Homelessness in Hennepin County on the rise

A new report shows that homelessness among families in Hennepin County is on the rise.

The report from the Minnesota Housing Partnership finds that many low-income earners are falling behind on rent because of the recession. Chip Halbach, the non-profit's executive director, said some renters are doubling up when they can no longer afford rent. Others fall into homelessness.

"As we see in the figures we have on Hennepin County family homelessness, that has increased 20 percent in the last year," Halbach said. "So not only families but also children and youth are becoming increasingly homeless."

Halbach said the number of homeless children in Minneapolis increased by nearly 42 percent between the 2008 and 2009 school years. That's nearly 1,300 children.

Halbach's report also finds that while foreclosures were down in the first quarter of 2009 compared to last year, 60-day mortgage defaults increased.

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