Albany Looks To Limit Impact Of Problem Homeless

Somebody told the Albany City Council, the plan wouldn't solve much.

Hopefully, the new city ordinances do work, as the problems they are designed to remedy, are indeed real problems for the citizens in Albany.

There are two ordinances, one for open containers of alcohol on public property, and another for relieving one's self in public. The reason for the ordinances, are the 5% of homeless that cause 95% of the problems. The public intoxication, excessive littering, fights, and trespassing, have become such a nuisance for citizens, that the city and its police are trying to be proactive in the approach to solve such problems.

Through public education and enforcing the ordinances aggressively, the city hopes to limits the impact of street alcoholism. This approach is entirely better than the last effort, which was anchored by lime treatments, designed to "move" homeless to another neighborhood.

The new ordinances, will have an initial impact, but down the road is an issue. The future holds a huge public expense for this approach, in the way of a "hotel jail" and fines that can never be paid. In order to create real and sustained impact, creativity will be needed. Long-term investment in a detox center, with medical staff, should be considered. Possible coordinated efforts with lawmakers, will bring funding and residential treatment that is "required." A look at food stamp funding might prove an incentive for treatment. The best approach, is that communicated effort with legislators.

The ordinances went into effect August 15 and will show an immediate impact. The public intoxication that has been running rampant throughout the neighborhood between the two shelters in Albany, should be less visible. The initial assault on the trespassing and urinating, will limit the worst offenders from simply disposing of all their trash in that neighborhood. And it should lower numbers of visible "bathroom breaks" that have happened in yards, driveways, and landscaping of private citizens.

In addition to the two ordinances, the Albany Police are beginning to enforce an Oregon state law concerning "impeding traffic," and the hazards that impeding traffic brings. A higher risk of rear-end collisions is among the obvious, as motorists impede traffic while providing charity to the panhandler. It is not illegal to give the charity, but the citizens and the law ask that you park first.

And for the record, money to most of the panhandlers in this area, goes to fueling alcoholism. Donate to a respected charity, or buy the homeless a meal, but giving cash actually costs more than it is worth.

This is a polar opposite to earlier writing, but in this case is correct. In some instances, of course the money is good. Not at 7th and Baker, however.

A homeless camper at a private residence that is unoccupied.

By this time next year, I think we will see the same recurring issues, with the same(as now) impact to local neighborhoods. The trash and peeing in public, will be similar to now, and the courts may get overwhelmed with no end result, other than cost to the taxpayers of Oregon.

In the end, a long-term plan to provide housing and medical attention to the mental and alcohol problems within the homeless community, will be the most beneficial to society.