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Saturday, April 14, 2007

Homelessness & somethings we can do about it.

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posted by Bob at Saturday, April 14, 2007

4 Comments:

Blogger Bob said...

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Our homeless: Part of a larger story - and community
Pioneer Press

Article Launched: 04/12/2007 12:01:00 AM CDT


More than half of all homeless people in Minnesota have suffered an episode of serious mental illness. Of the adult homeless, more than half are African American, American Indian or Hispanic. And one in four homeless men is a military veteran.

To Paul Mattessich, executive director of St. Paul-based Wilder Research, which released its latest statewide survey of homelessness in Minnesota this month, these facts show the problem is part of a larger story. Health care, race relations and treatment of veterans are universal issues. The problems in the shelters and on the streets are not isolated, personal tragedies. They are part of the community we have created, and which we can change.

Thanks to Wilder, again, for giving us the facts. Their latest "Overview of Homelessness in Minnesota 2006,'' a service they have provided every three years since 1991, sent more than 950 volunteer interviewers to emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, battered women's shelters and to less formal housing haunts last October.

Key findings include:


An estimate that there were 9,200 to 9,300 people defined as homeless on any given night in 2006. That total is higher than the 8,700 reported three years ago. But Mattessich said he believes the difference could be due more to a change in outreach and measurement, not in actual numbers of people without homes.

Children with their parents, solitary teen-agers and young adults (ages 18 to 21) make up 45 percent of the homeless population.

A total of 52 percent of the adults had a serious mental illness, a number that has risen steadily since 1994, when it stood at 20 percent. Diagnoses included major depression, bipolar or post-traumatic stress disorders, and schizophrenia. Many of these people also suffered from substance abuse, a chronic physical health problem, or both.

Most homeless people are Minnesotans - only 23 percent of the adults had lived in the state for less than two years. Racial disparities - meaning a hugely disproportionate share of African-American, American Indian and Hispanic people in the homeless population - continue to be striking.
For example, the report states, 38 percent of homeless adults are African-American - compared to 3 percent of all adult Minnesotans. American Indians make up 11 percent of the homeless adult population but only 1 percent of the state's adult population, the report states.


One in four homeless men is a military veteran, and one-third of this group served in combat zones. (By comparison, about one in five Minnesota adult men have served in the military.) These homeless vets are more likely than others to have a mental illness and to have considered or attempted suicide. Nearly half of homeless military vets who served in combat zones have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome.

The percentage of ex-offenders - those who have spent time in a state prison, county jail or juvenile correction facility - continues to rise. Roughly 47 percent of the adult homeless population falls into this category. Twelve percent of homeless adults had been released from corrections facilities in the last year.

More than half of the adult homeless population qualifies as "long term,'' meaning they have either been homeless for at least a year or have experienced four or more such episodes in the last three years. These people are older, mostly male and generally without children.
Minnesota is responding. Cities, counties and the state have focused on the problem and on the underlying issues. There is no single or simple solution. Wilder's report reminds us that we need to take another look, and to see that these are our brothers and sisters, our sons and daughters, our ex-soldiers and former neighbors. And they need our help.

10:38 AM  
Blogger Bob said...

I left this comment at the Pioneer Press. I apologise for the 2nd. paragraph. My emotions got carried away with me.

A couple of the comments here show the callous attitude to the less fortunate.
My advice is read the homeless report before you start running your mouths and making fools of yourselves.
First of all we don't have droves of homeless from other states because of a lucrative welfare system. That is an out right falsehood and misinformation.
The majority of our homeless are teens who are, or have been permanent residents of the metro area.
They for the most part come from families of low income people who did not have the resources to provide their children with an education or the tools to succeed in society.
Many homeless are mentally ill and have nobody that cares for them. They should be in assisted living somewhere and instead they are left to roam our streets digging in dumpsters for food.
The police come across a homeless camp they raze the camp and send the people on their way with out their food and shelter.
And to the person that suggest us compassionate people open our wallets. "I do" I help with providing food to the hungry, I have bought and distributed camping gear and blankets to homeless people. I advocate for the less fortunate. I know many others who help from the heart and their wallets.
Many, many homeless have jobs earning less than $10 an hour. There is no affordable housing for this working class.
We have a very large jail that isn't being used. It is a beautiful building that could immediately be opened for the working class poor as a rooming house. An indestructible rooming house that could be earning the tax payers some revenue and providing secure shelter from the streets.
I am not sure how many rooms (cells) this jail has but at an average of $300 per room a month that adds up to some really nice jing for us tax payers.
the City councils with a stroke of the pen could bring back rooming houses in the private sector.
it is Gods will the stronger of us care for the weaker among us. This is what separates us from the ANIMAL KINGDOM.
Sincerely,
Bob Johnson
Host of the A Democracy Town Hall meeting
http://www.ademocracy.blogspot.com/

Posted by: Bob Johnson of Highland

4/14/2007 10:30 AM

10:41 AM  
Blogger Nancy Osterman said...

The trouble with society is they are to quick to past judgement on others with out giving others a real chance at succeeding in life even to live a decent life away from the streets. People no longer love their neighbor or welcome a new neighbor instead they are thinking and looking for any negitive points they can find and then they escalate them issues.

Bobs idea with the old jail in my opinion would be a great oppertunity for all; the city, the community, and best of all the ones in need. It could be the foundation and start at a new life some individuals need, so why not give them the oppertunity to succeed and the city could at the same time save money on homelessness and the law enforcement that feels it is necessary to make their life more miserable by chasing them out of several locations, and the city could actually collect revenue from the occupants...

11:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is an incredible idea! A money maker for the Citizens of Saint Paul and Ramsey County.

IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. THIS CITY LEADERSHIP IS DECONCENTRATING POVERTY "THEY THINK" !

ALSO, ONE OF THEIR FAVORED DEVELOPERS WOULDN"T GET WHAT HE WANTS, the old jail real estate, BOOO WHOOOO! I SAY TO BAD THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN SAINT PAUL.

5:23 PM  

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