I work at Simpson Housing Services' overnight shelter in south Minneapolis. Each night, 66 adult men and women experiencing homelessness occupy mats in a church basement. Last week, we were able to give one of these mats to a 73-year-old man who had been living on the street much of this past winter. Disturbingly, he's not the oldest person sleeping at our shelter — his 36- by 72-inch mat lies on a concrete floor near two octogenarians, 81 and 83 years old, one with early-stage dementia, the other assisted by a walker. This should not be. What does this say about our capacity to love our neighbor and make a way for everyone in our community?
Letter of the Day (April 16): Homelessness
Sixty-six men and women a night, including some of advanced age.
April 15, 2014 at 11:11PM
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It’s too soon to tell how much the immigration crackdown is to blame.
