Shelter officials react to talk of camping ban for New Phila parks
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Aug. 20, 2024) – The Friends of the Homeless organization is objecting to a proposal under consideration in the city.
In a statement released last Thursday, board members expressed concern and displeasure over Law Director Marvin Fete’s suggestion that camping be banned at the city’s parks. Board President Joe Svancara says they’re disappointed but not surprised given what happened while they were trying to find a new shelter location.
“We have had some run-ins with the city about our mission, about our operations, about the placement for the new shelter, which we feel demonstrates a pattern of behavior against those who we’re trying to help and against those who might be struggling in homelessness and in poverty.”
Fete thinks council should capitalize on a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing communities to criminalize certain aspects of homelessness. The request was assigned to the Parks and Cemetery Committee chaired by Councilman Mitch Pace, which hasn’t yet scheduled its next meeting.
“We do plan once they announce that there is going to be a meeting, we will plan to speak on that and make our concerns known and hopefully let that be a first step toward engagement.”
The case before the High Court involved a camping ban in an Oregon community that Fete says was enacted to get those who refuse help off the street and into treatment. Svancara and other Friends of the Homeless board members say criminalizing homelessness does nothing to address its root causes and makes recovery even more difficult.