http://epaper.ardemgaz.com/Reposito...xt/html&Path=ArDemocrat/2004/11/09&ID=Ar01000
LR dubbed ‘meanest’ for homeless by advocacy group
BY ANDREW DEMILLO AND JILL ZEMAN ARKANSAS Democrat-GAZETTE
Efforts to close 27 transient camps earned Little Rock the title "meanest city" in the nation, according to a report due out today from a national homeless advocacy group.
The National Coalition for the Homeless branded Little Rock with the title in a ranking of 20 cities. The rankings were derived from purported civil-rights violations and attitudes toward the homeless. Atlanta, Cincinnati and Las Vegas ranked in the top 10.
Little Rock’s ranking results from a proposal this year to close more than two dozen camps of homeless people around the city, mostly downtown. The plan was tabled after objections from advocates for the homeless, but the coalition said a danger remains that the city will move forward with its plan.
"This issue has been percolating here for some time," said Michael Stoops, director of community organizing for the Washington-based coalition. "This is the first time that Little Rock has been documented in our report." This marks the third report released by the coalition. Las Vegas has held the top spot for the past two years.
City leaders and some shelter directors on Monday objected to the ranking.
Little Rock leaders questioned the timing of the report, released a little more than a week before the Clinton Presidential Center’s opening, and sent out a three-page news release defending the city’s policies on the homeless.
"This has caught us totally off guard, and it’s unfair," City Manager Bruce Moore said of the report.
Moore cited steps the city has taken to help the homeless. He said such steps make the title of "meanest city" more dubious.
The city allocates money to the St. Francis House, which provides services for the homeless, Moore said, and Little Rock employees helped with a homeless outreach day on Sept. 25.
In its proposed 2005 budget, the city has set aside $70,000 in community development block grant money for a day resource center for the homeless. Moore said he hopes to allocate more money for homeless services from the city’s general fund in its 2005 budget.
"I just think you’ve got a few people out there that are intent on making Little Rock look bad while we’re continuing to work with a group of individuals to address this problem," Moore said.
The report also cites comments by Mayor Jim Dailey, who has advocated sweeping out the camps, as a reason for the ranking. Dailey did not return a call seeking his comment.
Sandra Wilson, executive director of the Arkansas Supportive Housing Network and a vocal opponent of the sweeps, said she hopes the report will spur the city to change policy toward the homeless. She said discussions with city officials have seen little progress.
"There aren’t enough resources for the homeless here," Wilson said. "[City leaders] have to actually look at that and say we really haven’t done any good. ... Instead of being silent, we need talk about this."
Moore debunked the idea that Little Rock called for homeless camp sweeps to clean up the area before the Clinton library opening.
"The Clinton library just has never been a factor in any of our decisions or dialogue," he said.
The report speculated that the Nov. 18 opening of the library, expected to draw more than 27,000 people, factored in the sweeps.
Little Rock numbers among 168 cities working on a 10-year plan to address chronic homelessness, a plan expected to come out in December.
Phil Mangano, the nation’s top official on homelessness, said he found the report "surprising," given the discussions.
"There’s this unprecedented partnership around our country to do the right thing and be more solution-oriented in approaching homelessness," said Mangano, executive director of the U.S Interagency Council on Homelessness. "I know Little Rock is a city that is moving in that direction."
City Director Michael Keck said the city has "bent over backwards" to work with homeless advocacy groups and other organizations to help Little Rock’s homeless.
"Having someone who doesn’t live here who is trying to get a headline because the library opening’s getting ready to occur — I don’t think it does anything to advance the cause. I really don’t."
As the report comes out this morning, city leaders will gather south of downtown to break ground for a $1.4 million shelter for Our House. The 70-bed shelter, expected to open next summer, will replace the shelter on Main Street.
Barry McDaniel, president of the shelter’s board of directors, had doubts about the ranking.
"We’re certainly not at the forefront in the efforts to deal with homelessness," said Mc-Daniel, husband of City Director Barbara Graves. "But we’re certainly not in the rear either."
