There’s been growing concern among business owners and others who work and live in downtown Greensboro due to issues emanating from the Interactive Resource Center – a facility where homeless people can gather during the day to do things like check emails, take showers, read or just get a break from the heat.
Those who’ve driven by or stopped by to make donations in recent months have often seen a massive collection of people outside the center, and now many of those who work in or frequent the area are expressing fear for their safety due to the activities of some homeless people who congregate at the Center or wander away from it.
While the center provides a needed service, business owners and others in downtown Greensboro have, in recent months, been very vocal about their concerns regarding a number of disturbing incidents where homeless people, at or near the Center, panhandle in a harassing way, sit on the steps in front of businesses, attempt to gain access into gated communities or make employees scared to walk to their cars parked outside.
The Center isn’t a homeless shelter – people don’t stay overnight. Instead, it is a day center. The Center is officially described as “a place for people experiencing homelessness to congregate in a safe space, connect with important services, and join in fellowship with one another.”
Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston, after hearing many, many complaints from those who work and live near the Center, called a meeting for 1:30 p.m. on Monday, July 8. He said he felt compelled to call the meeting.
The IRC is really more a city of Greensboro issue than a county issue, Alston said; however, his constituents were very unhappy with the current situation.
“It’s in my district,” Alston said. “I was surprised that a meeting had not been called already after the recent string of complaints, so I called one for Monday afternoon.”
Alston also said that several commissioners would be at the meeting as well as Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan and other Greensboro City Council members in addition to other leaders who have a say over what happens in downtown Greensboro and at the Interactive Resource Center.
The meeting, which will be held in a county-owned building, isn’t open to the public.
Two county commissioners from districts near the area and Commissioner Kay Cashion, who’s the county’s at-large commissioner, have been invited and are expected to attend.
Mayor Vaughan stated recently that the Interactive Resource Center was not designed to handle as many people as are currently using it, but she added that it would be a big mistake to close it down since it provided such essential services to a highly vulnerable group of people.
Kim Grimsley-Ritchy has been coordinating the effort meant to get some response from local leaders. She detailed some events that had left her frightened, and, in one bolded subhead of her email, warned: Something horrific is going to happen in our area very soon!
In another long email string of complaints sent to multiple local leaders, concerns were expressed by a business owner who works next door to the IRC on Murrow Boulevard.
“I have been practicing here for 31 years and my dad built this building in 1970/71,” the owner wrote. “This area/building is definitely ‘home’ for me. I’m here more than where I sleep! We all have the same stories and I hope we are able to come up with a resolution with the city. At a later date, I will discuss some of my stories; but today I will just send a few photos from my surveillance camera per Kim’s request of what was happening this past Friday at my office.” (See photograph above.)
The email went on to say that the owner had to put up fencing “to stop the repulsive behavior occurring behind my building.”
She added, “I’ve never wanted fencing around my building, but it was necessary to protect my property. The small corner that was not fenced in due to being able to gain access to my roof has been the recent issue. I think videos and pictures paint an undeniable story of our experiences.”
Alston said before the meeting that he wasn’t sure what the answer to the problem would be but that he hoped that, by calling a meeting and getting all the stakeholders together, some effective solutions could be worked out.
The same people who are bleating about “helping” the homeless, are the first to scream “just not in my neighborhood!”. Over the holiday weekend, a SC man, with his wife and two young children, were visiting Asheville, walking on Biltmore St., right downtown. Homeless man asked the man for money, and when he said he couldn’t help, said homeless man picked up a USED hypodermic needle, off of the ground, and stuck it into the SC tourist. THAT is the result of the Uber liberals ruining the most beautiful city, in the state of NC. Get used to it, people.
what is the conservative’s plan for the homeless?
– Enforce laws regarding vagrancy, panhandling, harassment, theft, trespassing, public drunkness/drug use, etc., and maximum sentencing with treatment.
– Recognize the need for non-voluntary commitment to mental health facilities.
– Approve of money for long-term mental health and drug/alcohol treatment.
– Require “homeless” to earn housing with “earned work credits” doing public work for the city or county; monthly inspection of their housing; weekly counseling sessions and drug/alcohol treatment appointments.
That’s my conservative proposal for a start.
So lock them up and/or use them as free labor? Yup, sounds like a conservative.
I am impressed a conservative believes in freeing up funds for long-term mental health and treatment centers. Good on you.
It’s not free labor dummy. You work in exchange for the things you need, just like the rest of us.
