Homelessness is a vexing problem, but it’s also one that a community should rally to address. Frankly, that is not happening in Columbus and Bartholomew County.
That is the impression we are left with after Andy East’s story in last Sunday’s Republic, in which he reported that at least 49 people in Bartholomew County became homeless last year, according to local officials familiar with the homeless population in our community.
Columbus Township Trustee Ben Jackson, whose office owns the building where Brighter Days Housing homeless shelter is located at 421 S. Mapleton St., said it was a rough winter in terms of the number of people who had to rely on the shelter to keep a roof over their heads.
“We had a lot of people coming through,” Jackson said of the shelter, which is operated by Love Chapel. Kelly Daugherty, executive director of Love Chapel, said an average of 30 men a night stayed at the shelter — the second-highest number since it opened in 2016 — and an increase over the average of 26 a night a year earlier.
“Local officials said the community does not have a key tool that they believe would help keep many homeless in Columbus off the streets — permanent supportive housing,” East wrote. “Permanent supportive housing is a program that seeks to provide housing and supportive services on a more long-term basis to people who are experiencing chronic homelessness, according to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. The services can include, among other things, connecting people with community-based health care and treatment services.”
Surely as a caring community we have the people, the resources and the means to make this happen to reduce the number of homeless individuals on the streets.
The question is, do we have the will?
Judging by recent history, the answer sadly might be no.
As East reported, the permanent supportive housing model was proposed back in 2017 with plans to convert the former Faith Victory Church building at 1703 Home Ave., near Donner Park, into a complex of 20 to 25 apartment units devoted to the concept.
“However, neighbors quickly voiced concerns that ‘possible felons will be moving in’ and said property values in the area would plummet,” East wrote. “By mid-2018, the plans had been abandoned, in part, due to the opposition from neighbors, as well as insufficient funding to make the project viable, officials said.”
Jackson told East, “Everyone wants the homeless off the streets, but no one wants them in their neighborhood.”
We believe that homeless people who want to improve their circumstances ought to have a way to do that beyond emergency shelters. We also believe our community ought extend a hand to help make this possible.
An opportunity exists at this moment as an emphasis on mental health services increases. For instance, The Stride Center crisis intervention facility just officially launched. Though it also will be a short-term shelter and treatment facility, its mission seeks to steer clients to services that could help in the long term if they are homeless.
That’s just one aspect. Finding long-term solutions will take lots of helping hands along with greater empathy for those less fortunate than ourselves.
