Nov 17, 2009 8:17 am US/Central
Brooklyn Park Program Helps Families With Rent
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (WCCO) ―
A new program in Brooklyn Park, Minn. could help keep more families from becoming homeless during these tough times.
For years, Deanne Macon and her three boys have lived in shelters and have moved all the time. She described their lives as constant chaos and was always looking for somewhere to stay.
"It's humiliating, embarrassing," she said. "It's rough on the children, too."
Things have been better since she and her children were able to get rental assistance through an agency called Elim. The program helped her discover that she had a traumatic brain injury after being beaten by an ex-boyfriend. It helped explain why she had trouble keeping a job.
"I hadn't really known why I was having headaches," Macon said. "I hadn't really known why I couldn't remember."
Macon is now getting the medical help she needs. Her housing grant will be running out next year, but a new program through the city of Brooklyn Park will help her stay in her apartment. It's the first time the city has given this kind of help to renters.
"We're hoping to get these folks back in to Brooklyn Park housing and apartments," said Bob Schreier, the director of community development for the city of Brooklyn Park.
The city knows of more than 90 families who used to live in the city and are now living in shelters. Every weekday, 76 children are bused to school in Brooklyn Park from Minneapolis shelters.
The rental assistance grants come from the Minnesota Housing Agency. They're usually available through nonprofit agencies, but Brooklyn Park is one of the few cities to get involved in the program.
The city of Brooklyn Park has about $600,000, which will help about 20 families, including Macon's.
"We are so appreciative of everything now," Macon said. It's the little things that matter: cooking in her own kitchen and having a family dinner.
To qualify for the program, renters must make 30 percent below Minnesota's median income, which is less than $20,000 a year.
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