Mayor at it Again

Such weird mixed messages from him. And I think he;s getting bad information. Here’s his latest, not his greatest. After saying the ONLY place you can sleep outside is the City-County Building, he know says that people can’t sleep there either.

Watch the blog and facebook for updates, but if you can show up and speak in room 357 on Monday at 5:45, please do! Especially if you are directly impacted! Or work or volunteer with those who are.

Okay, deep breaths . . . prepare for a whole lot of bullshit promoting stereotypes and prejudices. It’s a little softer than he has been in the past, but people are out of days in shelter, and offering someone housing in Sun Prairie without transportation isn’t a real offer. Yes we need mental health and AODA services that meet people where they are at, but we also need a real shelter system that functions as emergency shelter. Until then, all Enis (the mayor’s office) is doing is criminalizing homelessness.

May 29, 2015

As the June 1st meeting of the City County Liaison Committee approaches, we need an understanding of the challenges and the realities:

1. It is generally not accurate to suggest that the City County Building meets a need caused by a lack of access to overnight shelters. With one or two exceptions, none of the men are in danger of running out of shelter nights or otherwise unable to use existing shelter facilities. This was verified in a recent check with Porchlight. Those few men not welcome at the shelter are refused service because they have exhibited disruptive behavior affecting staff or other patrons.

2. Permanent housing has been made available to several of the porch residents. At least one woman has refused all offers to move to permanent housing. Several other residents were placed into housing and deliberately sabotaged it so they would be evicted.

3. Appropriate services HAVE NOT BEEN OFFERED to many of the most troubled individuals who are mentally ill and/or have severe substance abuse problems. It is imperative that a way be found to get these people the help they need to deal with these issues.

4. The sanitary and public health conditions in this area are deteriorating. People are sleeping and eating in an area contaminated with feces and urine.

The present policy – the combination of no rules and compassion – is a failure. It is failing City and County employees, it is failing public users and visitors to the building, and it is failing people in our community who are homeless.

The health issues which are also a matter of concern for the public and building employees, the escalating violence, and the absence of rules makings this space dangerous and as predicted, has spread to other parts of the downtown – especially around the square and State Street.

Those who frequent the building or see the porch on a Saturday or Sunday morning know what is going on. Weekly, more and more people are coming into Madison to enjoy the support of food, clothing, and access to drugs and alcohol with no rules.

It is not O.K. to encourage behaviors so dangerous that two years ago, lead to a murder. The public understands this; it is time for elected officials to do something. We are not horrible uncaring people to insist upon basic rules of hygiene and non-violence. If there are people who cannot abide by them, then they can move back to where they came or be given treatment – whether they want it or not. We have too many homeless families and children who are trying to make a go of it. The resources –millions of dollars – spent on police and fire services – funding this behavior and encouraging new arrivals can best be spent elsewhere, such as child services and permanent affordable housing.