Coleman, Catholic Charities launch task force to remake Dorothy Day Center

[rug]

A high-powered task force will explore how to expand and reshape the Dorothy Day Center, perhaps in a new location.



George Smith chatted with wife Ristina Johnson as they ate dinner while people were crowding into the Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul for the night Thursday.

Article by: KEVIN DUCHSCHERE , Star Tribune
Updated: May 3, 2013 - 6:19 AM

When the Dorothy Day Center opened in downtown St. Paul in 1981, it was little more than a drop-in place to get a bite to eat and line up services.

Now it’s the largest shelter in Ramsey County, so full a couple of years ago that it was forced to turn away some homeless.

It was that “canary-in-a-coal-mine” moment, said Tim Marx, CEO of Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, that led to Thursday’s launch of a task force expected to expand and reshape Dorothy Day on its current site or elsewhere.

Mayor Chris Coleman made the announcement at the annual Dorothy Day Community Breakfast for business, faith, government and nonprofit officials.

http://www.startribune.com/local/east/205770431.html

Very often Catholic Charities (both large and small "c&quot is the first to experience these “canary-in-a-coal-mine” moments.

[IrishAyes]

1. Thanks for the post.

I'm sure this coordination of services for the poor pleases not only Dorothy Day but all of heaven itself.