Document text
http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 11, 2006 New ICC locale worries homeless advocates By Alan Panebaker Ashland Daily Tidings Questions abounded Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church in Ashland as people gathered for a free community meal. Free meals are fading away in Ashland, some say, and the recent closure of the Interfaith Community Care center on Second Street has homeless advocates worried. The ICC will re-open in Ashland in the old Handyman building on Ashland Street near Shop 'N' Kart, but until December there will be no free showers or collective place for homeless people to get mail. Many homeless people and homeless advocates wonder what the new ICC will be like. "Many of us are really concerned about what they're going to offer there," said Vincent Muolo, Uncle Foods Diner Coordinator for Peace House. The decrease in free meals this year and movement of the ICC leave some thinking the homeless contingent could be getting pushed farther out of town. Jody Waters, an assistant professor of communication at Southern Oregon University, said no one is sure what exactly the new ICC will offer. Its move, after some neighbors on Second Street complained about clients' behavior, has some people worried about the fate of the care center and its accompanying food bank. "There's a fear that what this represents is a possibility of getting the homeless people away from downtown," Waters said. Early this spring, Caring Friends meal — which was held on Wednesdays at Pioneer Hall on Winburn Way — stopped. There are still scattered free meals most days, and the Peace House community meal provides a consistent hot plate of food every Tuesday. Waters admits the question whether homeless people are being forced out of the downtown area is mere speculation, but it does bring up curious questions. "I'm just afraid some people think in terms of looking at homeless people as a problem rather than looking at homelessness as a problem," Waters said. Staff writer Alan Panebaker can be reached at 482-3456 x 227 or [email protected] . Current Comments: People are worried that the homeless will be pushed further out of town. Is this a bad thing? Where do these people come from? I always see them at exit 14 off the 5. Do they hitchhike here, from Lord knows where? I hope the bleeding hearts build these shelters near THEIR homes, in THEIR neighborhoods, near THEIR kids. kathleen - Ashland, OR - October 11th, 1:47 PM Homelessness is not a crime, just like ignorance is not a crime...lucky for you. Frank - Ashland - October 11th, 4:08 PM Frank: I think Kathleen has a point that you sidestepped. Although I do agree with you that homelessness is not a criminal activity, what about Kathleen's point? Would you be willing to decrease the homeless population in Ashland by taking in a homeless person? Do you have buddies that might step forward to help a homeless person? Eric - Arivaca, AZ - October 11th, 6:46 PM I agree with Kathleen. It doesn't make you ignorant to want to be in a safe, secure area. Krisitna - Redmond - October 11th, 6:52 PM If you've ever worked with some of the homeless, you know that most are not bad, dangerous, choosing to be homeless or to be avoided. If life had been different, some of you might be in the same situation. Don't be so quick to condemn. "When did we see you Lord??????" Is that what you'll be asking? Jackie - Ashland - October 11th, 7:55 PM I don't give to charity. I'm broke, too. But I certainly don't think I have the right to run anybody out of town. I don't feel kids need to be protected from these people, many of whom are veterans. I once bought a homeless man a taco. He reached out to shake my hand and all he had was a stump. He lost that hand in Vietnam. I don't think I'm better than him or you. You ought to meet some of the people recycling cans at shop n kart and living under bridges. See who you owe your freedom to. Frank - Ashland - October 11th, 8:13 PM Alot of people that go to get help aren't homeless their kids play with yours. Sorry to have to break the bad news but there are alot of single families in town that can barely scrap rent and their using the services too. The bums that cause the problem in town don't use the services cause there looking for the cash. Ashland the only city in or with meals tax you add no facilties to help the needy on the list. Are people complaining on clark street about the bums getting food.where should it be? ann - ashland or - October 11th, 9:29 PM People, please make a distinction between the food boxes on Clark street and the ICC. Different programs, different clients, different all the way around. You must also distinguish between helping the low income, the down and out, and those who are vagrants and transient problems. Did common sense get outlawed? ICC is not the Food bank. ICC draws the degenerates and unwelcome, yes, UNWELCOME, group. Free showers and phones and mail....hmmm. Lisa - Ashland - October 12th, 1:15 AM They are right, the VAST majority of homeless are veterans or people with mental problems. Unfortunately for all of us, if someone wishes to not work, to drop out of society they are lumped in to the same category. I support helping vets and patients get help. Noone can disagree. It's the people that can but dont want to work that i have a problem with. Jefferson - Ashland, OR - October 12th, 5:22 AM The reality is that many homeless are mentally ill or on drugs. Therefore, you come face-to-face with irrational, unexceptable behavior. I lived near a homeless shelter... and our family (with young children) was subjected to people urinating