RE: [Mpls] What other Mayors are saying about homelessness

[Brandon Lacy]

Unfortunately the Bush Administration has been less than friendly to 
programs that support homeless individuals. For example, the federal 
government assigned NO MONEY to the state of Minnesota this year for 
programs that provide basic drop-in centers for homeless and runaway youth. 
The result of which was that none of the seven basic drop in center programs 
for runaway and homeless youth across the state of Minnesota received 
renewal funding this year. Project OffStreets, the largest basic needs 
drop-in center program for youth in Minnesota, lost nearly half a million 
dollars in federal funding. The fun part of this is that the federal 
government (specifically the Administration for Childrn and Families, which 
stewards the Basic Needs Drop In Center Grant Program) did not inform the 
applicant agencies that no money was assigned to Minnesota this year.

There is some hope that this will change as the ACF has announced that there 
will be a slight increase (about $4 million) in the Basic Center fund 
beginning next year.

The only organization that received basic needs money in Minnesota this year 
was the Greater Twin Cities Council of Churches (I believe that is the 
name...). The reason for that is there was specific money for basic needs 
centers set aside in a fund only for faith based organization. My my my I 
guess that just goes to prove that there are very real consequences for 
social service agencies from overt federal policies that favor faith-based 
programs over secular agencies with long, proven track records of serving 
vulnerable populations. Anyone else outraged? I know I am, and I'm 
Christian.

Have a very Merry Christmas with the knowledge that those of us with homes 
and families are indeed blessed.

Yours,
Brandon Lacy Campos
Powderhorn Park
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