This article is about Saint Paul's plan to end homelessness. Mpls has yet to develop such a plan. time we did, ( i have taken excerpts from the article) Margaret Hastings- kingfield Posted on Wed, Nov. 02, 2005
Plan targets homelessness Expansive effort seeks to end problem BY JASON HOPPIN Pioneer Press A coalition of politicians, policy-makers and homeless advocates will announce an ambitious effort today to not just manage homelessness in Ramsey County but end it. The $131 million, five-year plan — the first part of a two-pronged approach to homelessness — calls for enough new housing by 2010 to support 920 people. .The effort focuses on chronic homelessness. More than 700 people regularly spend their nights on local streets in the county, according to the Wilder Research Center of St. Paul. More than half of them suffer mental illness, one-third are addicted to drugs and only 30 percent are employed. The problem is getting worse, said Jim Anderson, a human services planner with Ramsey County who has helped coordinate the advisory board's efforts. A recently concluded five-year plan failed to solve the homelessness issue largely because it didn't contain specifics, Anderson said. "We really feel that we need to end homelessness, period," Anderson said. "This is not a problem that can be managed. … If we're not committed to making the effort to end it, it's just going to go on and on and on." A second phase — a plan aimed at transitional homelessness — is expected to be announced next spring. On any given night, there are an estimated 1,500 people or more on local streets, including the chronically homeless. "The cost of doing nothing far exceeds the cost of the plan," Anderson said, citing expenses for detoxification services, hospital stays and other costs associated with homelessness. Plans with similar goals have often failed for lack of political will. Although Anderson said he was warily optimistic about the federal government's commitment, he believes local government is committed to the problem. The 2005 Legislature set aside $31 million to deal with the problem, he noted. Steve Rice, a city of St. Paul staffer who works on the issue, said he hopes the political will doesn't waver. "It takes a lot of courage to go with this plan, quite frankly. You don't have a shiny new skyscraper to point to. But what you'll have is some normal-looking person living a decent life," Rice said. REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