Why doesnt Skippy n Nancy put the ho.eless veyetans qnd citizena in the old Haebrrw School and Deluxe Printing Buildig on Farmington Dr. They absconded with your stolen an moisapproprated tax tax dollars to house about 600 illegal aliens?! Cuz they can create more demorat voters out of aliens than citizens,imho.sound like
You sound like a uberliberal statist. Govt creares poverty to take over ypur life. Private charities have donr much more for the poor than the demopublican duppoly have for 60 uears of their ‘War on Poverty’!
Excellent, reasonable suggestions.
Thank you, Deborah. You came up with ideas that are realistic and very practical. I agree with you.
Sounds good, Deborah !
Deborah has my vote!
That’s a good plan, and I lean left.
That’s the best plan I’ve heard. The left will never concede.
Gosh Chris a lot of us like Deborah’s plan. She has sound reasonable ideas. Looks like you’re out voted
when ‘herding cats’ try this ‘trick’: feed them where we want them to schijt & play. many (most) of these people are mental & WON’T/CAN’T do ‘programs/schedules.
Visited Asheville a few years ago, and you had to step over drug addicts and crazy people in front of restaurants. Lesson learned, so won’t go back to Asheville with their liberal city council that wants to consider reparations. The bed and breakfasts there are nice, but over-priced.
So only Liberals help Homeless People? I Evangelicals Christians (Mostly Conservative) helped the Poor as well. Aren’t Conservatives always preaching about Life, Anti Abortion, Etc! We’ll get ready for 12-18 years old getting pregnant since you all are against abortions and birth control pills. Aren’t Conservatives Pro Military, Support the Vets. Some of those homeless people are veterans. Some have mental psychological issues. Maybe If conservatives didn’t have strict laws about felons, some of those homeless people will have a job right now that pay the decent wage. Because some of those men may have had a string a bad luck and finding a steady job that paid enough of them to pay for rent or mortgage. Since conservatives always bragging about the love of God and Jesus, Holier than Thou, Bible Thumping. What good does all that do If you don’t open the doors of your churches. But I feel that Evangelical Christians on the right or nothing but lip service and hypocrites. With that being said they do need to do something about them homeless people downtown because it’s a eyesore and somebody is going to get hurt. Some of them are rude. I read a article that cities from Fayetteville to Wilmington and even from other states like Florida are sending their homeless people to Greensboro with a one-way ticket. Because they’ve been told Greensboro is a very generous city. If that’s the case the city leaders need to ship them back to those cities that they came from. But don’t sit there and blame the liberals because some of you conservative Christians having lifted a hand to do anything. You just want to condemn other people and be hypocrites.
What are you so bitter about?
Feeding cats does not help the cats. You just end up with more cats, fatter cats, cats that no longer want to hunt (work), and a bunch more cat poop. “Being nice” ends up causing more harm than good.
Similarly, the IRC has not helped the homeless. It has created a place where homeless congregate, make messes, and cause problems.
Real solutions involve an extensive overhaul of the state mental health infrastructure, work based welfare at the state and national level, and yes, criminalization of certain quality of life issues, such as loitering and begging.
All very valid points Don. If only the County had oh say 1.7 million dollars to give to non-profits for the purpose of helping (not supporting) needy people.
Oh wait…see County budget.
I would just point you to the comment above
There’s no way with happened.
Memo out of the office of Skip and Nancy…”OOOOOPS”
My grandfather used to say that some people are just a waste of perfectly good food.
I’m beginning to agree with him.
I’d like to offer a different perspective, rooted in compassion and understanding, as well as some wisdom from the Bible.
Every person, regardless of their situation, has inherent worth and dignity. Genesis 1:27 reminds us that we are all made in the image of God. Jesus emphasized love and compassion for all, especially the less fortunate. In Matthew 25:40, He says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
The concerns of downtown business owners and residents are valid and need addressing. Homelessness is a complex issue with causes such as economic challenges, mental health issues, and lack of affordable housing. It’s essential to address these issues locally and advocate for broader solutions at state and national levels.
While it’s understandable to see the homeless as a burden at times, it’s important to remember that they are God’s people just like us and deserve our help. The Interactive Resource Center (IRC) and similar facilities aim to provide support and hope to those in need. We should remember, “There but for the grace of God, go I.”
Absolutely Truth.
