Addressing Homelessness (various phases)

I have added my preferences to the Engage Chillicothe poll. It is clear that most of Chillicothe thinks the Armory and the pleasure of our towns housed and privileged is a far more important venture than caring for the poorest and most desperate in our town. I don’t know if people have become desensitized to seeing the plight of our homeless and those who live with minimum incomes, or if self-interest is their motivating factor in refusing to recognize another person’s desperation. In a world of rising costs for everything, society has locked its focus and concerns onto what brings individual comfort and gratification. Rather than provide a path to hope, recovered dignity and self-respect, they instead choose something that brings them pleasure while others continue to suffer. Everyone wants to complain about the homeless wandering our city streets and condemn them for doing nothing more than trying to survive from one day to the next. They can’t find a place to sit and rest for a few minutes without being run off and threatened to have police intervene. They can’t seek a few minutes of warmth during cold winter days or cooling during scorching summer days as our city has no warming or cooling stations. Most restaurants like McDonald’s or Wendy’s, even if they order a coffee or soft drink, won’t allow them to come in out of the elements for a moment, or use the bathroom; yet there are no public bathrooms open anywhere for them to use. Therefore, many resort to going in back alleys, or other public spaces, creating unsanitary conditions for everyone and a massive public outcry. Where ever they turn they are told they can’t be there, they can’t do this or that, not here, not there…but no other options are provided for them. At most, 53 will be able to find shelter after 7pm at the Ross County Community Action Emergency Shelter. They will have access to a shower, minimal food or snacks, a bed in a warm space, and be able to feel reasonably safe for a night. By 9am the next day, the cycle repeats all over again. There is no space afforded them to store their personal belongings, so they must carry them with them. The next morning they return to the streets where they are treated like outcasts and undesirables. The next day is no better than the day before and no hope that tomorrow will bring anything different. Renovate the Armory, but please be sure there is money set aside to create a 24 hr Emergency Shelter with enough beds that we can get at least 80% of our homeless in a safe bed at night. Coordinate with other agencies and funding sources to ensure this shelter has all the services they need represented under one roof so they would not have to be wandering the streets. Many don’t have transportation to get to their appointments for medical, mental health, services, job opportunities, or even to jobs if they happen to get hired. Setting up transportation for those who need it would help ensure they are accessing other needs and services that can’t be provided at the shelter. Many people see them as wandering aimlessly, but many are out just trying to do the work of digging themselves out of homelessness. I’ve worked with those at poverty level and the homeless for the last 5 years. I’ve seen the face of homelessness change from the stereotype everyone believes now… that the homeless are drug users or mentally ill, to single moms with children, whole families with small children. Many are trying to live in campers, tents or cars with their children. Some of them are terrified of seeking the services they need, because they don’t want JFS to take their children and put them into foster care if discovered they were living in their car or other untenable conditions. Yes we do have many out there who are still in active SUD, many with mental health issues that keep them from being able to go to shelter. Hopefully when the new Permanent Supportive Housing units on Columbus Ave. are up and running many of these unfortunates will be able to be housed. I reiterate, urgently! Our town’s most critical need is Emergency Shelter. Adequate and properly managed Emergency Shelter, combined with Case Management and a clear path to permanent housing. I’m not suggesting that the Armory be used to solve that problem, but let’s not sink 100% of these funds into a “recreational cure for Chillicothe’s boredom”. The numbers of homeless we are seeing have been steadily increasing over the last 2.5 years. And with today’s economy, and lack of focus on affordable housing those numbers are going to continue rising. There is no overnight solution, but with the correct “first steps” we can manage this epidemic in our town. Our numbers are not good, but no where near as staggering as the numbers I have seen from other cities comparable to ours in size. Regardless of their appearance, these homeless people are our neighbors. They deserve safety, stability and having their basic survival needs met so they can get their footing again; start building their lives again. Once everyone in our town enjoys these inalienable rights, then having a place to go to be entertained and feel joy will mean more to everyone.

There are many possibilities for working on the homelessness issue in Ross Co. (which, by the way, is in no way exclusive to Ross Co/Chillicothe city). The ability of the city to use some ARPA funding and join with agencies currently involved and committed will be very positive. The opportunity to discuss new, innovative, and yes, case-management and accountability, using all the tools in our toolbox to increase capacity for successful strategies! Homelessness, mental health and affordable housing are issues frequently closely related. The groundbreaking of the new permanent supportive housing project, McArthur Gardens, will address housing for 36 individuals with mental health needs. So much more is possible, let's keep up the momentum and commit some of this funding to address homelessness

While we can all agree this is an issue for our city, before placing a vote for this, I would need to know more specifically how they plan to “address” homelessness. For instance, better drug treatment, halfway houses with rigorous conditions and endpoint criteria, counseling, and job training would be part of an effective solution in that they’d be geared toward re-entry and personal responsibility. Many other “solutions” would be less productive and more enabling. There needs to be a balance of compassion and actual solutions that reduce homelessness, keep our communities safe, and allow people to fulfill their potential. More detail is needed on this.

I'd love to see more mental health related support for the homeless, as well as support for organizations that help people with addictions.

Look at what nearby towns are considering as an immediate solution. Ex: https://thegpathens.org/initiatives/conestoga-hut-project/ or Convert one or more of the empty, outdated, or land bank properties into a multi-use day shelter. Repurpose the old building currently used by City Council. Im sure they would love to move to a bigger, nicer space. Check with the Main Library. They have an unused space that would create the needed shelter beds and still provide those staying there close access to the services they need to help move them from homeless to housed. There would be room to provide a dedicated area for the wrap around services the homeless need to prepare for permanent housing. People who have been chronically homeless do not have the basic life skills to move from street living to the responsibilities of being a tenant, a good neighbor, or being g financially responsible. Ideally separate shelters for families, elderly and disabled, accomodations for those with ES or service animals, and a much needed shelter for those with mental health disorders or criminal records to exclude them from most shelters. It's not something that can be accomplished as quickly as it is needed. But with the current shelter only able to operate until 12/31/22, emergency plans need to be implemented. Instead of plans that would cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars, earmark a few thousand to a compassionate solution. At this moment an emergency shelter is the foundation to solving what Council and heartless NIMBY residents see as a "problem". Well, when there is a problem, there is a solution. And it doesn't have to be a solution that robs those with so little of the last thing that is truly their own...their dignity. It can be crafted with empathy, and effective if properly staffed and managed. Why can't Chillicothe be a leader in coming to a person centered solution, instead of charging headstrong into having Chillicothe added to the list of "Meanest Cities in America"?

I would love to see more coordination between the different sources and shelters that are available as well as more public information on how to get involved. Maybe part of the money goes toward a coordinator/liaison position that works with government resources, churches, and other agencies.