The Star Tribune has a story today about the bitter cold and the corresponding tragedy of full homeless shelters. The story is at: http://www.startribune.com/stories/1524/4333223.html. From the story:
As temperatures plummeted, many of the Twin Cities' homeless wore expressions as thin as their frayed sweatshirts and jackets. Shelters have opened early this week in an effort to get people out of the bitter cold -- only to fill just as quickly, forcing others to walk as far as 2 miles to the next shelter, where they can only hope they won't be turned away again, said Monica Nilsson, shelter director at Simpson Housing in Minneapolis. Even with an additional 130 beds provided for winter, Hennepin County shelters can accommodate only 803 individuals and 233 families. In Ramsey County, which has shelters that can accommodate 253 individuals and 98 families, the demand for beds is such that children are sleeping on mattresses on shelter floors, Nilsson said. The 120 beds in "overflow" shelters, such as Minneapolis' Harbor Light Center, are in continual use, she said. Margaret Hastings-Mpls- ______________________________ REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ 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
