Study finds homelessness still rising in Minnesota

Published 10:11 am Thursday, March 7, 2013

ST. PAUL — A new study by Wilder Research finds homelessness continues to rise in Minnesota but not as dramatically as during the economic crash.

The study, conducted every three years, finds homelessness in Minnesota up about 6 percent since 2009. The one-day study counted more than 10,000 homeless adults, young people and children on Oct. 25, 2012.

More than 3,500 of the homeless were children with their parents. Nearly half of the homeless were age 21 and younger.

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The study also found an increase in emergency shelter use in the state, especially in the Twin Cities. The number of people using emergency shelters in Minnesota rose 27 percent from 2009.

The survey co-directors will present highlights at the Homeless Day on the Hill event Thursday at the Minnesota Capitol.