Insider Voices: Readers consider the city's homeless services plan

Unaccompanied minors

Mayor Greg Fischer revealed details of his administration’s plan to spend over $500,000 on partner organizations providing temporary services to the homeless | Photo by Joe Sonka

I had one concern in the article “City details partners and plan for spending over $500,000 on homeless services,” on Jan. 2, 2019, regarding minors:

“Those who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol are welcome as long as they are nonviolent, but not sex offenders or unaccompanied minors.”

Maybe I am misunderstanding the intention here, but homeless unaccompanied minors are likely the most at-risk homeless individuals, no? Why are these individuals barred from the low-barrier shelters?

Is the thought that they should already be accepted elsewhere and not need to go to the low-barrier shelters? If so, I understand that. But what of the exception where there might be no space available?

Perhaps these questions have already been answered, but it was a concern that was raised as I was reading the article. Jonathan Gwynn

Service with a blessing

It’s great that so many are concerned about our growing homeless community.

I believe the best route is to get these individuals to a point where they can provide for themselves while not being scrutinized for their past behaviors.

Most of them want something better, but they don’t like the dorm settings or the stiff rules of being confined and timed.

Some will never conform to a socially accepted way of life, but many want to make the change to become participants in society. They need education, training, and patience. They need uplifting and compassion. They need to be heard and loved. Ellen Sloan

Not enough

I think the most interesting aspect of this sudden “solution” is the fact that it didn’t happen until the Metro Council voted against Greg Fisher to allocate surplus money (which he wanted to do nothing with) for this instead.

However, I think the problem extends well beyond him. Until we’re able to stop cities from sending their homeless population to Louisville (something I wish Insider Louisville would cover in more detail), this problem will only get worse.

This year’s solution seems to carry a giant asterisk: What happens when that initial $500,000 runs out? I’m waiting. Ben Lucas