“A month after North Kansas City passed a new ordinance making it illegal to camp or sleep in public spaces, a local service provider says the city made the decision without involving organizations already working with people experiencing homelessness.”
‘They didn’t invite us’: North Kansas City homeless ban draws criticism from local service provider
A month after North Kansas City passed a new ordinance making it illegal to camp or sleep in public spaces, a local service provider says the city made the decision without involving organizations already working with people experiencing homelessness.
Rita Pearce, director of the Northland Assistance Center, has spent 20 years helping people experiencing homelessness navigate some of their toughest days. She says the city moved forward with the ban before the right support systems were in place.
“I think they put the cart before the horse on this particular ban,” Pearce said.
Pearce says her most pressing concern is the absence of a shelter in the Northland.
“We need a shelter up north. That’s all I can tell you about that,” Pearce said. “There’s nothing that we can do until there’s a place to shelter these individuals.”
She also says local organizations were left out of the process entirely, and the city looked elsewhere for solutions without first asking what was already available.
“My question was, number one, they didn’t invite us to the table. And number two, they chose to go across the river to see what services could be provided without asking us about services that are already in place,” Pearce said.
Pearce says she finds the ordinance itself troubling.
“I find it difficult to criminalize any group of people. I have not said that publicly before, but I’m saying it right now,” Pearce said.
Pearce says the question of what happens to someone after they are told they cannot stay where they are should have been answered before the ban took effect.
“Let’s show some compassion. Let’s see if there’s some way that at some point in time, probably not during my tenure. I’ve been here 20 years and I’m 70,” Pearce said. “Probably won’t see it happen, but we need to. Somebody needs to pick up the phone and find a location and put a shelter up in the Northland.”
— KSHB 41 News
Commentary
North Kansas City is not alone in probiting the homeless from camping in Public areas and other locations of which they have Posted prohibitions against camping. And frankly, I am the last person to feel sorry for the homeless. Unfortunately, I have seen the damage that they have done to the areas where homelessness is out of control. intersections with trash piled up because the homeless cannot be bothered to take their trash with them and dispose of it in a more proper place. I have not only seen, but experienced the more aggressive ‘beggars’ on street corners. I have not only seen, but experienced the aggressive nature of some homeless people towards those who, in their opinion, are too close to their campsites.
I have talked to businesses who are being forced to take extra actions, such as locking their public restrooms full time or during certain hours because of the homeless people who abuse these facilities and harass others who are legitimately using them (otherwise known as Paying Customers). A Chippolte Restaurant not too far from my home has put code locks on their restroom doors. A nearby QuikTrip locks it’s restrooms after a certain time at night. A Casey’s’ near my home actually closes its doors for hte night at 9pm due to their problems with the homeless, and I have been told by employees of this particular Casey’s that they are themselves harassed by the homeless as they are coming to and leaving their work shifts.
Unfortunately, the problem is getting worse. All of the shelters that have been set up are not working. Programs designed to help people get back on their feet are being bled financially and resource dry by those who have figured out that it is easier to work the system than get up off their asses and take one of the numerous jobs that are out there.
Yes, the cost of rent is out of control. Yes, inflation is out of control. Yes, it is probably going to get worse before it gets better. And yes, there are those pepole out there who have learned that they can make good money begging at intersections than to work for a living … setting up to look pitiful on a corner, then leaving in their nice car and going home to their apartment or house. But feeding the problem isn’t the solution. Pampering these people is not the solution. Take away their comforts, their advantages, their ‘more equal’ status and encourage them to once again join society as a producer not a taker.
Yes, I understnad that there are many out there who have mental problems. That there are a lot of Veterans living on the streets suffering from an assortment of ailments. But the VAST majority of the homeless are people who are (a) Alcoholics or Drug Users; or (b) just plain fucking lazy and willing to live off-grid and spounge off of our social programs than work.
And don’t tell me there aren’t enough jobs. I know companies, fast food and otherwise, who can’t find the people they need to cover their needs.
