urbanSTL

Here in ATL, many people were displaced from the building for the '96 olympics. Panhandling is a given, but I've found a way to deal with the problem w/o waiting on the gov't to do something and sticking to the man at the same time. Check out this link www.madhousers.org and hit me back with some responses!

Where did it say that building shelters would rid the problem completely?

This isn't some type of start-up community wherever/whenever. Actually, there are probably set-ups that exist in around Saint Louis that you may or may not have seen. This group only builds structures whre camps already exist because either the owner of the property either 1)doesn't care they are there or 2)doesn't know they are there.

Gatechie wrote:This isn't some type of start-up community wherever/whenever. Actually, there are probably set-ups that exist in around Saint Louis that you may or may not have seen. This group only builds structures whre camps already exist because either the owner of the property either 1)doesn't care they are there or 2)doesn't know they are there.

Sorry, but we don't want any refugee camps downtown. That's what shelters and the "10 Year Plan" are for. Thanks but no thanks.

Yikes! You mean these people actually want to bring back Hoovertowns?

Perhaps the shanties could be distributed along the Gateway Mall, they would be a form of residential development……

Doug wrote:So, why don't we employ the homeless who hang out in the Gateway Mall? Couldn't they mow lawns for Parks and Recreation?

If they have any initiative, they're always welcome to apply for jobs.

But to apply for a job you need a home address, phone number, a decent wardrobe to present a good image to a prospective employer, transportation and nowadays internet access. All things a "homeless" person lacks. Thankfully the Centenary Cares program at downtowns Centenary Methodist church provides many of those things so people that want to can break the cycle of homelessness.

To cook or eat out? A group on the bus the other evening were announcing, "St. Vincent's is feeding tonight!" This stirred a conversation among several about whether to eat at St. Vincent's or go home and cook.



Also, last week was the first time I've seen a guy who is "certified" homeless - he sleeps under a local bridge and carries his cardboard "mattress" with him.



Maybe the city should require a permit for soup kitchens and shelters that mandates documentation of serving a measureable need and not simply a felt one?

Is it my imagination, or has the homeless population suddenly jumped near Lucas park?

^Yeah, the in-laws were in town last week. Sorry 'bout that.

I think he's talking about serving food IN the park. I want to go to the suburbs and serve a 200 person buffet. I'll hand out leaflets and provide a bus, then I'll bring them out to Town & Country or wherever these "do gooders" live. Serve it right up on Apple Tree Acres off 270 and nightmare.

Regulating soup kitchens? Maybe I should offer some background information.



As a former grantmaker, in the past I know that homeless shelters followed a reasonable amount of rules and regulations if they wanted to receive support. For example, public funds could not be used by a shelter that required attendance at church services in exchange for food or other assistance.



Many shelters followed social service ethics and did not serve anyone who appeared to be intoxicated.



I guess my thought was that maybe some entity (city, state, associations, social workers, etc...) could strongly promote the idea of good social work practice. They could do this by requiring some basic intake procedures for persons requesting assistance. As it appears now, it's a free-for-all with no follow through, measurements or, most importantly, resolution of less than desirable social conditions. You all know...just a haphazard, shotgun, the-road-to-hell-is-pave-with-good-intentions-approach.

Matt wrote: For example, public funds could not be used by a shelter that required attendance at church services in exchange for food or other assistance.

Is this what NLEC demands?

bsharmastl wrote:Is it my imagination, or has the homeless population suddenly jumped near Lucas park?

I've seen people handing out food there several times over the last month. I approached one of the guys who was doing it and gave him a pamphlet for Centenary Church, which serves breakfast and lunch daily. I told him they're always looking for volunteers in the hope that he would do that instead of handing out soup in the park next time.



I try to be compassionate, but I really hate walking by the park and seeing people laying around on mattresses! Where did those come from anyway?

I'm pretty sure that, even if all 1148 registered users (bots, lurkers, posters, etc.) came, we'd still be outnumbered by the homeless.

Doug wrote:I have a great idea. Why don't all of us Urban St. Louis users have a huge picknick in Lucas Park?

How about we all do #1 and #2 in the park. If the homeless can deficate with impunity in Lucas Park; why can't we?



(To be honest they seem to like the corners of the library more. Saw a dude taking a leak there a week or two ago. Don't know why when all the portapotties from the parades were still in Gateway Mall.

bsharmastl wrote:

Matt wrote: For example, public funds could not be used by a shelter that required attendance at church services in exchange for food or other assistance.

Is this what NLEC demands?

Las Vegas outlawed feeding homeless people at city parks last year with Orlando following suit. Already, the cities of Dallas, Fort Myers, Fla., Gainesville, Fla., Wilmington, N.C., Atlanta, and Santa Monica, Calif., have laws restricting or outright prohibiting the feeding of the homeless in public parks. I'm sure this topic has the ACLU a bit interested...



Reference:

- http://www.wesh.com/foodnews/9576842/detail.html

- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 00659.html



Perhaps our city leadership could be proactive and contact cities who have enacted these laws to discover how they have changed the environment.