WKBT La Crosse, WI-NewsChannel 8-On long-term homelessness, Pawlenty misses goal
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Associated Press - November 8, 2009 2:44 PM ET
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Gov. Tim Pawlenty's administration is falling short of a goal set almost six years ago to end long-term homelessness in Minnesota by 2010.
The Republican governor attracted national notice for his ambitious business plan to end chronic homelessness. He called the goal "attainable" in a major 2004 speech.
Pawlenty now says the recession got in the way. He says it's unrealistic to think things could stay the same during a historic economic meltdown.
His administration's progress on housing the persistently homeless stalled this year. State housing officials say 1,500 out of an estimated 4,000 long-term homeless have been housed.
Meanwhile, more people are becoming homeless. The federal government estimates that Minnesota's homeless population grew 4 percent in 2008.
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