In 1981, Catholic Charities of St Paul and Minneapolis opened the Dorothy Day Center as a drop-in center for meals, serving approximately 30-50 people per day. Over time, due to increasing homelessness, it was forced to become a 24 / 7 / 365 overnight shelter-something it was never designed or intended to do. And it reached a tipping point in 2011 when, for the first time, Catholic Charities had to turn people away.  In partnership with a task force of community leaders convened by Mayor Chris Coleman, a solution was developed. 

The new vision for the Dorothy Day Center-which is supported by what is likely the largest public-private partnership in state history-will consist of a two-building campus designed to prevent and end homelessness. It will focus on two key components which do not exist sufficiently today:  more permanent homes and dedicated self-sufficiency services that will create true pathways out of poverty and homelessness. The location for this new vision-in the shadow of our Capitol, the Cathedral and the commercial and entertainment center of our community-will be a beacon of hope and opportunity.

 

Tim Marx, President and Chief Executive Officer, Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, works with the dedicated board of directors, talented executive leadership, and hard working staff to establish the strategic direction of Catholic Charities and to oversee its implementation. Tim works extensively with faith, civic, and public policy leaders, community partners, donors and volunteers to advance the vision of a community where there is poverty for no one and opportunity for everyone.

The values of Catholic Social Teaching— including human dignity, a preference for the poor and vulnerable, promotion of the community and the common good—provide the foundation for the work of Catholic Charities and Tim’s leadership. Tim brings to Catholic Charities his experience as a practicing lawyer, public official (city attorney then deputy mayor of Saint Paul and Minnesota Housing Finance Agency commissioner), nonprofit leadership (executive director of Breaking Ground in New York City), and significant civic involvement including board service with HealthEast, the Minneapolis Downtown Council, National Alliance to End Homelessness and the United Way Systems Change and Innovations Committee.

Tim is a graduate of St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, the University of Minnesota Law School and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.