Let’s build housing, not clear camps

The stickers on my many water bottles say “HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT.” This simple belief has defined my 14 years of work at a local homeless shelter.

Sadly, it is not shared by all, and I’ve seen the housing issue grow more difficult with each passing year. Some of my clients have waited years for housing openings.

We finally have an opportunity this year to change that. Several bills have been introduced at the State Legislature to get some affordable homes built. Some bills address zoning restrictions, while others change regulation of multifamily dwellings.

My hope is that our state Legislature sees the need and makes these bills a priority. We are all tired of encampment stories. Let’s house people! It’ll be far less costly than maintaining shelters and clearing encampments.

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And more humane.

Kay Strand, Eden Prairie