After reading the story about the folks living At Home on the Island, I was frustrated. The reporter failed to contact anyone who actually works with people living outside such as Patrick Wood of People Inc. Metrowide Homeless Outreach Project or anyone from the American Indian Housing/KOLA project whose target population is Native American people who live outside. While Mary Jo and the Salvation Army have their niche, it is not outreach to homeless individuals who chose to live outside.
I also do not feel that there was enough emphasis put on the fact that the majority of people who chose to live outside suffer from PTSD or other mental illnesses and self-medicate with drugs or alcohol to make their lives tolerable. There are few treatment centers that are able to deal adequately with both MI/CD issues in the metro area, especially if someone has been living outside for years. The Salvation Army has a "Safe Bay" that is contracted for 38 people per night, and there is an estimated 400-700 people sleeping outside. The shelter advocates in this city have been pushing hard to open 100 new shelter beds (As recommended by the City/County Task Force) and it has been an uphill battle, to say the least. So, while the few people that were documented in this article are choosing to live outside, there simply is not enough emergency shelter beds (or empty treatment beds, psyche unit beds, detox beds, group home/board and lodge placements, or units of affordable housing. . .) for all of the people living outside in Minneapolis. I also hope that home ownership is not mentioned as an option for someone making less than 600.00 per month. . . While I did not know him, I also mourn the loss of Eric Stonechild. There are few people like him, who dedicate themselves to working with the hardest to serve instead of asking city leaders for them to be moved from place to place or to jail. He, with Dr. Ken McMillon of KOLA, recently just spoke to Mpls. City Council with regards to repealing the anti-camping ordinance and spoke on behalf of people who choose to live outside or do so because there is nowhere else to go. It is unfortunate that reporters highlight the illegal activities of the homeless folks who live outside. There is more to the "choice" than just deciding one day to move indoors. Kate Stanley, a reporter for the Star Trib has written many articles and editorials on homelessness, mental health, and the folks who live outside in this city. She has also befriended and worked with many of the advocates and homeless people in this city, so her articles reflect the complexities of the issue. Allysen Hoberg St. Stephen's Shelter, Whittier Audobon Park -----Original Message----- From: David Brauer [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, August 18, 2003 9:10 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Skyway News stories of note Catching up on some old business... I promised to post a link to our Mike Christenson/CPED story...belatedly, here is Scott Russell's story. http://makeashorterlink.com/?V577211A5 Also, re: our earlier discussion about conditions for the homeless in Minneapolis, I thought members might like to read (and comment) on our cover story from last week, "At Home on the Island" by April Wooster. http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z367241A5 Comments welcome, to me or the list. Thanks, David Brauer King Field Editor, Skyway News and Southwest Journal TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
