Austin Simon lives at New Jack City which is near H and San Benito street in downtown Fresno. After the city installs 44 tool sheds at the Poverello House and dismantles the homeless encampment on G street, they will turn their attention to New Jack City. The city's plan to end homelessness does not include providing people with adequate and affordable housing--just tool sheds and sweeps on existing encampments. The cost? $360,000 for the first year's operation.
The tool sheds do not have running water, indoor toilets, or any heating or cooling. But, this is the response to more than 8,000 homeless people on the streets of Fresno. Stack them like cord wood in tool sheds! The good news is that nobody on the City Council believes this will end homelessness. The bad news is that the City Council does not have a long range plan. What would end homelessness in Fresno? Lets start with a plan to provide affordable housing, job training, drug and alcohol rehabilitation services for those who need it, adequate mental health services, and jobs that pay a living wage. We have the resources. For a list of articles and documents about the struggle for civil liberties for homeless people in Fresno, see:
http://www.fresnoalliance.com/home/homelessness.htm
Mike Rhodes is, editor of the Community Alliance newspaper.
http://www.fresnoalliance.com/home