and deficating in our yard, garbage left around our home, a disturbed man regularly pounding on our front door, etc. Needless to say, we moved. I don't know what the solution is... but to say it's not an issue is foolish. Rogue - Ashland, OR - October 12th, 9:13 AM Jody Waters,I'll try to be kind here;homeless are looked at as a problem because of the problems they tend to bring with them. The dirty little secret about moving them from downtown to Ashland St.is that there were so many problems(crimes)caused by a large number of these characters that the downtown is pushing them out.Bringing new hobos in with the new center will create big problems.Don't just take my word for it;Look at the results of kind actions in cities to the south who were over-run. Steve L. Iverson - Ashland, Jefferson - October 12th, 11:34 AM I'm feeling a little guilty taking the "not in my backyard" approach to the homeless center.I know that many of the people receiving help suffer from mental illness,have major drug and alcohol dependancy issues,or have just plain had a tough hand dealt them in this life.I applaud all the Jody Waters;and so many others that want to help.I couldn't begin to list the generosity of this community here. It's just a hard issue to deal with after the negative impact of 2nd St.ICC on the neighborhood. Steve L. Iverson - Ashland, Jefferson - October 12th, 11:45 AM I grew up just outside NYC and lived, worked, traveled to the city for many years. I know from homeless people. Once I gave five bucks to a bum sitting on the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral and as he pocketed the bill, gave me the finger. We laughed about it all the way home on the train. There's nothing wrong with helping our neighbors. Ashland is TOO SMALL a town to attract transients for the goodies provided by well-meaning but unrealistic philanthropists. kathleen - ashland, OR - October 12th, 5:30 PM Before ICC is allowed to inhabit the new building I think they need to show a comprehensive plan on what they are planning on doing to assist homeless people, weed out those who are on drugs or wanted for a crime, and it must be more than they are currently doing. All I see now is that ICC is a magnet for people with unsavory behaviours because there is no accountability for ICC or the people they 'serve'. Handouts are not help. ICC is an enabler more than a system of help. Lisa - Ashland - October 12th, 8:31 PM Excuse me but people do get food at ICCA and not everybody has a phone and hobo's need showers to. I see other town with have faqcilties and they don;t have all these problems Ashland complains of.I have no compassion for people who are using the system and there are many in Ashland. There is a no camping ban why aren't the police towing their car or getting tough. Yeah on certain days they harrass them but other days turn their back. ann - ashland or - October 12th, 9:21 PM Ann-don't get me started on the ineffectiveness of APD.As a reactive police force they only chase transient campers when they are pressured by Chamber or City officials who have received too many complaints-pressure from citizens, usually in the spring when the hobos start to return to town in large numbers.The PD is not proactive in dealing with these individuals because the large majority of the cops don't live in town and don't care.Rich Kline-I know, not all the police, but the majority.FACT Steve L. Iverson - Ashland, Jefferson - October 12th, 11:05 PM I hope Ann falls from her ivory tower one day and has to approach one of these places for help. You say you have "no compassion for people who are using the system" and imply that you are for the police harassing folks. So, you want to use the police ie, the system, to take care of something you find unsavory? Given the lack of cohesion in your post, I'm betting you don't even see the hypocrasy in your statement. You seem like a grouchy old lady without enough community to keep you sane. ashlander - ashland, or - October 13th, 12:06 PM Maybe a didn't phrase my comment right. I am totally for the site and I think its a positive thing. The questionable folks won't be hanging out there to much cause its realitythe game isn't goona to work there. I know the lady there and she is very sharp and she will do the best she can but if your loaded or not sincere she not going to enable you. About my ivory tower someone mentioned give me a break I even pack pears in this jobless county. Bad cops and bad hobos deserve each other ann - ashlandOr - October 13th, 6:14 PM My son is enabled there. Guess he knows how to smooze the 'lady there'. We've tried to get him into treatment. Does ICC do that? Do they mandate you must be drug free? Why is it when my son uses the ICC phone there has always been someone in the background yelling and acting incredibly incoragible? Why does my son tell me...there are always jerks here? What has ICC done for him? Not much. Lisa - Ashland - October 13th, 11:08 PM I know a place where the homeless can go to get food, housing, transportation, and medical care. It's called The Oregon Employment Department. They should try it sometime. Dave - Ashland, OR - October 16th, 2:02 AM Amen to that Dave. But on a more realistic note, it isn't quite that simple either. Lisa - Ashland - October 16th, 12:48 PM Interesting article and debates. I was wondering if any one knows of other resources for homeless people in this area other than the ICC? Is there aplace for homeless families? Or programs or places that help people get homes? E ( [email protected] ) - Ashalnd - October 22nd, 5:40 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.