Homeless people were turned away 7,000 times last year from shelters in Hennepin County

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.startribune.com/homeless-people-were-turned-away-7000-times-last-year-from-shelters-in-hennepin-county/600293415/

More than 7,000 times last year, homeless people who turned to Hennepin County's emergency shelter hotline for help were turned away. The most common reason: All the beds were booked.

According to a Star Tribune analysis of data from the Adult Shelter Connect hotline, three homeless people on average were turned away daily in 2021, while three times that number — nearly 10 — were turned away daily in 2022.

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When clearing encampments, city officials often cite open shelter beds as proof there are alternatives homeless people aren't using; many people living on the street don't want to use shelters for various reasons. At the same time, those staying in encampments and their advocates have reported being turned away for lack of room.

The data doesn't fully reconcile these conflicting experiences, but both could be right depending on the time and day. Though county statistics show there sometimes aren't enough beds for those who try to reserve them, a place usually can be found for those who are persistent and know how to use the county's hotline. But not everyone does.