I understand your want for compassion, but I have a lot of insight to the problem, as I was homeless for a few years. Around 80% are addicts. 9% have major mental illness. 1% are actually down on their luck and trying to make it out. I’ve seen so many helpful programs and people actually come into the homeless communities offering them jobs and houses, and they were ALL turned down.
I knew this girl who made at LEAST $140 for drugs, $40 for a hotel room, cigarettes, and food a DAY just by begging on a street corner in Winston Salem. I’d implore you to interact with these people to gain some insight.
Well said.
Ron, if you are referring to a body of a person born without sin, I would agree. However, what makes one person more valuable than another to society is their behavior, application of inborn gifts, and a desire to make society better by participating in social interaction. A criminal is not the equal to a law-abiding individual. One may say in the eyes of the Lord, they are equal. However, people will be judged by their behavior while on Earth. Otherwise, everyone would go to heaven and there would be no need for a hell. In the eyes of society, the criminal and the law-abiding citizen are not equal. That’s why we have prisons.
What is the conservatives plan for the homeless? Since you are the party of pro-life and pro military. Because some of those men or military veterans. Some of those men got mental problems. And since you said that you are pro-christian Evangelical Christian at that. Why won’t you pass laws that allow felons to get a decent job that pays a decent wage for they can be self-sufficient. Because I know plenty of people they apply for jobs and they’ve been told they was qualified but was still turned down because of the past non-violent criminal records. I mean since you are evangelicals correct, I’m sure the Bible talks about helping the poor. And guess what since some of you are pro anti-abortion. You going to probably have more people out in the streets in the future because they’re not going to be able to afford to rent or have a mortgage. Between rent and mortgages and daycare having food with a lack of education. Because you going to have some 12 to 18-year-olds becoming pregnant. It’s going to be plenty of people dropping out of high school. So with no education, many of them are not going to find a decent job to be self-sufficient. So conservatives, Evangelicals, The religious right what is your answer! Since you all are so holier than thou. Or you just hypocrites.
The city and county have been run by liberal Democrats for a long time. See the results; rampant homelessness, a police force underfunded and understaffed, near record homicides yearly, and corruption and coverups like with the former city manager.
Plenty of money being thrown to elected leaders favorite nonprofits from our tax dollars as well. They also have plenty of tax dollars to throw at things like the Opera house downtown or a “mega site” that isn’t even in our county.
It is plain to see Skip and Nancy’s real priorities the past decades.
It’s amusing to see Leftists here criticize conservatives as “holier than thou” while they characterize their own approach as “rooted in compassion and understanding” ! Who’s being holier than thou?
If Leftists could get off their high horse for a moment, they might realize that homelessness is often a result of bad decisions and poor character. A lot of them are criminals or other anti-social types who don’t know how to behave in civilized society. That’s what’s causing all the problems here.
They are not angels, victims of life’s vicissitudes, helpless children who deserve our support. They are fully grown adults who mostly deserve their predicament. And rather than being grateful for the help they receive, they cause serious problems for all those around them.
I have no sympathy for them.
did anyone think that way of him & how would you know ? anyone ask his teachers, look at his ‘report card’ ?
Oh my!!! Didn’t we already say that when Kennedy took the reigns at the IRC that the disaster would soon follow? Please send her back to California.
I believe Michelle Kennedy was given a city job. But, yes, it was a dumpster fire with her, too. The board kept the lady on as director who was charged with stealing candy from Target. Bad judgement all around, so no wonder they have these problems.
Well duh! What did you expect? Guess you need more pixie dust and definitely more money which is how the city and county solve the issues they create.
