Helping homeless should not be complicated

The relatively small number (15) of homeless persons recently sheltered at New Direction facilities on a cold night may suggest the city of Myrtle Beach has more than adequate capacity for emergency assistance. The other side of the coin is that the number sheltered by New Directions does not mean that all who needed a roof over their heads were in fact inside.

On a recent cold evening, when overnight temperatures were expected to be under freezing, a volunteer offered rides to shelters to the few homeless people who stopped to talk near Chapin Park. Volunteers from Citizens Concerned for the Homeless of Myrtle Beach also handed out blankets, coats and sleeping bags to those who said they would not go to a shelter. Such refusal may be difficult to comprehend. To their credit, many do understand that the homeless include many different faces and many who understand have ongoing concerns for all homeless people.

The situation on any cold night underscores a shortcoming in the city’s approach to homelessness. The city supports New Directions – funded in part by the city and United Way of Horry County – which helps homeless people “break free of the homeless cycle,” as stated by Mark Kruea, the city’s public information officer. (“Other Voices” article on Jan. 3.) The approach effectively leaves out the homeless who for a variety of reasons will not participate in New Directions programs.

Kruea wrote in reponse to a detailed report by Emily Weaver on Dec. 27, 2015, on the roadblocks members of churches have faced in efforts to help homeless people. They have been cited for feeding people without permits; told that meals served on church property must meet restaurant codes; warned of housing and fire code violations when they opened churches on freezing nights.

It’s difficult to argue with the city fire marshal, Bruce Arnel, who has pointed out the obvious hazards in rooms without sprinklers, smoke and fire alarms and adequate exits. “It’s a safety issue and it’s our job to make sure that people are safe.” Perhaps the answer for emergency shelter is locating buildings that have the appropriate alarms, exits and sprinklers. Regardless of the capacity at New Directions, the city needs to rethink its position that all emergency shelter must be at the four New Directions locations. These formerly were Street Reach, Lifeline, Myrtle Beach Haven and the Center for Women and Children.

The city’s approach is built around the book “Toxic Charity” which claims well-meaning people are sustaining homelessness and dependency. In fact, the face of homelessness has changed significantly since the book was published. Homeless populations include many more families, including a parent or parents with children.

New Directions has had success, enrolling more than 900 people in its Back to Work / Back to Life Program; 504 people have found jobs and 353 have moved into permanent housing. Outside of these positive numbers are segments of the homeless population that remain unable, or unwilling, to participate in such programs. They are part of the humanity that Mayor John Rhodes recently reminded council members “We’ve got to embrace” ... in the matter of emergency shelter.

Beyond blue code shelter, the city should embrace humanity and support groups trying to help the homeless rather than throwing up more roadblocks.

This story was originally published January 18, 2016 at 8:55 AM with the headline "Helping homeless should not be complicated."