Editor’s note: It is disgraceful that a city that can afford to subsidize billionaire sports promoters (half a billion for a baseball stadium; $155 million for renovating a basketball arena; almost a billion for the city share of the new Vikings stadium over 30 years) can’t afford to house homeless people in the winter.
Last winter 43 Minnesotans froze to death. In the winter of 2012 to 2013, 53 died from exposure to the cold.
Hennepin County and social welfare agencies are doing a better job of finding the homeless and getting them to shelters, but we are still dependent on private charities rather than assuming this as a public responsibility.
Dominic Bouza writes: “The Salvation Army has about a dozen shelters throughout the Twin Cities that they open when the weather gets cold. We opened our chapel as a warming center on the 4th or 5th of January. We usually keep it open when the weather reaches 10 degrees or cooler. Last week we saw a minimum of 20 people using the chapel to get out of the weather. Since then, we have increased the number of people using our chapel to almost 80.
“An urban saint by the name of Alan Law drops by late in the morning and gives out sandwiches to these folks. We’ll provide hot chocolate. The chapel will be used as a warming center until about 8:30 p.m. when we open up Safebay for 130 men in bunk beds. Once Safebay is full, we’ll begin laying down mats in the chapel.
“Our new director, an African-American woman, Captain Katherine Clausell, has decided to not turn anyone away for overnight shelter when the temperature is 32 degrees or colder at night. We’re also instituting a ‘no bed goes unused’ policy to move shelter guests to the Emergency Housing floor (143 beds) for men who are paying for shelter. Unlike the men paying for shelter, the men that are moved upstairs must leave after breakfast.
“On top of all this, we are beginning a pilot project to allow the men and women in free shelter to stay in the building a few extra hours in the morning, many using that time to catch up on sleep. We partner with another ministry to provide a hot meal for those leaving very early in the morning (5-5:45 a.m.) and a continental breakfast to those taking advantage of the additional shelter hours. The block, after two murders this spring and summer, along with multiple assaults, property damage and a multitude of other crimes is taking a turn for the better with the arrest of a single individual (who was controlling the drug trade on this block for almost a year). Since then (October) we have been dubbed as having the lowest crime rate in 20 years. That should have an effect on how safe people feel down here to take advantage of our programming.
“I have seen so many changes in the past six years and love being a part of it. Instead of arresting a known intoxicant in downtown Minneapolis, we’re partnering with prosecutors to minimize jail sentences and maximize social services and housing options. The police in downtown will refer a known petty criminal to a social service agency providing all kinds of assistance before arrest. This minimizes just ticketing the intoxicant, who will show up later at the hospital with frostbite.
“We’re received one international and three national awards for best practices. This Friday, I will be in contact with Detroit public health folks who are creating innovative ways to assist the homeless through fewer 911 calls. Apparently, they saw something on our program here (Harbor Light) and want to replicate it, along with some actions I have established to keep our streets clear of predators and victims. Truly an exciting time! I love the fact that the Minneapolis scale is affecting policy worldwide!”
