Created on: 11/09/2009 9:39 AM

On Long-term Homelessness, Pawlenty Misses Goal

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Gov. Tim Pawlenty's administration is falling short of a goal set almost six years ago to end long-term homelessness in Minnesota by 2010. The Republican governor attracted national notice for his ambitious business plan to end chronic homelessness. He called the goal "attainable" in a major 2004 speech.

Pawlenty now says the recession got in the way. He says it's unrealistic to think things could stay the same during a historic economic meltdown. His administration's progress on housing the persistently homeless stalled this year.

State housing officials say 1,500 out of an estimated 4,000 long-term homeless have been housed. Meanwhile, more people are becoming homeless.

The federal government estimates that Minnesota's homeless population grew 4 percent in 2008.