Letter to the Editor: We Support Halverson's Efforts to Fight Homelessness

Dear Editor,

We were pleased to see, in Representative Laurie Halverson’s Eagan Patch blog post on March 9, that she included a section on her bill for $8 million to fund the Homeless Youth Act (HF 698). This bill continues to gain support from legislators as it moves through committees, but will need additional support to make it to the Governor's desk.

On any given night in Minnesota, 2,500 youth must search for a place to sleep. They ride buses all night to stay warm, find a likely unsafe and unpleasant place outside, or try to get placed in one of only 108 shelter beds for youth in the state. It’s time for us to support our young people in crisis, and increase funding for the Homeless Youth Act.

House File 698 would provide funding for emergency shelter, street outreach, supportive services, drop-in centers, and housing options to help keep youth safe, stable, and healthy. Representative Halverson, through her leadership on this bill, is letting our community know that youth homelessness is unacceptable, and has asked Minnesota to take an important step toward ending it. With the passage of this bill, we can set the state on the path to make sure that every young person has a safe, secure place to spend the night.

Sincerely,
Jeff & Rebecca Maciej
Eagan, MN

Want to submit a letter to the editor for publication on Eagan Patch? Email Editor David Henke at david.henke@patch.com.

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