Minnesota Homelessness Increases

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A new study says homelessness in

Minnesota has risen sharply as unemployment and foreclosures have

forced people out of permanent housing.

The survey released Wednesday by St. Paul-based Wilder Research

counted nearly 9,500 homeless people - up more than 20 percent from

the last count. The organization surveys homelessness every three

years.

Study director Greg Owen says people are becoming homeless after

they lose jobs, lose homes to foreclosure or get evicted from

rental housing.

Only one in five of those surveyed were working, the lowest

level measured in two decades of surveys. More than two-fifths were

on waiting lists for public housing.

Owen says many have trouble getting housing because of criminal

records or credit problems.

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