It’s not just downtown. In many places where shoplifting presents opportunity, there are cheap motel rooms to rent or there’s vacant land or houses homeless people have set up encampments. I’ve been accosted in parking lots around the city and in the county. While property owners & officers do what they can, non resident landlords often can’t be bothered to prosecute trespassers. Even those who do file charges find the violaters, after being arrested and charged, are simply released and return. Penalties for petty theft, shoplifting, drunk & disorderly & loitering/ panhandling need to be more severe. Magistrates & judges need to apply more severe sentences on repeat offenders, especially those who make no effort to work and reestablish a housed lifestyle. It may be a matter of not enough jail space or personnel to oversee operations, but the population of homeless is only going to grow. The number of criminals who live among the homeless will grow too. We aren’t the only city or county experiencing this. It’s happening all across the country. More temporary, affordable housing, training, job assistance & transportation plus more jail space is going to be needed. I realize there’s more serious crime law enforcement has to focus on. Maybe establishing a squad trained to deal with this category of the population and identify those who need assistance & refer them to resources versus those who are transient or have a history of criminal behavior and then work with state & local govt to increase penalties that can be used to incarcerate them can improve safety. Community policing could help officers identify those who pose the greatest risk to the community and all law enforcement, not just LEOs, but DA, Magistrates and Judges could work together to keep those criminals incarcerated longer. The housing crisis isn’t going to be solved in a short amount of time. Even with all the construction taking place now, very few of these new units will be affordable to those making less than the local median income. People can’t afford 50% of their pay allocated just to rent. $10 to $12 per hour jobs are numerous and almost all are 30/hr a week positions. If citizens want the area to have fewer homeless, some housing has to be affordable for people who do the jobs that pay the least but are necessary to the effective functioning of a city or county. Having more full time instead of part time jobs would help. Pay that has some association to the cost of living in the community would be helpful. Helping those willing to work while they get back on their feet while also removing those who have no respect for personal property or for maintaining the peace would be the best way to provide employers with willing workers and remove those who need to serve time doing something that helps repay their cost to society. If we can make that happen we can get back to some semblance of a working society where people can afford to both live and work and raise their families locally. We’ve never truly recovered from the fallout of the recession of 2008/9 when millions of properties were lost by workers who lost their jobs and homes thru no fault of their own. Desperation breeds addiction and mental illness so it should be no surprise that since the recession those populations have exploded. Until some equilibrium is reestablished where people can afford to live and work there’s no hope of reducing homelessness. It will take both services to help those willing to work, so they can afford a place to live, treatment for addicts and the mentally ill and tougher penalties and enough law enforcement to remove criminals from society long enough to succeed. I’d like to see Churches, Non-profits and government work together to solve these challenges. It’s too much for any one of them to do it alone. Homeless groups are already scattered across the County. The IRC is just the communications hub and owners of businesses downtown aren’t the only business owners struggling with increased crime and lawlessness, but they sure seem to have the most influence. Maybe big box stores and landlords at shopping centers should buy a storefront downtown so they get heard too instead of having to hire their own private security and canine services.
The more attractive you make it for the ” homeless” the more they will migrate to that area. Wake up Greensboro!
You know it’s all BS. The Left can’t even use honest English.
Q. – What the Hell is “INTERACTIVE RESOURCE CENTER”?
A. – It’s a homeless shelter.
You mean like pedophile is now minor-attracted person? Or welfare is now Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF?) The left change words to control thinking and to control the population. I like your phrase “honest English.”
Not to sound like I don’t have a heart but if you feed the homeless downtown, they will congregate and live downtown. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. The homeless have taken over Center-City Park thanks in part to non-profit organizations feeding them in the park.
Possible solution could be to move this center to a more remote area and assign a guard who monitors the dynamics of the place. It should not be a stay in place for drug addicts. Raising the control and standards will ensure the abuse stops and privileges are not taking for granted on the tax payers’ expense.
Imagine if we had a little compassion for the homeless.
Most of them end up becoming addicts to escape the Hell of not having a home or stable life.
Poverty causes homelessness, homelessness causes a LOT of people to use substances to escape the Hell of it.
