According to today's News and Observer, sleeping on a street bench in the town of Chapel Hill can get you thrown into jail. Should I turn myself in? I was waiting for the bus last week and fell asleep on one of the benches. But I was clean and had on decent clothes so I probably wouldn't have been fined or arrested even if one of Chapel Hill's finest had noticed the violation.
While I was very pleased with idea of moving the men's homeless shelter to the Southern Human Services Center area that came out of this week's Assembly of Government meeting, and I feel sure such a move would change the complexion of homelessness in the downtown business district, I don't think it will solve the problem of sleeping on benches. Those men who are willing to abide by the strict rules of the shelter, aren't the ones who sleep on the benches.
From working with the Community Initiative to End Homelessness assessment committee, I've learned that there are many kinds of homelessness. The shelter is best equipped to deal with those who are experiencing transient homelessness, or individuals who are unemployed, victims of domestic violence, or have serious health problems. Then there are those who have camoflaged their homelessness by living with relatives or friends (doubled up). The guys who sleep on street benches are more likely to be chronically homeless. They may have a drug or alcohol abuse problem, a mental illness, or some other life challenge that interferes with their ability to gain control over their behavior. To stay at the shelter, they must be drug/alchol free and they must be inside by 8 pm. And so they wander the streets at night and sleep on the benches during the day.
2 comments:
I commented on the harshness of Chapel Hill's ordinances a couple times last year - first, in terms of designing the new development downtown (where I think there should be public spaces you're comfortable enough to sleep in [Pattern Language]) and second, in defense of the homeless downtown. I think you've pegged some of the reasons for homeless public sleeping - the question our community needs to answer? Is it a basic human right to sleep unmolested in public?
The 10-year plan to end homelessness will target those who are chronically homeless. But the professionals all know that won't end the problem. A first step is better than no step though.
There used to be more compassion in this community.
Post a Comment