St. Cloud Explores Second Community OutPost at Salem Lutheran Church

(KNSI) – A second Community OutPost could be coming to St. Cloud’s east end.

The Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation has been working on adding a facility in that part of the city for the last couple of years. Executive Director Sonja Gidlow told KNSI News that they are negotiating to lease space at Salem Lutheran Church. “They have some aspect of their property, and their buildings that they’re not using as much as they have in the past. And so, if some space might be available that would fit what we’re thinking our needs would be for a community outpost, we are just talking to them about those possibilities.”

The idea is to bring resources to struggling neighborhoods. Gidlow and other members of the foundation met with the congregation on Sunday. “We were at the church between services. We made a presentation on who the foundation is and what [the] Community OutPost or COP house is. Then some ideas about why an outpost is needed on the east side and how that might improve the vibrancy and the safety of that neighborhood.”

They also spent time answering any questions. The foundation will be back at the church in January to talk with more members. Gidlow says the next step is in the church’s hands.

If approved, the church would be the second COP House in the city. The first location is near the Southside Boys and Girls Club. The police operate a community engagement unit there. The St. Cloud school district, Stearns County Human Services and Centracare all offer services at the COP House.

The Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation just completed a survey of neighborhood residents to determine their needs. The data is being analyzed and will be used to help create programming at the outpost.

In March 2022, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar got $475,000 in federal funding for a COP House on the city’s east end.

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