1. *Thanks to many who wrote to offer advice about the 19 year old mother
and her two small children..* Amanda from Citizens League put me in touch
late last week with senior Hennepin County officials.
2. *Update* We never received an explanation from Hennepin County officials
about why the 19 year old mom and her 2 children were excluded from the
Drake (and ended up spending a night outside in a car). Melinda Brown at
High School for Recording Arts wa able to work out a few days shelter while
we worked through this with Ramsey and Hennepin County
By last Friday, we were able to work with Hennepin County to get her housed
in another downtown facility. And as everyone reading this knows, NOT
being in the Drake turned out to be a good thing. I also took this family
Christmas shopping on Dec 24.
I spent several hours in the Hennepin County waiting room at 525 Portland.
I ended up buying some books, crayons and paper for children and families
waiting there. I've also offered to contribute in 2020 toward more of this
in 2020. But for obvious reasons, Hennepin County housing officials have
been busy.
[image: H Books & crayons.jpeg]
3.*St Paul NAACP* had a terrific session last Saturday talking about
affordable housing. Thanks to Rep Alice Hausman and Sen David Senjem who
attended, listened and offered suggestions. So did Sarah Watson of the
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights.
4. *Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan* announced recently that they
are establishing a public private effort to house people who currently are
out in the cold.
5. *Possible next steps:* In response to the Drake fire, there have been many
generous acts
<https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/12/26/for-those-displaced-by-drake-fire-loss-is-tempered-by-gratitude?fbclid=IwAR23EkPFjBiCl4Sq4wBsgz87pDo3EUOK8WrrSAZw_lY9dxvmmUIuyLwCZSU>
â thatâs wonderful. Additional contributions would be wonderful â
coordinated by Mpls Foundation
<https://giving.onecause.com/public/02ad4737-2285-4ad2-91c6-95cd66b423bf/fundraisers/4a01eda4-2a92-4347-b3e2-6ffb346eac3e/donate?fbclid=IwAR3BsFRiBhrIbffn5XRW3Hs0sLW8HOkhUOpoTaO4JKSyTwXGSizucThXv3Y>
Three formerly homeless youth (2 homeless earlier this year) and I wrote a
column about what should be done to dramatically reduce youth and family
homelessness. This was published by Star Tribune
<http://www.startribune.com/we-know-too-well-the-toll-of-youth-homelessness-we-have-suggestions/566445122/?fbclid=IwAR30nYIcTVT2SKPBW-a9OzQKODpopY8xHlqJu5IQCcv7kNcLLU-af-gRfEI>
on Christmas day.
*Here are some possible next steps for people to consider*
1. Contribute the the housing fund coordinated by the Mpls Foundation,
mentioned above.
2. Write a letter to the *Star Tribune* responding to our column or to
this overall situation.
3. Join the Mn Coalition for Homeless. *Matt Traynor*, who is copied on
this email, is the person to talk with about joining the coalition.
4. Contact one or more suburban and rural friends and urge them to join the
Mn Coalition, mentioned immediately above.
Other advice welcome.
Thanks to each of you. Hope you have a healthy, happy, satisfying 2020.
Sincerely