urging us to work toward "a more perfect union," here are a few questions
for Mpls and Hennepin County officials.
1. Would someone from the City of Mpls City and someone from Hennepin
County please explain *what your current plans are to help the children,
families and individuals currently camped out in Powderhorn Park?* As you
know, they are camped about a 5 minute drive from where Mr Floyd was
murdered.
*2.. What discussions are taking place, if any, with local foundations
about purchasing buildings for PERMANENT, affordable housing and services
to these folks? *
*3. What conversations are taking places with organizations like PPL, that
have "shovel ready" ready projects? *
*4. What if any conversation is taking place with Jonette Lucia, who has
been urging creation of a permanent, affordable housing facility with
supportive services for Hennepin County teen parents and their children (*yes,
Mr. Conley and I worked together several months ago to place such a family
in a downtown Mps shelter - better than the car she and her family had
spent a December night in. But would any of us want loved ones to live for
any length of time in that downtown shelter?)
*5. Are any conversations taking place with districts like Anoka Hennepin,
whose students, have more than 20 years been building 3 bedroom homes for
less than $100,000? *
*6. Are any conversations taking place with Youthbuild? * In some Mn
communities, high school students have been building homes for homeless
people, or rehabbing existing homes for homeless families?
7/ I*s the Mpls City Council willing to hold a hearing with currently and
formerly homeless youth and families, as the St Paul City Council has done?*
*8. Is Hennepin County willing to include currently and formerly homeless
youth and families in a task force designed to reduce homelessness, as
Ramsey County has agreed to do?*
These & other ideas are discussed in a Dec 25, 2019 "op ed" column
published in the Star Tribune, written by 3 formerly homeless youth and
yours truly:
https://www.startribune.com/we-know-too-well-the-toll-of-youth-homelessness-we-have-suggestions/566445122/
Also discussed in this recent column that appeared in a number of suburban
and rural Mn newspapers:
https://www.hometownsource.com/abc_newspapers/opinion/columnist/column-students-building-houses-helps-solve-several-problems/article_2a6981fc-a12e-11ea-b502-474e9df4b9ac.html
Yes, we all hope that state legislators will provide $100-300 million in
bonds.
9. *But as we wait, what plans are being developed for hundreds of people
in Powderhorn and hundreds of others who urgently need permanent,
affordable housing?*
Photos below taken yesterday.
Thank you
Joe Nathan, PhD, Director, Center for School Change
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