Regions, United and St. Joseph hospitals are partnering with Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis for a 16-bed medical respite unit at Higher Ground St. Paul, Catholic Charities’ new vision for the Dorothy Day Center, which serves the homeless.

The organizations announced the collaboration March 3.

The respite unit is based on the model Catholic Charities piloted with North Memorial Health Care at Exodus Residence in Minneapolis.

According to Catholic Charities, the unit reduced the rate of re-hospitalization by 67 percent and emergency room visits by more than 50 percent.

“Our vision for the Dorothy Day Center is simple: By working together, we can better help those in need,” said Mary Brainerd, president and chief executive officer of HealthPartners and co-chair of Dorothy Day’s capital campaign, in a March 3 statement. “This partnership of three major hospitals and also other key partners represents the best in our community, offering those experiencing homelessness a place to recover and heal in dignity.”