Even though the forecast for central Iowa calls for the chance of snow tonight and lows between 10 and 20 degrees, dozens of teenagers will be spending the night outside. Jim McWeeny is organizing the “sleep out” in Des Moines to draw attention to the homeless.McWeeny is spokesman for Churches United Shelter in Des Moines. He says there are beds for 21-hundred homeless people in Des Moines but there are three thousand homeless people in the area. Statewide, he says the numbers of homeless stands at 18-thousand.McWeeny says despite economic prosperity, the homeless population is growing in Iowa and in the U-S. He says it’s alarming that more women and children are becoming homeless too. McWeeny says the parents of the 40 or so Des Moines-area teens that’ll be outside tonight have been reassured the kids won’t be in danger.McWeeny says these teens are staying the night outside to raise awareness for the thousands of Iowans who have no choice.
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