Balsam Lake, Wis. / Old jail is reborn as haven for homeless

The old Polk County Jail has gotten a few upgrades recently: Its cells are now furnished bedrooms, inspirational placards cover the cells' slots, and the gun safe is now a magazine rack.

[Buttomfly]

Turning older unused buildings into shelters for the homeless, not a unique approach but certainly a worthy cause. How many heated buildings sit in cities that are not as giving as this? People need to stop being afraid to address the homeless issues and start lending a hand. There is a stigma, people don't want to get too close, might see someone they know or a similar situation they were close to. These are just people who have hit rock bottom and can't crawl back up without a little help.

[Rad Rethuglican]

This sounds great. Now the locals know right where to go when they roll out of the nearby bar and want to pick on someone.

[to hard]

I think it is a great idea, and we need more.

[Danny Boy]

Had my son been able to enjoy this type of living arrangement I know he would still be alive today.
I, for one, will be writing a check to help out this wonderful program.

[GroovyGirlinMN]

Buttomfly wrote:

Turning older unused buildings into shelters for the homeless, not a unique approach but certainly a worthy cause. How many heated buildings sit in cities that are not as giving as this? People need to stop being afraid to address the homeless issues and start lending a hand. There is a stigma, people don't want to get too close, might see someone they know or a similar situation they were close to. These are just people who have hit rock bottom and can't crawl back up without a little help.

Right On ButtomFly - and in today's economy digging out of a financial crisis makes it so much more difficult

[GroovyGirlinMN]

Rad Rethuglican wrote:

This sounds great. Now the locals know right where to go when they roll out of the nearby bar and want to pick on someone.

Nice Rad, don't assume that just because this is something that you would do so would the others.

[Shaneequa]

GroovyGirlinMN wrote:

<quoted text>
Nice Rad, don't assume that just because this is something that you would do so would the others.

LOL, I agree with you!:)

[laheydel]

Balsam has always been a place of compassion. Would be nice if the country board understood this.