Dorothy Day Center and Supportive Housing

Caucus Resolution

Dorothy Day Center and Supportive Housing

Whereas, the City of Saint Paul has experienced a nearly 30% growth in the number of residents living in poverty since the Great Recession began in 2007;

Whereas, nearly 600,000 households in Minnesota pay 30 percent or more of their income for housing. Since 2000, that number has increased by 69 percent;

Whereas, more than 7,500 Minnesotans were homeless in January 2015. Adults age 55 and older had the largest percent increase (48 percent) of Minnesotans experiencing homelessness;

Whereas, nearly half of Minnesotans experiencing homelessness are children and youth under 21. Over 11,600 public school students were identified as homeless at some time during the last school year;

Whereas, elders continue to represent a growing share of those seeking shelter at the Dorothy Day Center. Last year, elders represented one out of every four people sleeping on the floor;

Whereas, Catholic Charities, through the Dorothy Day Center and other sites, provides more than 85% of drop-in services, nearly 80% of emergency shelter, and nearly 30% of supportive housing in Ramsey County;

Whereas, for every dollar invested in supportive housing, there is a return on investment of $1.32 according to Wilder Research;

Therefore, be it resolved that the ______party calls upon the Minnesota Legislature to invest in dignified shelter, permanent housing and pathways out of poverty for hundreds of Minnesotans by:

-Supporting $12M in General Obligation bonds for the Dorothy Day Opportunity Center, and

-Providing unprecedented funding to foster housing stability for Minnesotans experiencing or at risk of homelessness, through allocation of Housing Infrastructure and General Obligation bonds.

Name:______Precinct/District______

Caucus Resolution

Family Stability

Whereas, many low-wage working parents do not qualify for unemployment insurance when they lose work, which leads them to enroll in the Minnesota Family Investment Program;

Whereas, the maximum cash grant for a family of three in Minnesota is $532 per month and has not increased since 1986;

Whereas, lack of affordable child care is the number one reason families enroll in public assistance;

Whereas, nearly 70% of families enrolled in MFIP are raising a child under the age of 6;

Whereas, the average cost of child care for an infant to a four-year-old is more expensive than the average full year’s tuition at our public universities;

Whereas, more than 7,000 Minnesota families are currently on the Child Care Assistance Program waiting list;

Whereas, low Child Care Assistance Program provider reimbursement rates may discourage providers from opening their doors or continuing to operate; more than 2,500 family child care providers have closed since 2007;

Therefore, be it resolved that the ______party supports family stability through fully funding the Child Care Assistance Program, increasing child care provider reimbursement rates, and raising the MFIP cash assistance grant by $100 per month.

Name:______Precinct/District______