Protect and Shelter the Homeless during temperatures around and below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. This includes: Winter Storm

and Extreme Cold Warnings and Cold Weather Advisory Issues.

 

The purpose of this bill is to mandate specific government owned and run buildings to open their spaces to the ⅓ of

homeless people that have nowhere to go due to overflow in shelters. According to 2020 data from the U,S. Department of

Housing and Urban Development, on a given night, 7,940 Minnesotans will experience homelessness. When temperatures reach

their lowest and the cold weather gets dangerous, the homeless population would have refuge, food, and resources

 

 

Minnesota has an estimated number of 10,500 homeless people, around 2/3 of which are located in the metropolitain area

of Minneapolis/ Saint Paul. The most recent data has resulted in an estimated ⅓ of homeless people not currently located

in a formal shelter. With average low winter temperatures in recent years of 10 degrees and no shelter this can result

in an increase in death for homeless people by 321%. Government buildings like libraries, community centes, and town

halls are open to the public, and at night arent normally used. There isnt enough room in the shelters to keep these

people safe during minnesotas harsh winter conditions. The least that can be done is allow them saftey and refuge from

the dangerous conditions. Many states do this for hurricanes and other natural disasters. What is stopping them from

protecting vulnerable people from the extreme dangers of Minnesota winters?

 

Homelessness- the condition of lacking stable, safe, and functional housing. It includes living on the streets, moving

between temporary accommodation with family or friends, living in boarding houses with no security of tenure

Government buildings (only those used)- A structure used by government entities to conduct official business and provide

services to the public

Shelter- a place giving temporary protection from bad weather or danger

Winter storm warning- severe winter weather conditions are occurring or are imminent. Most warnings are issued for heavy

snow and wind, but may also be issued for ice and sleet storms.

Extreme Cold Warning- issued when it is likely that temperatures will drop to -35 or -40 without any wind, or if there

is wind, wind chill values will drop to -35 or -40.

Cold Weather Advisory- Issued when it is likely that temperatures will drop to -25 or -30 without any wind, or if there

is wind, wind chill values will drop to -25 or -30.

Cold threshold- for saftey it's generally considered to be around 0 degrees Fahrenheit, below this temperature, the risk

of frostbite and hypothermia increase significantly.

 

-State Emergency Housing Grants- allocated annually to counties

-Emergency services Grants under the Local Homeless Prevention Act (LHPA)-for staffing, food, transportation, and other

operational costs.

Disaster Relief Funding-to be activated when an Extreme Cold Warning, Winter Storm Warning, or Cold Weather Advisory is

issued and regular shelter capacity is exceeded.

 

If city governments do not comply, the building will be used and the work will be outsourced to independent

non-governmental organizations (NGO) agencies during the times when the building is needed for shelter.

 

To allow for training time and other necessary planning. The project would start 01/1/2027