Anoka delays decision on young adults shelter

A proposed homeless shelter for young adults is meeting resistance from Anoka city officials.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports the Anoka City Council recently imposed a moratorium on new shelters.

Karrie Schaaf is a board member of Hope4Youth, the nonprofit spearheading the shelter project. After opening a drop-in center for homeless youth in March, she says Hope4Youth wants to add up to 10 beds for 18- to 23-year-olds.

Anoka Mayor Phil Rice says the city is doing more than most of its neighbors, with a 60-bed adult shelter already.

He says adding more beds could burden his community of 17,000.

But Schaaf says there is a gap in services for young adults. Rice says Anoka will spend the three months studying its services and those in the area.

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Information from: St. Paul Pioneer Press