WILLMAR — United Community Action Partnership announces a new 24/7 crisis line for people experiencing homelessness. The crisis line will operate outside of regular business hours and will be solely dedicated to helping people find emergency shelter.
Anyone in need of shelter should first call their local United Community Action Partnership office during regular hours. Outside of business hours, those in need should call the crisis line.
Those in Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, and Redwood counties should dial 320-587-5244, extension 12. Screening questions will be asked to determine eligibility and coordinate appropriate shelter and other services as needed.
Homelessness is not as visible in rural areas as it is in larger cities. Typically, the homeless population in this area consists of local people who are struggling. Most go to extraordinary lengths to hide the fact that they are homeless from friends or co-workers.
Real-life examples of homelessness United Community Action Partnership has observed include the following:
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- People “couch hopping” — moving from place to place nightly, sometimes experiencing exploitation;
- Living in a vehicle;
- Sleeping in storage units;
- Locking themselves in their place of work;
- Warming up in 24-hour businesses;
- Or multiple families living in one single-family apartment.
With COVID-19, the issue is compounded via job loss and a shortage of affordable housing options.
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