Greensboro City leaders do nothing about homeless or senior housing in Guilford county but they want you to run down town and spend your hard earned money. They know the problem they have in this city but it’s not in my neighborhood!!!! Greensboro City leaders are full of
Immigrants are getting much better treatment than our homeless. Spending billions of money on Immigrants …that we were told it didn’t exist to take care of the homeless .. to keep homeless safe and out of neighborhoods where neither the homeless or the home owners wanted them to be . But now our federal and state governments have found billions of dollars to put Immigrants into plush places to stay vouchers up to 7000 per family . They are overcrowding our schools. Our schools were not designed for this. People want to say all our teachers are upset only about salary. That is not true for the majority. How do you teach immigrate kids who don’t even speak English without stealing much needed time from our American citizen kids.. It can’t be done. Lots of immigrants say they can’t speak English and I know they can. It bothers me to be shopping and they start almost screaming in their own language. I often wonder if they do that for a code ..white and black women feel very vulnerable around immigrants in most situations. And why are most business. Schools.. hospitals .doctors and i could go on and on you are required to choose 1 for English and 2 for Spanish. Just think of the message immigrants are getting. Talk about a welcome mat. That should change. Everything is a cost that we Americans have to incur. If you come here and if you actually have a legit reason for wanting to be a citizen you learn English…back to homeless. I have yet to call a business and you have a choice to push a number for homeless. Today I saw that new york state pd 53 billion dollars of tax payers money to buy a very grand building from its owner to house immigrants. This is the tip of the iceberg. So now I ask where was all this money when we as a Christian nation was trying to make the homeless safe places to stay and keep all of us safe. Mixing homeless and home owners will never work but with all the immigrants our government actually enticed to come across the border being welcomed and promised a land of milk and honey where did and does that Money come from. Just think what we could have accomplished with our homeless with all kinds of different needs and the home owners made to feel safer if we had spend that money that was there all the time.. Biden found it and he has good days and bad days ..People are staring to educate themselves a little late but they are coming up with some great questions. and honestly I have little trust in any answers we are given. Most time if you ask a question the politians
Say …oh dont worry about that it is being handled. We have fallen asleep at the wheel..totally putting all our trust in someone else. It might be know by some as brainwashing
Actually what has happened is quite sinful. Charity begins at home. Both homeless failed and those for some very legitimate reasons do not want them on their streets. Have been failed.. How do we unring the bell. I have given you my thoughts on where you failed everyone. Now the ball is in your court.. now what you gonna do…and there is so much money available in this country and now we citizens know it is available and I truly don’t think anyone will
Ever believe any differently never say there is not enough money to do many things your citizens ask for . Politians proved themselves to be liars.
Term limits is a start to fixing the politician problem. A US Constitutional amendment and a NC Constitutional amendment for both state, municipal and county governments limiting the number of elected terms to two. Just think of the politicians who would no longer be in office. On the federal level there is Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi. On the state level there is Phil Berger and Dan Blue. On the local level there is Nancy Vaughn and Skip Alston; and let us include Deena Hayes-Greene for good measure. The Founders never envisioned career politicians since the politicians at the time truly served the country and had to return home to run their businesses, plant crops and provide for their families. Now politicians no longer serve their country but use government as a career. The only way to stop this is through term limits. This would reduce the bureaucracy too.
I have, over time changed my position to one of agreeing with you. I call them “professional politicians.”
Yep. I am a 63y female about to be put out on the street by my bldgs new owner, while at the same time he’s moved several women from Nicaragua into apt nextdoor to me. They drive a massive brand new SUV and tell me they work and send cash to their family back home. I drive a 1999 sedan that was given to me and have been told to vacate so my apt can be renovated for a higher rent than I can afford!
I am sure the bldg ownership getting money from govt to house immigrants.
What about a 63y old American citizen who will be living in her car soon and probably be jailed for vagrancy? Where is the justice in this?
That’s not right – but it’s a microcosm of what’s happened to an entire country.
The U.K.
My small hometown’s largest hotel is now unavailable to the town’s residents, as it’s crammed full of Third World young males whose demeanor is threatening and hostile. The teenage girls and young women no longer go out for fun in the evenings. The Post Office and handful of little shops in that neighborhood now post “Shoplifters Will Be Prosecuted” on their front doors. And the non-muslim migrants have taken over the pubs, congregating in groups while they nurse one drink for hours and hours.
The locals are horrified and disgusted, but powerless.
In the US, the Democrat Party is trying to destroy America in the same way.
Those people are there because of just that there homeless but they really don’t do much for them there but let them take shower and sleep and I know because I go there on a ever day base to take food to some. help them get phones or clothes or anything of that name but it’s sad because even at urban ministries they don’t to much help these people they sleep there and eat but winter or summer these people have to be out at a certain time and in at a certain time. When they should provide I’m writing that’s what I’m doing I’m writing something for these people to do like a job fair or classes to help them get off the streets and prepare there mental to being to work on them to do better and not be homeless its to hot for anyone to be outside in the summer or to cold In the Winter so with that being said all these buildings that’s being knocked down they could use them for them for the homeless cause really don’t have any where to go do better Guilford county by these people because it could be you or your loved ones out there.
My
143-318.9. Public policy.
Whereas the public bodies that administer the legislative, policy-making, quasi-judicial, administrative, and advisory functions of North Carolina and its political subdivisions exist solely to conduct the people’s business, it is the public policy of North Carolina that the hearings, deliberations, and actions of these bodies be conducted openly. (1979, c. 655, s. 1.)
better there than where we live ? generals try to plan WHERE they MUST do battle ? add more ‘webcams’ to that area – record & archive the A/V ?
