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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Alarm Box: Make sure emergency responders can find you ... Pizza driver in Ashland robbery says she was shocked with stun gun ... Ashland thespians earn regional honors ... Alarm Box: Make sure emergency responders can find you ... Pizza driver in Ashland robbery says she was shocked with stun gun ... Ashland thespians earn regional honors ... COUNCIL CORNER Council Corner: Who is my neighbor? Comment By Carol Voisin DailyTidings.com By Carol Voisin Posted Feb. 23, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Carol Voisin Posted Feb. 23, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Word is I’ve become known as “the homeless hugger,” presumably one akin to a “tree hugger.” I confess to being a hugger of both. I care deeply about the homeless, about anyone, in fact, who lacks permanent housing. They are the poorest of the poor, and their growing number speaks to broader economic challenges we face ― of wealth concentrated in fewer and fewer hands as the number of impoverished increases. Their presence cries out for creative and compassionate solutions. With the proposed downtown behavioral ordinances coming before the City Council for a vote, I feel those who express concerns about homeless behavior, who are made uncomfortable and fearful by their presence, deserve to hear the basis for my support of those without housing. My motive is simple: a homeless person is my neighbor. As a Trinitarian Christian, I accept the moral imperative to love my neighbor as myself and be a Good Samaritan to that stranger. To see the homeless as my neighbors and treat them as I would be treated is a challenging imperative to live by, but I realize I must try. I promised three homeless men that I would try to arrange an opportunity for them to speak and for members of our community to listen to them. With help from Leigh Madsen and many others, we held the event on Feb. 12. Between 10 and 15 homeless, travelers and transients spoke, and the rest of us listened. What did we hear? First, they do disagree among themselves, which is not so different from any other interest group in Ashland. Many of them disapprove of some of the downtown behavior, which they see as going too far, but they understand why it occurs. For a person to resort to panhandling at all means that person is deep into survival mode. They are living life in fear of dying on the street, of being beaten, robbed, constantly hungry, of being cold, in rain and snow with no protection from weather, and of never being able to sleep longer than an hour or two at a time. They are constantly uncomfortable and living in a state of fear and insecurity. In general, those who spoke found Ashland to be a kind and generous community that often gives them a reference for a job and a chance for a good meal at Uncle Foods Diner. One traveler said he is working but remains homeless, even as he plans to attend college in the spring. Another, along with his wife and child, are homeless, though he has a job; they simply cannot find affordable housing. These young men are not the problem in Ashland, and they want very much to be part of the solution. Many citizens who spoke at the mayor’s recent listening forum on this issue also want to be part of the solution. We have an opportunity here. One possibility is to resurrect something called “Plaza Watch.” Plaza Watch began six years ago in response to complaints about rude panhandlers and continued for three years. A dozen or so women and men walked the streets of Ashland at the busiest hours ― during summer from 4:30-7:30 pm. I was part of that group. We wanted to observe or “watch” what was happening with the homeless and their interactions with tourists and police. In the process, we developed relationships with the homeless, with “travelers” and with transients. We learned their names. The program ended because we found there was not much to observe ― other than their good behavior. An Ashland businessman and I would like to revive Plaza Watch and include all who have said they want to be part of a solution. It worked before and could again. Let’s use taxpayers’ money and police expertise for other ventures. With Plaza Watch, a homeless person and a housed Ashland resident could walk together, observing and building a relationship, the housed with the poorest among us. It would be a team of Samaritans, not police, and could be a positive place to start. Also, donate to Options for Homeless Residents of Ashland, P.O. Box 1133, Ashland, OR 97520 ( www.homelessoptions.org ). Carol Voisin is a member of the Ashland City Council. By Carol Voisin DailyTidings.com By Carol Voisin Posted Feb. 23, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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