I am very glad that CCHT, with the approbation of the Elliot Park neighborhood and substantial participation by a number of funding sources, has undertaken to convert the five-story St. Barnabas hospital for use as a safe and secure residence for homeless youth. St. Barnabas is in the shadow of the Metrodome and what used to be Metropolitan Medical Center (MMC - a large private hospital incorporated into HCMC some years back).
St. Barnabas was a classic white elephant - obsolete for its original use and standing vacant year after year. CCHT, to its credit, undertook to address the chronic shortage of suitable facilities for homeless youth by undertaking to rehab this structure with provision for affordable private living quarters for 50 youth and also provision for supportive services. The intended beneficiaries are young people who are old enough to be capable of independent living but in considerable distress for lack of stable housing, counseling, and a way back into the world of schooling and employment and trustworthy social relationships. There are hundreds of these kids in Minneapolis and only a handful of places for them to live. CCHT is not new to this effort. They have an established facility elsewhere in town and in general a solid track record with supervising agencies, funding sources, and neighborhood entities. Alan Arthur may be a bit forceful at times, but he is very good at what he and his associates do. As a former board chair at the now defunct Lambda Sobriety Center for recovering GLBT folks, I am very aware of the ameliorative effect of CCHT's initiative. Instead of a dead building in a development cul-de-sac, I see hope and a secure sense of belonging being offered to at least some of our very young "walking wounded". As a student of our urban scene, I'm glad to see a big old building put to a good use. Good for Elliot Park and good for CCHT! Fred Markus, Horn Terrace, Ward Ten, in the Lyndale Neighborhood --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.459 / Virus Database: 258 - Release Date: 2/25/2003 TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ 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
