Thursday, January 24, 2008

Most 'off-putting': The homeless or apathy?

Most 'off-putting': The homeless or apathy?
Problem's apparent in uptown library, but a plan to solve it is ignored
LIZ CLASEN

Special to the Observer

I recently attended a focus group to discuss services offered at the uptown public library branch. After much discussion over opportunities for electronic books and touch screen televisions, the facilitator asked a pointed question to the 20-some participants gathered around the table: How do we feel about the large presence of homeless individuals at the library? A middle-aged gentleman quickly responded that he found their presence "off-putting."

Off-putting. I was tempted to offer a sarcastic apology to him: How sorry I was that, in the course of checking out his next book-on-tape, he would have to confront the fact that hundreds of people sleep in our woods and under our bridges each night. The truth is that one cannot go to the uptown public library and avoid the traumas of war, the existence of mental illness, the demon of addiction and the realities of America's economic system.

Take responsibility for change
Facing these "off-putting" realities, however, makes many quite uncomfortable. I think the reason behind this reaction has something to do with why we (myself included) hate to be panhandled -- we must confront the social inequities in our community and the notion that we might have a responsibility in changing them.No one individual or sector can end homelessness -- we need the private sector, the government, the faith community and non-profits. But each of these sectors must be courageous enough to take responsibility for their piece of the pie. For this very reason, our community, at the request of the city and county governments, created a 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. For nearly a year, more than 100 community participants analyzed our local experience and data, studied the best practices of other cities and created a blueprint on how to not just manage but end homelessness in our community.

The plan recognizes that housing is key to ending homelessness, but also that housing needs to be surrounded by supportive services to be most effective. The shift toward supportive housing has already occurred in cities across our nation with astonishing results -- not only does such housing provide better outcomes for people's lives, it is also cost-effective.

Whether we realize it or not, taxpayers are spending high dollars to jail homeless individuals for such minor infractions as trespassing and to treat chronic health conditions of the homeless in emergency rooms. Once in stable housing, however, homeless individuals are more likely to access primary health care instead of emergency rooms, and are less likely to be arrested, saving significant public funds.

Despite the strong content of our local 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, it took months after the plan was completed to gain an audience before the full City Council and the county commissioners. Both bodies chose to "receive" the plan and not "endorse" it, preferring to wait until each member had more time to study the plan before committing to an endorsement.
The plan has now been completed for over one year and neither body has stepped forward to endorse the plan, while our shelters and streets are home to record high numbers.

Wrong focus for library
I swallowed a tempting sarcastic reply to the "off-put" library patron because in some sense he is right to be annoyed. As a welcoming and public institution, the library has become a de facto day shelter for the most vulnerable of our community. The public library's focus should be on offering library services, not providing free restrooms to those who cannot afford to patronize uptown establishments.

We cannot hide the growing problem of homelessness. The most open and conveniently located places -- such as the library, parks and our sidewalks -- will reveal the truth of our community.
A blueprint exists to decrease our number of homeless individuals, but our two government bodies are slow and fearful to "endorse" the plan, let alone provide leadership in its implementation. The lack of political courage is what I find truly "off-putting."

HHH enjoy Charlotte's Bobcats

Thanks to Amy Leary at McCreesh Place connecting us with Shabara Ellis with the Bobcats, members of HHH have had the opportunity to enjoy a few outings to watch the Charlotte Bobcats. Rollon and Tommy are pictured above recruiting the Lady Bobcats to attend a HHH meeting :)

Monday, January 14, 2008

HHH Hosts Philip Mangano from Washington, DC

above: Philip Mangano pictured talking with HHH leadership members Jerry Gray and Rollon Washington. Jerry and Rollon were eager to invite Mangano to our annual fundraising dance this coming spring.

Philip Mangano, head of the Interagency Council on Homelessness, from Washington, DC joined over a hundred individuals at the Urban Ministry Center last Friday to celebrate Charlotte's 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. Though the City and County have not officially endorsed the plan (though they have "received" it), Mayor McCrory, Councilman Anthony Foxx, Commission Chair Jennifer Roberts, and Commissioner Normal Mitchell were all in attendance and spoke of the importance of the plan and addressing the issue of homelessness. HHH members were happy to see Representative Mel Watt once again, who continues to work to educate himself on the issue. The 10 Year Plan is a collaborative effort and will need each branch of government, as well as the private and independent sector to be effective.
HHH members took charge of logistics of Friday's event, serving as parking directors and greeters. We stood out in our T-shirts, vests, and loud clapping at Mangano's insistence that housing is the key to ending homelessness and that we need to look for solutions, not just management of a problem.
HHH looks forward to upcoming individual meetings with our elected officials to further discuss the plan and the need for their leadership in its implementation.
If you would like to learn more about the plan, you can read the executive summary at: http://www.awayhome.org/MoreThanShelterExecSum.pdf
HHH members are also planning a presentation on the plan that could be brought to your church, synagogue, or civic organization. Contact Liz at 704-926-0608 to set up a presentation.

HHH Meets with Board of Elections

Above: Democracy NC organizer Adam Sotak, pictured with HHH members Rob Weigle and Angie Forde at the Board of Elections

The "voter" team of HHH recently met with Michael Dickerson, head of Mecklenburg County Board of Election and Jeanette Johnson, who oversees voter registration. We were expressing our concerns of homeless voter disenfranchisement that occurred in the November '07 election. When homeless voters went to vote early, there was confusion because many of the men were sleeping outside when they registered in September, but were staying in the Emergency Winter Shelter in November during voting season. This "change of address" led to the men's need to vote on a provisional ballot. In addition, non-registered homeless voters who attempted to utilize "same-day registration" ran into difficultly because they did not have a "residential address." After spending nearly three hours in the public library early voting area and countless phone calls to board of elections, the homeless voters who had the patience to wait (only about 1/2 the group) were allowed to register and vote on official ballots.
Our meeting with Dickerson and Johnson was quite helpful in educating us on how to avoid this situation in the future. Thank you Board of Elections for your commitment to ensuring everyone with the right to vote is able to vote.