SPRING VALLEY CHURCH HOSTS COMMUNITY FORUM AUGUST 7 ON SAFE SLEEPING SPOT FOR HOMELESS

I think housing along with rehabilitation to get clean and sober would need to be combined if a long term fix is going to truly work for homeless addicts. Otherwise the vicious cycle will continue...Leaving homeless people in the streets just compounds the ever growing issues. Including hanging out in areas that create a nuisance to others, substance abuse, trash and debris everywhere, human feces and urine, theft for a variety of reasons - food to eat, items needed, stolen items to sell for drugs, etc. This ever growing homeless population will continue due to the economy, high cost of housing, and so forth. The answers are there to help resolve this, yet it will take communities displaying compassion, and politicians to help. Doing little to nothing is not the answer. Where should homeless people go if no one wants them around? Effective solutions need to be initiated because the homeless crisis is becoming more widespread every year. Not just addicts. Working people that can't afford to rent, families with children, some have lost jobs or had a catastrophic event, many live in RV's and vehicles. Homelessness can happen to anyone, at any time, for a multitude of reasons. Not every homeless person is a drug addict or alcoholic. Unfortunately these are the ones we see the most probably due to them not caring anymore. Many more remain unnoticed, invisible, due to the stigma, especially school age children. Being ridiculed by their peers is probably common. The streets must be cleaned up, and a viable approach found.