Local officials and residents gathered last week to break ground for 66 West, a housing and skills training center for young people emerging from homelessness.
The project, at 3330 W. 66th St., across from Southdale, will cost about $11.2 million and provide 39 apartments along with support services for residents.
Young people under the age of 25 make up about 16 percent of the homeless population in Minnesota, according to a survey by the Wilder Foundation.
Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative of St. Paul and Edina Community Lutheran Church led the project, which also drew support from more than 40 other churches, businesses, foundations and government agencies.
"We want our youth to do more than survive — we want them to thrive," said Lee Blons, Beacon's executive director.
Blons commented wryly on the challenges of getting the project off the ground.
"Arranging financing is like herding cats, where each cat has its own attorney," she said.
John Reinan
Hennepin County
Freeman elected to national DA group board
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman was voted president-elect of the National District Attorneys Association last week at the group's annual convention in Boston, making him the odds-on favorite to become president when he hosts its convention next year in Minneapolis.