Tiny House Community Development, Inc. has a building on West Gate City Boulevard (The Hope Center) that offers a respite to those in need. If Greensboro (and the County) would look at other solutions instead of putting the majority of funds into the IRC, the non-profit THCD, Inc. would be able to better support people experiencing homelessness and help to alleviate some concerns.
It’s like this for all of those that’s good something to say I once again have something to say because these people our people gods people someone’s family members me I have been in these ladies and gentlemen boys and girls baby infants roygbiv place before. Know where to live depressed turning to the wrong direction to try and make it but with all that being said there somebody and instead of trying to bash and judge the situation at hand somebody needs to be stepping in and trying to mentor these people because at the end of the day they’re mental is what’s affecting them on top of having no one to go already as it is some may have money and some may not but at the end of the day if you don’t qualify for some certain type of benefits you’re not going to get help so in order fo there mental to get on track they need counseling guidance mentors something to help them balance themselves from not wanting to have to live that life it’s not a lot God took a load of bread and water which was turn into wine and feed a many of people some of you very people that’s got something to say have lived these same way as children and then God made a mercy for you and now you got the big head and have the audacity to forget where you came from but you know its people like you that make people like us stronger that why I reach out to as many as I can to help them as much as i can cause at the end of the there is a reward waiting on me know matter how tired I get how hot it may be that just me and if you want them gone so bad for done there take some of that money that you all have and build them a housing development whee they help then get on track and have programs that help them get a job and get clean if they have drug addictions those that already have income they have to pay their rent you know but still have to take classes as well as the ones that’s working their way to get in jobs to be able to pay their rent unless they get their stuff together then they can Branch out and get their own apartments somewhere else you know to build their credit up to get them on track their mental is also affecting them in this this is not just they’re out there if had thus type of money to do something like this i would because I have been here before and they let these people sleep there and shower but nothing else . All those buildings that has been torn down the building is still standing that this are sitting there nothing’s done with them somebody needs to Branch out and open something up for these people you complaining and bickering about them being there and they having to go through the town and sleep there because they don’t have anywhere else to go where are they supposed to go they go anywhere else that get ran away or locked up and it children as well so this whole article is just devastating I’m appalled by it but hey who I’m I just another young middle-aged black woman living in the society that is so strong up on beauty when the real beauty is in our people some of you must be real ugly inside so that makes you ugly on the outside but these are just my opinions oh in my actions as well because I help these people with all that I have my blood sweat and tears go out to them the children the families may God be with them because at this point that’s the only person that they have to give them strength courage knowledge energy balance their mental their right mind and I will continue to do what I can as well you all have a you all have wonderful night I’m going to bed because I have people to help in the morning
Why don’t we start with not blaming politics and take responsibility as a community. This is a people problem, a city problem, a mental health problem etc. Funding has been taken away from programs in the last 10 years that actually helped the homeless, drug addicts etc. Our leaders need to drop the political bs and join arms in finding a solution. develop programs for housing , meals, job training, drug addiction to help the homeless get back on track. Some have no idea how to start. Maybe even some of these companies that are complaining can make donations to help get these programs started. Some of the buildings that are being torn down could have been used for housing the homeless and starting training programs to help get them back in the workforce. I definitely don’t have all the answers but we have to start somewhere. In addition, the old prison farm is not being used to my knowledge. Perfect place to house some and start a program teaching how to grow crops, flowers and sell them. Teach them how to budget . The prisoners did it until it closed.
Ask the city leaders where all the money for the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness went beginning in 2008!!!!!!!!!!
Homeless people have rights so the laws of the land need to be enforced. Instead of sending the homeless to jail, invest in halfway houses and jobs so they can get back on their feet. There use to be a state mental hospital called Dorothea Dix in Raleigh for the mentally ill. Homeless drug addicts need to be in treatment. Don’t ask. If they are breaking the law and jeopardizing our children’s welfare then they need to be involuntarily committed for inpatient treatment. Once reformed they can do jobs within the community to help reform other homeless individuals. They also need to pass a law preventing people from panhandling at intersections. The intersections are not safe for them to panhandle. There are tons of Churches in Greensboro and the surrounding areas. Ask the churches for help.
We need to look at these people with compassion instead of looking down our nose at them. Please department treats these people like they are pure trash, and it’s really sad. These people are mentally ill and they need help and treatment not jail.
Johnny R you sound like you could use some mental assistance
Johnny, how do you know “these people” are mentally ill?