Amid praise, some ask if plan to disband homeless camp is too soft

While most of the people who spoke at the meeting Thursday regarding the large homeless camp in north Springfield praised the plan to help the homeless people living there and then clear the property, a few said they worried it could attract more homeless people to the area.

About 70 people attended the meeting, which was held at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites on North Glenstone. The camp is located directly behind the hotel and has been populated by homeless people for some 30 years. City officials believe there might be as many as 100 people living there now.

City officials have been working with the Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness on a plan to deal with the camp, which includes bringing service providers to the camp and having a triage center set up for three to five days prior to police coming in to make people leave.

During the triage, campers will have immediate access to food, mental and medical health care, housing and shelter assessments, and a judge will be there to help individuals deal with warrants and legal issues. The triage will likely happen early next month. The property will be cleared around mid-June.

Gordon Elliot, former city councilman and hotel owner, told alliance members that he believes they are "going in the wrong direction" and that news of multiple services being offered to the homeless people will encourage more homeless to come to Springfield.

"It's bad for the convention industry," he said.

Tracy Kimberlin, president of Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, commended the alliance for working hard to create the plan. But he said he agreed with Elliot, adding that he believes many of the people living in the camp are not interested in getting help.

"We could develop a reputation as a good place to come if you are homeless or if you want to panhandle," Kimberlin said. "We have to be very careful to balance that and let the people who don't want the help to know they are not welcome here."

City councilman Tom Prater said an increase in complaints from business owners and residents in the area has made it "clear that we need to go into high gear.

"The intensity and the frequency of issues seem to really have erupted over the last few months," Prater said. "We as a City Council, as a city and as citizens have some responsibility to help take care of these camp residents to the best of our ability. Some things we can do. Some things we can't do. But I think an abrupt closure without the sustainable resources that you all in this room bring would be a disaster."

Michael Bloom, general manager of the Holiday Inn & Suites, said he realizes there are people in the camp who want help and will benefit from services. But he believes most will not be interested.

"We live it every day. I mean, they poop in my parking lot," Bloom said. "There are hypodermic needles all over the place. They are fine with their lifestyle. I'm a compassionate person, but I go out there and I'm fearful."

A representative from the Hotel Lodging Association said she thought the plan was "wonderful" but wanted to know what will happen to those camp residents who don't take advantage of the services provided at triage.

City spokesperson Cora Scott said there isn't really an answer for that.

"We are going to do what we can. We are going to bring the services forward," Scott said. "If enforcement is necessary, we are going to do that. But we are just going to give it our best effort."

Jim O'Neal, retired mayor and co-chair for the Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness, also responded.

"If we wind up putting 5, 10, 15 people into permanent housing out of this process, that is a success. That is huge," O'Neal said. "As far as the people who don't want help, I think our message to them is, 'Well, we'll see you later, and we are ready when you are. We aren't going anywhere. Our service providing community is going to be here.'

"I'm not too concerned about the people who don't want the help," he added. "I'm concerned about providing the help to the people who come forward."

Several residents spoke about the crime and nuisances stemming from those living at the camp.

Jennifer Cannon is a co-founding member of Gathering Friends, a group of homeless advocates who are also part of the Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness. Members of Gathering Friends are currently doing outreach at the camp, letting the homeless people know what is coming and encouraging them to stay put for now.

Cannon wanted to address the comments about crime and that many homeless people don't want help. Cannon said outreach started this week and, so far, advocates have made contact with a few people who were very "service resistant" but were willing to stick around to see if they could be helped.

"They had disabilities, physical and mental. They have animals there with them, pets they don't want to leave. There are many issues that are keeping them there," Cannon said.

"Are there other people out there that are troublemakers? Absolutely," she said. "This is our opportunity to get the people that need services, want services and will flourish with services."