Re: [Mpls] Homeless during the day - the rest of the story

[Dean Zimmermann]

Victoria;   I would like to hear first hand about your offer to donate a 5000 sq ft building for a homeless shelter.    Dean Zimmermann    Mpls City Council - Ward 6 612-673-2206 ----- Original Message ----- From: Victoria Heller To: Allysen Hoberg ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 1:25 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Homeless during the day - the rest of the story Allysen Hoberg writes:   "St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Simpson Methodist Church, and Love Power   Church have been attempting to open a shelter on the West Bank for approx.   two years.  There have been numerous public hearings and at least one   article written in both the Star and Tribune and the City Pages about this   endeavor.   Both Simpson and St. Stephen's Shelter are fully staffed overnight by a volunteer    work force."     The rest of the story: The "shelter" proposed on the West Bank violates zoning laws and City of Minneapolis Ordinances (Missions cannot house shelters.)   The only neighborhood public meeting was overwhelmingly against placing an overnight mens' shelter next door to a gun shop and six bars.   The "shelter" budget shows 90% of the money ($135,000) to be paid as salaries - apparently to watch 25 men sleep on mats on the floor.  No volunteers at all.   The original proposal, for 25 employed men, morphed into a lottery based overnight shelter when Zoning denied the supportive housing proposal a conditional use permit.   I offered to donate a very nice 5,000 square foot building (formerly the Currie Center and the West Bank Charter School) just 3 blocks away from the Mission site to be used as a shelter for a lot more than 25 men.   My offer was completely ignored.     The moral of the story:  Honesty works better than deception, and the law applies to everyone equally.     Victoria Heller North Oaks Cedar-Riverside Property Owner