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Oct 13, 2009 5:30 pm US/Central
Twin Cities Homeless Shelters Running Out Of Room
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
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Homeless shelters, like Dorothy Day in St. Paul, are finding more people coming to their shelters but unfortunately, not enough room.
CBS
The economy and job loss are beginning to take their toll on homeless shelters across the Twin Cities. The number of people needing somewhere to stay has gone up in recent years and shelters are running out of room.
At the Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul, the number of people staying over night during the month of September has gone up every year in the last three years. And the number jumped nearly 2,000 people between 2007 and 2008.
Franklin King is one of Dorothy Day's clients. He can often be found playing chess where he feels like a king. But away from the chessboard he has come to terms with being a pawn. He is another warm body in need of a hot meal and a place to stay.
"There have been nights I slept in Rice Park and got some rest in the summertime when it's really been warm," King said. "Different campsites and things like that. It has been difficult."
An unemployed construction worker, King has been homeless off and on for the past 10 years. But his story is becoming an increasingly common one.
Just a few years ago, maximum capacity at Dorothy Day was 150 people a night. Now they are pushing 250 with fewer resources.
"We are really struggling with how to do that. We can't, and that's the part we have to really realize. So we have to go to the community and say that," said programming director Gerry Lauer.
At night it has gotten so busy that when the sleeping mats are laid down volunteers have to account for every square inch. That means head to toe the mats have to be 12 inches apart and side by side they are six inches apart.
As the winter months approach, Dorothy Day and other shelters are now struggling to come up with a Plan B to create more space. In the meantime they are doing what they can not to turn people away. It is a situation that has King wondering how many more checkmates he has left.
"I would not wish homelessness on my worst enemy," he said. "It is a very stressful and strenuous lifestyle to live just dealing with different people day to day."
Dorothy Day will be meeting with city leaders Wednesday to discuss what they can do to house more people. In addition to homeless shelters seeing an increase, Catholic Charities food shelves reported a 91 percent increase in family assistance compared to a year ago.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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