Jason Goray is correct about the ways the homeless get by. And other homeless people will drink enough cheap booze or Listerine to get to stay for a couple of days at Detox. Alcoholism is a hell of a way to address homelessness! People dieing on our streets from freezing is why Ventura Village approved American Indian Housing's takeover of Detox. Though some neighborhood residents were opposed to the Detox, the community refused to turn its back on those homeless people who freeze to death each winter. It is also the reason why Ventura Village supported adding ten additional beds to the facility. I know of no other community in Hennepin County that has opened its heart enough to allow these facilities. Annishinabe Wakaigun and Detox would not be allowed in other parts of the City of Minneapolis, (Fortress Communities are too "Good" a neighborhood to have such things).
Seattle Washington passed an ordinance that opened all City Parks for camping. This action was to address the homeless issue. Minneapolis is the worst place imaginable to camp out in the winter, but apparently some have even colder hearts than we have weather. When a Simpson Shelter person said that only churches in our neighborhood would allow homeless people to sleep in them an Arab man inquired, "is Ventura Village the only place in Minneapolis where good Christians live?" As he was Muslim this is quite an. indictment. Since we have such a concentration of supportive housing and the highest rape rate in the free world we supported a temporary conditional use until they could find another safer Church for the Women's Shelter. They promised to find an alternative Church as soon as possible. I guess they still are having trouble finding those other good "Christians". That was a couple of years ago and the shelter is still here. So I guess good Christian Churches that will allow homeless women to sleep in Minneapolis are more rare than the proverbial "righteous men in Sodom". I like Vicki Heller's suggestion. Any building constructed with taxpayer dollars should be open for "camping", if they have vacancies. How about some areas of Sak's and the City Center? We paid for them, so people should be able to bring in a sleeping bag and sleep in offices or other spaces that are unrented. How about the halls of the convention center? Set aside a hallway that can be secure from the rest of the building. Security would certainly be less expensive than the $700 a month per person at shelters. How about those tunnels under the streets downtown? Heated, carpeted, not used all night. Jim Graham, Ventura Village P.S. Wizard, have a bit of humor. I know you like Paul better than I, but it is only because of his Irishman's silver tongue. While I am stuck with naught, but what's mine. >>> If you would not be forgotten, >>>as soon as you are dead and rotten, >>>either write things worth reading, >>>or do things worth the writing. >>> - Benjamin Franklin _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
