Updated at: 11/10/2009 3:43 PM | KSAX.com
Print Story  Email to a Friend

City Council Proclaims November "Homeless Awareness" Month

Alexandria, Minn-Placing the spotlight on a community that often times goes under the radar, the Alexandria City Council approved a proclamation Monday making November 2009 homeless awareness month.

And according to Jennie Hevern of the Alexandria salvation army the proclamation is a step in the right direction but long overdue.

"My cynical opinion is why now. But there's a positive side-why not now? Maybe a public conversation will start because of the proclamation," said Hevern.

If it does Hevern says that conversation needs to address with the new face of the homeless.

"When we think of homelessness we think of people who just can't get their lives together, but there are many down and out families that are homeless," said Hevern.

Al Glaeseman of the Douglas County Housing and Redevelopment Authority agrees.

"We see families that are staying with there grandparents because of foreclosure or losing their jobs," said Glaesemen.

Some of those families have even resorted to sleeping in their cars. "We went to Wal-Mart parking lot and there were homeless people there," said Hevern.

Although Hevern says a proclamation "does not put a roof over anyone's head," it does give her hope that people are beginning to pay attention.

Written for the Web by Anthony Kiekow.