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CITY PR0CLA2V1AT10N <br />of <br />HOUSING WEEK <br />November 17-24, 2001 <br />WHEREAS, the T>vin Cities metropolitan area faces a shortage of affordable housing, <br />where more than 80,000 low-income households compete for an estimated 39,000 low- <br />income housing units and the rental vacancy rate is on of the tightest in the nation at less <br />than 2 percent, and <br />WHEREAS, the shortage of affordable bousing contributes to homelessfiess; and <br />WHEREAS, more than 16,000 Minnesotans (half of them children) are homeless on any <br />given night, and women and children now make up the fastest growing segment of the <br />homeless population, and <br />WHEREAS, between 1987 and 1999, the number of children in shelters on a single night <br />in Nfinnesota increased 625 percent, and <br />WHEREAS. 7,000 children are expected to be homeless in the Twin Cities this year, and <br />WHEREAS, homeless children are much more like* > to experience physical, behavioral, <br />and emotional health problems, be held back in school, and suffer from learning <br />disabilities than non-homeless children, and <br />WHEREAS, Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (lOCP) provided 602 emergency <br />housing assists in 2000 to prevent homelessness, and <br />WHEREAS, public, private, non-profit partnerships play an essential rote in the <br />development and preservation of affordable housing; and <br />WHEREAS, the City is a participant in the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act, and <br />the City Comprehensive Plan supports a balanced housing supply, with housing available <br />for people at all income levels, and <br />WHEREAS, an adequate supply of safe, well-kept, affordable housing is an important <br />component of a strong, stable, economically vibrant community'; and <br />WHEREAS, *^Housing Week" is a community initiative to raise awareness about local <br />housing issues, to raise money* to address housing needs, and to promote community <br />involvement and volunteerism; <br />NOW THEREFORE. I do herdry proclaim November 17-24, 2001 to be: <br />HOUSING WEEK <br />in the City of Orono and encourage all citizens to participate in the activities assodated <br />with Housing Week.