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Among developed countries, the United States has the highest number of families experiencing homelessness. More than 206,286 Americans families face the reality of homelessness.
Suburban Homelessness Rising in Dakota County
On a single night in January 2015, 564,708 people were experiencing homelessness in America — meaning they were sleeping outside or in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program. From 2014 to 2015, overall homelessness decreased by 2.0 percent and homelessness decreased among every major subpopulation: unsheltered persons (1.2 percent), families (4.6 percent), chronically homeless individuals (1.0 percent), and veterans (4.0 percent)itemprop
The number of homeless people in Minnesota has reportedly begun to fall, but in Dakota County the number has risen. Resources haven’t kept up — shelter space is limited, particularly for single adults, and a low rental vacancy rate has pushed rents higher.
Even families have begun to experience waiting lists, often over a dozen families wait for shelter. Families at Dakota Woodlands stay longer due to the shortage of affordable rental space leaving other families without any housing resources. The number of poor renter households experiencing severe housing cost burden, those households in poverty paying more than 50 percent of their income toward housing is also increasing. This combination is largely tributed to the rise in overall homelessness in Dakota County.
The number of homeless people in Minnesota has reportedly begun to fall, but in Dakota County the number has risen. Resources haven’t kept up — shelter space is limited, particularly for single adults, and a low rental vacancy rate has pushed rents higher.
Even families have begun to experience waiting lists, often over a dozen families wait for shelter. Families at Dakota Woodlands stay longer due to the shortage of affordable rental space leaving other families without any housing resources. The number of poor renter households experiencing severe housing cost burden, those households in poverty paying more than 50 percent of their income toward housing is also increasing. This combination is largely tributed to the rise in overall homelessness in Dakota County.
Dakota Woodlands, 3430 Wescott Woodlands, Eagan, MN 55123 | Telephone: 651-456-9110 | www.dakotawoodlands.org