Unfortunately, homelessness has become an increasing reality for many of our fellow human beings.
While the causes are wide and varied, ultimately, the homelessness challenge is everyone’s challenge. Since the day I was sworn in as your mayor in 2021, I have worked to address it. Yet, despite tremendous effort from many local people and organizations, it remains a vexing problem.
I am writing this today to explain what we here in Galesburg have done, what we hope to do, and what obstacles stand in our way. As always, I very much welcome feedback and input from you as well!
Over the past five years, we have worked to increase the number of beds in our community for our Galesburg residents who are experiencing homelessness.
The Galesburg Rescue Mission (GRM) does an excellent job providing services for the unhoused — including a meal, three times a day for anyone who walks in — but they have been at or near capacity for a while and some folks choose not to abide by GRM’s rules and practices.
To supplement this coverage and provide a lower-barrier location, the city made cots available on winter nights at the Hawthorne gym. Over the last several years, this effort has grown to a 20+ person, year-round facility staffed by the Knox County Housing Authority (KHCA) and funded by several local sources including the city of Galesburg.
The location provides a cot and a bathroom/shower, as well as limited laundry facilities, for all those that need a place to rest and clean up. The staff assists folks find housing and, when applicable, encourages attendees to seek employment.
At this time, this facility is underutilized during the warmer months and near capacity in colder months. Additionally, KCHA provides an employee who works with people experiencing homelessness on some mental health issues and the city’s police department has, for the past few years, had a mental health co-responder on staff.
It is safe to say that nearly all local unhoused individuals can have a place to sleep, a meal, and access to social services.
All of these strides have been made possible through collaboration. The city administration has been meeting monthly with various local organizations to discuss matters related to the homelessness issue, and I attend these meetings whenever possible.
While this progress is positive, it remains inadequate.
For various reasons, some unhoused individuals do not take advantage of these services. Notably, there are very few services available for those with a record as a sex offender. And, while KCHA has helped rehouse several dozen individuals over the last few years, the sad reality is there is almost no affordable housing available in this area (and shortages nationwide are well-documented).
This past winter I attempted to find housing for a young man, and it took months to secure him a place. Even then, the downpayment and first month’s rent was possible only because of a generous donation from a local resident.
Moreover, the laws of the State of Illinois make it difficult for our police department to use stronger measures to deter individuals from certain violations and petty crime. Yet, as I say this, housing someone in a jail cell expends tax revenue — money that seems available only when people violate the law and unavailable to assist folks in a time of need.
Mental health services are severely lacking for all residents and with the unhoused having the hardest time obtaining the care many of them need.
Looking forward, we continue to monitor all aspects of Galesburg’s homelessness situation and respond as best we can.
Clearly, if the public wants to see fewer of our unhoused neighbors living on the streets, we need to invest more time, dollars and energy to provide alternatives.
Though some people experiencing homelessness will likely refuse any support the city and other local organizations, some services remain elusive even for those who would refuse no services (e.g.,showers/bathrooms, storage lockers, and mental health support).
Proactively supporting our neighbors — the unhoused — is the humanitarian way to proceed and will reduce the negative impacts that result when people are desperate to meet their basic needs.
Let us not forget that times are tough for many folks right now and many of our residents are one paycheck, one illness, or one setback from being unhoused.
When we come to appreciate these facts, we are better able to see that we must care for every Galesburg resident — housed and unhoused — and give each other respect and empathy, rather than judgment and derision.
In closing, I urge the public to think about this issue, and reach out to me and the City Council with ideas. Only through workable solutions will we be able to address this seemingly never-ending challenge.
Peter Schwartzman is the mayor of the city of Galesburg.
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Galesburg homelessness situation is a never-ending challenge | Opinion
Reporting by Peter Schwartzman, Special to the Galesburg Register-Mail / Galesburg Register-Mail
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Peter Schwartzman, Special to the Galesburg Register-Mail | USA TODAY Network