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I though this might tie in with some recent "managing panhandlers" threads...
TM
LR dubbed ‘meanest’ for homeless by advocacy group
BY ANDREW DEMILLO AND JILL ZEMAN ARKANSAS Democrat-GAZETTE
Efforts to close 27 transient camps earned Little Rock the title "meanest city" in the nation, according to a report due out today from a national homeless advocacy group.
The National Coalition for the Homeless branded Little Rock with the title in a ranking of 20 cities. The rankings were derived from purported civil-rights violations and attitudes toward the homeless. Atlanta, Cincinnati and Las Vegas ranked in the top 10.
Little Rock’s ranking results from a proposal this year to close more than two dozen camps of homeless people around the city, mostly downtown. The plan was tabled after objections from advocates for the homeless, but the coalition said a danger remains that the city will move forward with its plan.
"This issue has been percolating here for some time," said Michael Stoops, director of community organizing for the Washington-based coalition. "This is the first time that Little Rock has been documented in our report." This marks the third report released by the coalition. Las Vegas has held the top spot for the past two years.
City leaders and some shelter directors on Monday objected to the ranking.
Little Rock leaders questioned the timing of the report, released a little more than a week before the Clinton Presidential Center’s opening, and sent out a three-page news release defending the city’s policies on the homeless.
"This has caught us totally off guard, and it’s unfair," City Manager Bruce Moore said of the report.
Moore cited steps the city has taken to help the homeless. He said such steps make the title of "meanest city" more dubious.
The city allocates money to the St. Francis House, which provides services for the homeless, Moore said, and Little Rock employees helped with a homeless outreach day on Sept. 25.
In its proposed 2005 budget, the city has set aside $70,000 in community development block grant money for a day resource center for the homeless. Moore said he hopes to allocate more money for homeless services from the city’s general fund in its 2005 budget.
"I just think you’ve got a few people out there that are intent on making Little Rock look bad while we’re continuing to work with a group of individuals to address this problem," Moore said.
The report also cites comments by Mayor Jim Dailey, who has advocated sweeping out the camps, as a reason for the ranking. Dailey did not return a call seeking his comment.
Sandra Wilson, executive director of the Arkansas Supportive Housing Network and a vocal opponent of the sweeps, said she hopes the report will spur the city to change policy toward the homeless. She said discussions with city officials have seen little progress.
"There aren’t enough resources for the homeless here," Wilson said. "[City leaders] have to actually look at that and say we really haven’t done any good. ... Instead of being silent, we need talk about this."
Moore debunked the idea that Little Rock called for homeless camp sweeps to clean up the area before the Clinton library opening.
"The Clinton library just has never been a factor in any of our decisions or dialogue," he said.
The report speculated that the Nov. 18 opening of the library, expected to draw more than 27,000 people, factored in the sweeps.
Little Rock numbers among 168 cities working on a 10-year plan to address chronic homelessness, a plan expected to come out in December.
Phil Mangano, the nation’s top official on homelessness, said he found the report "surprising," given the discussions.
"There’s this unprecedented partnership around our country to do the right thing and be more solution-oriented in approaching homelessness," said Mangano, executive director of the U.S Interagency Council on Homelessness. "I know Little Rock is a city that is moving in that direction."
City Director Michael Keck said the city has "bent over backwards" to work with homeless advocacy groups and other organizations to help Little Rock’s homeless.
"Having someone who doesn’t live here who is trying to get a headline because the library opening’s getting ready to occur — I don’t think it does anything to advance the cause. I really don’t."
As the report comes out this morning, city leaders will gather south of downtown to break ground for a $1.4 million shelter for Our House. The 70-bed shelter, expected to open next summer, will replace the shelter on Main Street.
Barry McDaniel, president of the shelter’s board of directors, had doubts about the ranking.
"We’re certainly not at the forefront in the efforts to deal with homelessness," said Mc-Daniel, husband of City Director Barbara Graves. "But we’re certainly not in the rear either."
===
I though this might tie in with some recent "managing panhandlers" threads...
TM