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."