Dorothy Day Center Offers Hope In 2011
ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- For years, a place in St. Paul has been serving people in need, from food to housing to health.
Catholic Charities' Dorothy Day Center is offering help to hundreds hoping to Live Better in 2011. Randy Win worked at a butcher shop, and then a grocery store before things fell apart.
Win wasn't prepared and moved to the streets of St Paul.
"I met this guy on the street and he told me about the place and he said, 'can't have you out here, you know. It's kind of dangerous, so let me take you some place,'" Win recalled.
That place was Dorothy Day. Win works at the food shelf here. He's one of more than 200 who call this their temporary home.
For the last two years, the economy has been a struggle at Dorothy Day. Back then, 26 percent of the people who stayed at the center had jobs, now only 6 percent do.
"Folks who are employable right now are really kinda backing up the system, because there are no jobs for them," said Gerry Lauer, senior program director for Catholic Charities.
Earlier this week when Ted Williams -- that guy with the golden voice -- was discovered on the streets in Ohio, you can bet it offered hope for those like Win.
"At least it happened to somebody, you know. Got somebody going in the right direction," Win said.
Win is now up for a paid position at Dorothy Day, and plans to make the most of a new opportunity he considers a second chance.
"It's kind of like a small community within a community. It's a good place," Win said.
Dorothy Day serves 5,000 people every year through all of the services it offers.
WCCO-TV's Liz Collin Reports
