Monday, Jan. 05, 2009

Merced puts homeless eviction plan on hold

City council set to revisit issue today

After strong opposition, Merced leaders will postpone their effort to clear out the homeless this month.

The city planned to enforce a "no camping" ordinance Jan. 23 that would make people living in tents on city land move elsewhere or face citations and jail.

The hitch, as many pointed out, is that most homeless people have nowhere to go.

The homeless shelter is full. Some of the people who live along the creeks haven't been able to land jobs. Others just don't care to change.

"A lot of people would like to think that if you force them out, they'll evaporate," Councilman John Carlisle said. "That's not going to happen."

The shelter is at capacity and men and women still sleep along the creeks. At Carlisle's request, the council today will discuss its approach to dealing with homeless residents. In a report to the council, staff members said they're delaying enforcement of the ordinance.

Carlisle said he doesn't want to scrap the city's plan, only put it off. The extra time will allow churches and other groups to come up with a plan to shelter the homeless through the cold months.

The city, county and community groups should also come up with a long-range plan so there isn't an emergency every year, he said.

"The frustration is that it's cold, people are homeless and there's no shelter for them," he said.

Renee Davenport, a longtime advocate for the homeless, said the city's enforcement of the ordinance would scatter the homeless throughout the city and county. "Before you run them out, you better have a plan," she said.

Her biggest gripe is that the D Street homeless shelter run by the Merced County Community Action Agency isn't open during the day.

"It's mind-boggling to me," she said, adding it should be open all the time.

A day center needs to be created for the county's homeless, Davenport said. She's hoping local churches can organize it.

Lori Flanders oversees Continuum of Care, a network of homeless resource groups that is run by the Merced County Association of Governments. "We look for permanent solutions, not Band-Aids," Flanders said.

More than 40 people went to the last meeting because of the city's eviction plan.

In a follow-up e-mail to network members Tuesday, Flanders said library officials agreed to let homeless people stay there during the day as long as they're not disruptive. She also suggested homeless people go to the Merced Mall.

One thing that's clear, Carlisle said, is that everyone needs to come up with a long-range plan. "We shouldn't be dealing with this as an emergency item every year," he said.