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Leaders recognize the creation of over 2,000 housing opportunities

statewide

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, elected officials, community leaders, and housing and support services professionals gathered in Duluth for Heading Home Minnesota's Marking the Midpoint. The event acknowledges the achievement of creating more than 2,000 housing opportunities with support services for Minnesota individuals and families who are homeless.

"Reaching this goal is a significant accomplishment for Minnesota. For Minnesotans who are homeless, it means there are now more opportunities to stabilize their lives and gain access to the services they need to improve their situations," said Minnesota Housing Commissioner Tim Marx. "We know from research and what we hear from Minnesota's service providers, government officials and businesses that supportive housing not only has a real impact on people's lives, it also reduces public costs and builds healthier, more livable communities."

"Minnesota is making steady and significant progress in the effort to end homelessness," said Director for Ending Long-Term Homelessness in Minnesota Laura Kadwell. "We are now past the midpoint of the goal of Minnesota's Business Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness and are demonstrating that we can 'end' rather than simply 'manage' homelessness for individuals and families."

Minnesota's Business Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness was created by a working group appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty in 2004. The goal of the Business Plan is to create 4,000 additional housing opportunities with support services for long-term homeless individuals and families by 2010. The plan is now one of the eight plans in the state that have been integrated into the Heading Home Minnesota statewide initiative to end homelessness.

Today's midpoint event was held at the New San Marco Apartments, a Duluth supportive housing facility that has
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