August 10, 2011 | Read Time: 1 minute
While maintaining overall spending on services for the homeless at last year’s level, Minnesota’s Department of Human Services has reduced grants for some urban programs as homelessness increases in other parts of the state, Minnesota Public Radio writes.
The priority shift as well as the end of federal stimulus funds will take a large bite out of the budgets of some Twin Cities charities.
St. Paul’s Open Access Connections, which provides free voicemail accounts to homeless people, did not receive an expected $37,000 grant. Listening House, a drop-in center for homeless adults in the capital, saw a $25,000 annual grant, equivalent to about 5 percent of its budget, reallocated to rural programs.
“It allows more services for homeless people in rural Minnesota, so I understand their decision, even though it means we’re collateral damage,” said Rosemarie Reger-Rumsey, Listening House’s executive director.
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