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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2010 > February > 16 > Entry
Guest column: Long-term plan is reducing homelessness in Dayton
This commentary was provided by Walt Hibner, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Dayton; and Charles Meadows, retired City of Dayton employee. They are co-chairs of the Homeless Solutions Policy Board.
Contrary to a headline in the Dayton Daily News (“Neighbors’ complaints derail homeless plan,” Jan. 26), the community’s Homeless Solutions Plan has not been derailed.
In fact, it is making substantial progress.
In June 2006, Dayton, Montgomery County and the United Way of the Greater Dayton Area adopted an ambitious Homeless Solutions Community 10-Year Plan. It is a blueprint for ending chronic homelessness and reducing overall homelessness.
In the three years since then, the number of people who are chronically homeless has declined substantially; a major new homelessness prevention program has begun; the gateway shelter system has been transformed with the recent opening of the Gettysburg Gateway for Men; and significant progress has been made in connecting the homeless system to other resources and systems in the community.
In addition, hundreds of units of permanent supportive housing have been created in seven communities across the county.
Throughout the process of developing and implementing the Homeless Solutions Plan, there has been an understanding of the need to balance the concerns residents have about new projects to serve the homeless coming into their community and the needs of homeless citizens for housing opportunities all over the county.
Stable permanent housing is the solution for homelessness. The gateway shelters and other programs in the homeless system provide case management and programming to families and single adults to help them develop a plan to move to housing, either in the private market or in one of the transitional or permanent housing programs in the homeless system.
For people with significant barriers to housing — such as an addiction or mental illness —Â research has shown that providing a rental subsidy and case management is an effective solution.
The people referenced in the DDN article had been living in tents in Veterans Park with little hope of finding housing or employment. One man had been homeless for five years. Last summer, an initiative was developed to house homeless families and individuals who were either in shelters or living in Veterans Park.
A landlord in Grafton Hill had several units available in one building. With rental assistance and case management, the homeless individuals each signed a lease and moved into their new homes in July.
Since that time, many of the tenants have found jobs, qualified for benefits and been connected to health services. All but one of the tenants have since moved into permanent housing.
Our community has committed to reduce homelessness. To do that, we must provide permanent, affordable housing options and necessary supportive services for our most vulnerable citizens.
The Homeless Solutions Plan is on track to prevent and end homelessness.
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Comments
By Leon Harrison
February 16, 2010 6:05 PM | Link to this
Quit importing cheap products and labor [Mexicans] and stop exporting jobs? Stop feeding and supporting and promoting and enabling bastard breeders and bottom feeders? Let them go on the Jerry Springer and Maury Povich shows!
By Dan Barton
February 16, 2010 6:45 PM | Link to this
The plan is laudable, but has a fatal flaw. Many of these people who need secure and stable housing are not getting it with the implementation of this program. No on-site security means that when on client brings in his drug-dealing buddy, who wants to establish his alpha-dog dominance, he decides to mercilesly beat a fellow resident who was not showing suffecient deference. Sent him to the hospital for reconstructive facial surgery. Other residents assualted. Drug dealing arrests. Prostitution arrests. 100 Police calls in 110 days! A total lack of oversight which has made the program a hazard for clients and neighbors. It is warehousing, not a solution. Back to the drawing board, and think about security and safety next time
By Frustrated Daytonian
February 16, 2010 6:54 PM | Link to this
The panhandling at major intersections has blown up recently. Isn’t it great that the first thing people see coming into downtown Dayton is a panhandler at the bottom of the Main St. exit ramp? The perception problem just grows worse… Dayton Police, step up and start checking Panhandler licenses, and get them OFF the main thoroughfares.
By Cheryl Bates
February 16, 2010 8:34 PM | Link to this
As much as I appreciate the numeration of all the effective efforts outlined in this column, I have to say that Grand Ave. was/is not one of them. There weren’t just a few men being sheltered there, but at least a dozen. I question the adequacy of case management services – 100 police calls from Aug to Jan 1; 2 men with substantial arrest records for panhandling, arrested for panhandling even with a roof over their heads; one of them also arrested for growing marijuana in his subsidized apartment. I am pleased that these individuals have been transitioned into permanent housing, because that is what the Grafton Hill neighborhood has maintained all along – that this was transitional housing and should have been subject to the City’s zoning regulations for transitional housing
By disgusted
February 16, 2010 11:29 PM | Link to this
I think it’s sad that Dan Barton takes the “Not In My Back Yard” mentality to such an extreme that he’ll sic HUD auditors on The Other Place, just because they are doing the noble work the community has asked them to do with this difficult segment of OUR society. He almost gloats about his heartlessness. Shameful.
By Vic
February 18, 2010 11:46 AM | Link to this
There should be programs to address this important issue. The problem is what about the concerns of those who live in the communities where these facilities are? I know that I can be easily labeled for having a “not in my back yard” mentality, but a facility near my home has seniors, mentally ill, and drug addicted living in the same place. This facility has no supervision, professional counselors, or even security on site. The result is hundreds of 911 calls every month for all manner of illicit behavior. What rights do the law abiding home owners have if one of these facilities is hampering the quality of life in their community?
By Jim from Dayton
February 18, 2010 12:07 PM | Link to this
Dear Disgusted: If Dayton is to help the indigent and homeless, it must maintain its residential tax base. That means encouraging middle class people with middle class incomes to invest in Dayton neighborhoods. This does not exclude assisting the indigent and homeless or the residential poor. However, programs undertaken on their behalf need “buy-in” by the taxpaying public and middle class homeowners need to be reassured that facilities and programs to assist the homeless are properly operated and maintained. The apartment house in the 600 block of Grand Avenue was NOT one of these and those operating it ought to be investigated. It’s about time that Dayton and the County faced up to the fact that its most endangered population is the middle class. Without it, NOTHING else will get done.
By fortressdayton
February 24, 2010 11:39 AM | Link to this
Homelessness is sometimes a choice, as ridiculous as it sounds. Many of those on the streets choose to be there, because they are free of life’s restrictions and rules. Most, however, are not there by choice. Dayton would see a reduction in these numbers if we were to repeal the ordinance legalizing panhandling. Beggars swarm to Dayton in the warm months because of this. Only in the winter do they report to shelters claiming homelessness. Anyone supporting temporary housing for these folks should have to live within a block of these sites. I know it sounds petty, but it is something that many of us, like Vic, deal with every day. Move the single homeless to temporary housing away from the city and provide them with a work for room/board on a voucher system (no cash payments). I was homeless when I was 16, but I still got a job and never accepted hand-outs. ‘Homeless’ is not ‘hopeless’.