In downtown St. Paul, an emergency overnight shelter of last resort that housed 64 residents during the winter months will continue to operate into the winter of 2019.

On Wednesday, the St. Paul City Council approved an interim use permit allowing Ramsey County to maintain the overnight shelter at 160 East Kellogg Boulevard, in the Government Center East building, through Dec. 31. The last permit expired April 30, and the new permit is retroactive to May 1.

A staff report notes that the county “has experienced an unprecedented increase in the number of unsheltered individuals and families as rents increase and rental vacancy rates fall throughout the county.” Catholic Charities is building a second phase of its downtown Higher Ground facility, but that won’t open until late 2019.

According to the permit, the county shelter will operate from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m., and residents can be referred by law enforcement, emergency first responders, designated outreach workers or staff at Higher Ground and the Union Gospel Mission if “there are no other housing options for the night.”