SUN Sailor Editions Plymouth/Wayzata | Page 5

sailor.mnsun.com Homeless CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 reported 10 years ago. Welk explained that students are classifi ed as homeless after meeting criteria set by the McK- inney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which provides students the transportation to remain in their home district while they are displaced or homeless. Realizing other sub- urban districts may have more homeless students (Robbinsdale Schools had 190 homeless in 2018), “I feel like we’ve got a pretty good handle on these stu- dents and getting them to school,” Welk said, adding the district’s relationship with Interfaith Outreach has been very helpful. What’s the solution? Realizing the need for affordable housing solu- tions, Interfaith Outreach offi cials created a stand- alone nonprofi t, the Out- reach Development Cor- poration, to provide a continuum of options, Hoy explained. This in- cludes working to preserve the affordable rental prop- erties in the community by partnering with develop- ers and city leaders and using a community land trust – an approach to making homeownership affordable by taking the cost of land out of the purchase price. This has been a success- ful approach to keeping homes affordable, Hoy said. Plymouth Policy changes are need- ed to protect current rent- al housing from being sold and to create some protec- tions for families so that they have proper notice and time to fi nd other op- tions, Geving explained. “And our experience in working with cities around this issue has been good,” Hoy said. “They want to do the right thing, it’s just a trend that is get- ting ahead of everybody that we really need to go after more.” “We do, however, want to be clear about the ur- gency of this need. We’re not solving it,” she said. “We’re doing the best we can and in partnership with everybody else who cares deeply for these families. But what’s been happening in this market is really creating a crisis for a growing number of families and individuals.” Last year, the Plymouth City Council approved plans for Cranberry Ridge, a 40-unit afford- able housing development along Highway 55. While plans are approved, fund- ing has yet to be secured by the developer, accord- ing to Laura Vitelli, direc- tor of advancement and congregational engage- ment for the developer, Beacon Interfaith Hous- ing Collaborative. Bea- con is a collaborative of congregations committed to making sure all people have a home by providing advocacy, housing and other services. “The bottom line is there aren’t enough re- sources devoted [to af- fordable housing],” said Vitelli, adding that in or- der to make developments possible, it’s going to take public and private part- nerships. Recently, Beacon’s con- gregational partners host- ed an event at Bet Shalom Synagogue in Minneton- ka. They invited Gov. Tim Walz to attend as part of an effort to share Beacon’s vision that all people have a home. Beacon is a part of Hous- ing for All, a statewide co- alition asking the legisla- ture to pass $100 million to support public hous- ing rehabilitation, along with $200 million for the preservation of federally subsidized rental housing, construction of perma- nent supportive housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and for community land trust land acquisitions for single-family homeowner- ship. “It will take the com- munity – as a society – to want to prioritize this,” Vitelli said. “We need to collectively decide and then align the resources behind it.” As one of approximately 80 congregations involved in Beacon’s Families Mov- ing Forward program, St. Barnabas takes a turn two weeks each summer and hosts families experienc- ing homelessness by pro- viding them a meal and a safe place to stay inside the church. “It can be a lot of inten- sive work, but it is also one Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 • Page 5 (COURTESY OF INTERFAITH OUTREACH) In 2018, 47 percent of Interfaith Outreach’s homeless clients reported they were doubling up with friends or family, 34 percent were living at the local women’s shelter, Home Free; 7 percent were living in their cars, 6 percent were living in a hotel and 5 percent were living elsewhere. of the most life-changing things you can do for another person, as it has a very direct impact for families in need,” Pastor Ingalsbe said. “In my ex- perience, people who take the opportunity to engage as volunteers in Families Moving Forward are of- ten then more passionate as well as compassionate, because homelessness be- comes understood not as just a theoretical issue that affects others, but as a problem affecting real people they respect and whose stories they know.” 15600 Old Rockford Rd. The church’s Beacon team will share what they’ve been learning about home- lessness and affordable housing. A light lunch will be served. Registration is required by contacting In- galsbe at 763-553-1239 or aingalsbe@stbarnabaslu- theran.org. • Talk to community leaders – in schools, local
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(VJEF Other ways to get involved • Attend St. Barnabas as it hosts an educational event 12-1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 3, at the church, DAVID OSMEK Guest columnist Sen. David Osmek (R-Mound) represents District 33, which includes Wayzata, Orono and Long Lake. “social permit” is nothing more than hallow political rhetoric that aban- dons his campaign promise of “One Minnesota.” The truth is, there is no more time for costly delays. Origi- nally ordered to be replaced in the Obama Administration, the Line 3 project has been extensively vet- ted and meets our state’s regulatory standards. Further, this application has jumped through 30 different approval hoops and has bipartisan support in the Legislature. Walz’s decision puts our environ- ment and the safety of every Min- nesotan at risk. The current pipeline is at reduced capacity due to prob- lems with its integrity and replacing it now would ensure oil is transport- ed in the safest way possible across our state. Also, just last week, radi- cal eco-terrorists were arrested at- tempting to break into a facility to manually shutdown Line 3. I will be introducing legislation to allow the PUC authorization and have no further delays. While Walz has decided to side with eco-terror- ists and delay this project, I stand with the thousands of Minnesotans who will benefi t from sustainable, good-paying jobs in our state, im- proving our Greater Minnesota communities, and perhaps most importantly, protecting millions of Minnesotans by transporting oil in the safest way possible. Follow the Sun Sailor on Facebook at facebook.com/mnsunsailor.  Tax & Accounting Services Time for Walz to end Line 3 opposition I am chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Utili- ties Finance and Policy and issued the following statement concerning Gov. Tim Walz’s decision to con- tinue the Dayton Administration’s Minnesota taxpayer funded lawsuit to oppose the Enbridge Line 3 re- placement project: After an exhaustive four-year re- view process, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) voted unanimously to approve the “certif- icate of need” for the replacement of the Line 3 pipeline last summer. And, just last week, the Minnesota Court of Appeals dismissed this lawsuit, along with fi ve others, chal- lenging the project. Yet, Walz plans to continue this circus in court, all on the taxpayer dime. In his statement announcing the lawsuit, Walz claimed “projects like these don’t only need a building per- mit to go forward, they also need a social permit.” Walz’s arbitrary standard of a government, faith com- munities, neighborhood organizations, and non- profi ts such as Interfaith Outreach and Beacon – to learn more about the needs of the area and advocate for appropriate support for those experiencing homelessness. Dane Tax Solutions LLC It’s That Time Of Year Again. Let Us Take The Stress Out Of Tax Season. Dane Tax Solutions is a CPA Firm offering highly qualified tax and accounting services for individuals and small businesses $ 25 OFF Tax Services expires 04/15/2019 3701 Winnetka Ave N., New Hope, Minnesota 55427 763-244-1152 • [email protected] www.danetax.com DLD BOOKKEEPING SOLUTIONS Do you want that feeling of privacy when getting your taxes done, call Deb today! New and referred clients receive a discount the first year of tax service. •1040 Individual Taxes 990, 1120, 1120S, 1065 Business Taxes •Payroll & Payroll Taxes, Accounting & Bookkeeping Services •Quickbooks & Sage Peachtree Accounting Consultant •Call for appointment, available 7 days a week. •Listed on IRS directory of Federal tax return preparers. •Credit Cards & Apple Pay accepted DLD Bookkeeping Solutions Debra L Daberkow-Wright, RTRP 5840 Quail Avenue North Crystal, MN, 55429 Land Line: 763-535-1978 Mobile: [phone] Fax: [phone] To sign up email: [email protected] Since 1987. Located Bass Lake Rd & Crystal Airport. DLDBookkeepingMN.com