[Hennepin County press release]
Hennepin County aids 2 adult emergency shelters
Hennepin County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution
yesterday to keep open two homeless shelters that were scheduled to close
on April 15.
Through the seasonal shelter policy adopted by the board in 1994, both
the Salvation Army Harbor Light’s Safe Bay shelter for 130 men and Simpson
Housing Services' overflow shelter for 20 women operate with county funds
between Oct. 16 and April 15 of each year. Other public sector and
foundation resources that had funded both shelters through the spring and
summer in prior years were not available in 2004.
The board approved $149,588 for the Salvation Army and $75,600 for
Simpson Housing Services to continue shelter operations year-round in 2004.
Without this emergency infusion, both shelters would have been forced to
close their doors in less than one month.
The additional funding was reallocated from unspent family shelter
monies, said Milt Schoen, director of Housing and Shelter. "Our homeless
prevention efforts with families have paid off.”
Commissioner Gail Dorfman, who authored the resolution, said, "People
experiencing homelessness are vulnerable regardless of weather conditions.
We stand a greater chance of ending homelessness for these men and women if
we continue to offer safe refuge and provide access to support services."
The resolution approved by the board today also directs county staff to
work with the joint county-city Community Advisory Board on Homelessness to
revisit and update the 1994 county shelter plan and bring policy
recommendations to the county board in October.
— 30 —
This news release and other news tips and fact sheets are available on Hennepin County’s Web site – www.hennepin.us – under “Your County Government.”
LuAnn Schmaus Hennepin County Public Affairs 300 S. Sixth St., Minneapolis, MN 55487-0011 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
