hennepin111209
On the homepage
Sunday's paper
Out There
View Finder
Access Vikings
Home | Politically Connected | State Politics
Hennepin County homeless program scrapped amid cuts
Hennepin County's Street Case project, which serves about 60 people, was one of the first to focus on keeping chronic drinkers safe rather than merely sober.
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on DiggMore from State Politics
As state cuts continue to drive concerns about rising homelessness, Hennepin County is scrapping an innovative 13-year-old program that combined peer pressure with rewards to help straighten out chronic alcoholics.
The Street Case Management Project will close its doors at the end of the year as county officials reassess how they can better serve the needs of the 60 or so clients who participate in the program annually, said Rex Holzemer, who oversees the project as an area director in the county's Human Services and Public Health Department.
"We'll come back in a few months with restructured programming for this population that incorporates some of the best practices we've learned and coordination with the hospital and other programs," Holzemer said.
The Street Case program was already headed toward termination sometime next year, because of the many other community-based programs that have sprung up to house and care for homeless and destitute alcoholics, Holzemer said. Those plans to end the program were expedited because two of its three full-time staff members are leaving now, he said, "and it didn't make sense to bring more staff in at this point." He added that no one will lose a job as a result.
Holzemer also denied that the Street Case program's end was connected in any way with County Board Chairman Mike Opat's recent criticism. Late last month, Opat asked for a review of the program after learning that it had spent $6,004 this year on Vikings football tickets for clients, which he said "cross[ed] a common sense line."
The program, which had a budget of $526,000 this year, was funded by $275,000 in state and federal grants and patient insurance and $251,000 in county property taxes.
The Street Case program began in 1996 with the goal of reducing harm to street people rather than simply turning them sober. "We weren't even coming close to sobriety with some of these clients, and we had to use some different approaches," Holzemer said.
The program was designed to help clients, through counseling and incentives, to stabilize their lives by reducing their drinking -- if not stopping it -- and helping them address food, housing and clothing needs.
One of the goals was to save the county money by lessening the need for expensive trips to detox, the emergency room or jail; no tallies have been kept, but officials estimate that the program has saved several millions of dollars over the years.
Among the carrots used in the Street Case program were group outings, such as boat rides or picnics, for which $20,000 was allocated through the state grant.
Last year, in response to client requests, officials with the program and the state Human Services Departments decided to include Vikings games on the list of group activities.
Kevin Duchschere • 612-673-4455
Recent State Politics stories
Pawlenty postpones Mexico trade trip - November 11, 2009
Pawlenty postpones Mexico trade trip - Adios, Mexico. More
Pawlenty proposal: Handcuff spending budget controls - November 11, 2009
Pawlenty proposal: Handcuff spending budget controls - The governor wants to amend the Constitution to take guesswork out of budgeting, but he met skepticism from DFLers. More
- Backed by House, 6 patients sue Pawlenty, state officials
- As commission presses, Vikes will 'move on'
- Minn./Wis. reciprocity: Will workers be torn between two tax bills?
- Lowry Bridge, Saints, Como Zoo fighting for your money
- Minn. GOP biggest user of tax break Pawlenty axed
- Sowing survivalism seeds on talk radio
- Vikings: Plan to extend Dome lease 'a non-starter'
- Did stimulus money go to 'phantom' districts in Minnesota?
Current state office holders
Governor: Tim Pawlenty
One of only a few prominent Republicans to win a competitive re-election contest in the Democratic sweep of 2006, Tim Pawlenty is widely seen as politically shrewd and naturally likable.
- Lt. Governor: Carol Molnau
- Secretary of State: Mark Ritchie
- Attorney General: Lori Swanson
- State Auditor: Rebecca Otto
Minnesota's political giants: Learn more about the men and women who have shaped Minnesota's political history.
 Open House ShowcaseThousands of homes open this weekend!View all open houses >> View all homes for sale >> |
Win tickets to Erik Friedlander's 'Block Ice & Propane' in McGuire Theater at Walker Art Center.Vita.mn presents Erik Friedlander's 'Block Ice & Propane' in McGuire Theater at Walker Art Center on Dec. 5. |
Comment on this story | Read all 22 comments | Hide reader comments