area’s critical shortage of emergency housing units for single adults, which forced many residents to seek shelter outside the county, disconnecting them from local services and housing pathways. The celebration and open house were the culmination of a significant effort by the building partners.

Also at the San Antonio conference, Community Development Assistant Director Kristen Scobie was recognized with the NextGen in Affordable Housing Award. Read more here!