Problem? Is that the best way to characterize homelessness in our community? And if it is a problem, exactly who is it a problem for? The homeless themselves, or those who don’t like the optics and community impact of a homeless population?
If you were to make a list of the issues facing the city of Marquette, homelessness would certainly be near the top. But why? For concern of those who have no bed to call their own? Or because we don’t like driving down our main street and seeing a group of disheveled and disadvantaged people congregating on the sidewalk, waiting for their next meal at the Warming Center?
My guess is the latter. Homelessness is something conveniently overlooked until it has a gathering spot, like the one at 447 West Washington. Nary an assembly of community leaders goes by without the issue of homelessness being brought to the table. Unfortunately, while questions are plentiful, answers are in short supply.
Good Intentions
Room at the Inn, the church-based program founded in 2007 by Helen McCormick, provided shelter for those seeking it, particularly in our harsh winter months. Seeing a continuing need, and recognizing a strain on church volunteers, RATI established its Warming Center in 2020. That facility is now a 30-bed Emergency Shelter, providing 24/7 access.
The Warming Center idea sounds pretty good until you talk to people who no longer use the all-purpose path behind the shelter, or dare walk past when clients are congregating out front, for fear of… who knows what. A small number, often those without any local ties, cause most of the issues for our police department. The authorities deal with them the best they can, but fines and incarceration don’t always change behavior.
The Warming Center represents a true contradiction. Smack dab in the middle of our flourishing city, where realtors are regularly making deals on half-million dollar homes and condos, we find those on the other end of the spectrum… often transient, with limited resources, and all their belongings stuffed in an ever-present backpack.
Sympathetic supporters of Room at the Inn have given countless hours of volunteerism, and substantial sums of cash, to help keep the effort meaningful and effective. They represent the side of the coin that sees a need and steps up, choosing not to judge, but rather to help, unconditionally.
The other side of that coin? Not so much. Without empathy, and often under their breath, many residents scoff at the notion “those people” are helpless. Rather they turn their back on the hand-up, opting instead for the hand-out.
And then there are those, likely a silent majority, who embrace both sentiments. They feel for people who are homeless, but don’t like the location of the shelter, and everything it brings to an important commercial corridor.
What’s Being Done?
Support programs, other than the reliable core of volunteers, are becoming harder to come by. Pathways, our community mental health provider, has limited resources. Actual housing? In an area where people who are gainfully employed can hardly afford it, what can those with no income expect?
In addition to the unflattering visuals, actual lawlessness is also a concern. Police Chief Grim estimates that around 20% of those without an address are responsible for a considerable amount of his enforcement manpower.
On the other hand, spend just a little time talking to RATI Executive Director Chelsie Wilkinson and you’ll probably experience a little softening of your hard heart. With limited resources, and a strained infrastructure, Wilkinson’s efforts are concentrated on more than just running a bed and breakfast. Ideally, the Warming Center is a temporary stop on the way to self-reliance and an actual place to call home.
Of course, not all of our homeless have such lofty goals. Some are content to work the system and tread water, not too concerned about tomorrow. There are others however… those who are homeless for circumstances beyond their control, who welcome whatever assistance is available.
Location, Location, Location
Other locations for the Warming Center have been considered in the past, but for one reason or another, none have come to fruition. According to Wilkinson, no new sites are being considered at this time. The public would probably welcome a move to somewhere more appropriate, but that’s easier said than done. Nimbyism would come into play, and Warming Center clients would likely take exception to any site not near the action they find downtown.
A recent social media post with a photo showing a police presence at the Warming Center, accompanied by a slew of comments, only serves to reinforce hostile community attitudes. I’m sure there are “good news” stories, but who wants to hear those?
What’s the Cure?
Like most social issues we face today, we end up treating the symptoms rather than the cause. And that’s what’s happening with homelessness, at least on a national level. Maybe some well-directed private money could make a difference. If it makes you feel any better, many communities are facing the same problem we have here, and none of them have seemed to figure it out either.
Our community leaders, like Mayor Jessica Hanley, are well aware of the concerns. “I know we get complaints from businesses and residents about the Warming Center, but it is doing important work. 90% of those using the warming shelter are from here, and they are facing one of the hardest challenges. We need to be working towards long term solutions rather than further disenfranchising a group of people who are already down on their luck, but as a municipal government there is little we can do to actually make those positive changes, and instead we are reliant on local nonprofit groups.”
The Answer
This is the point in the article where’d I’d normally present the various solutions at our disposal. But as the headline to this post suggests… there are no obvious solutions. If money were no object… and it always is, there might be something we could do. Like build a nice new shelter, properly located, and equipped to handle every program Wilkinson has on her wish list.
That sounds good, until you acknowledge… the more money we dedicate to our homeless, the more homeless we’ll attract. But who knows? Maybe that’s what we should do anyway. If we can’t fix it, facilitate it, and make it something that works here, and serves as a template for other communities. Wouldn’t that be something!
I’m not sure what it will take, but somehow… we can do better.