Around the state, homeless shelters are struggling to stay open as demand for their services grow. Just last week, The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that Agate Housing and Services homeless shelter in Minneapolis was not planning to reopen, even after they received a $1.5 million grant from the city and an anonymous donation matching the city's contribution.

Agate isn’t alone in facing barriers in providing shelter for the homeless.

Joining Minnesota Now to talk about the difficulties for homeless shelters to stay open and operating is Matt Traynor, the director of advocacy and interim executive director of the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.

Also joining the program is John Cole, the executive director of Chum, a homeless shelter in Duluth.