Advocates express disappointment
Letter to the Editor,
The Friends of the Homeless Board of Trustees expresses its disappointment by the comments made by New Philadelphia Law Director Marvin Fete in the city council meeting on Aug. 12.
Fete encouraged the city council to draft an ordinance that will have the effect of criminalizing unhoused people. Criminalizing unhoused people would do nothing but make it harder for those seeking recovery from the trauma of homelessness, which will result from a multitude of reasons. Fining and jailing our fellow citizens who lack financial resources will not increase revenue for our city or make New Philadelphia a safer community.
We object to the desire to write a broad ordinance to this effect. We fear it will have no reasonable enforcement mechanism for the police to uphold and potentially be abused by individuals seeking to control citizen access to public spaces — much like the current loitering ordinance. We also question the practicalities of such an ordinance and the effect it will have on law-enforcement duties, the court system, and where such violators will end up if they are detained and who would care for them.
One of the essential tenants of the Christian faith is “Treat others the way you want to be treated” (Matthew 7:12). From a community that testifies its hope of the Gospel, does such proposed actions from the representative government convey this belief? Housing insecurity is an issue that cuts across all segments of society and can affect anyone, so how would we want to be treated in such a situation?
Community agencies working together to help individuals get back on their feet is what will truly make our community a better and safer place to live. These agencies, churches and individuals have strived over the years to open up housing and food programs, mental health services, and recovery programs and advocate for more lower cost housing in the area — all of which would address the root causes of people’s trauma.
Our doors at Friends of the Homeless remain open to our guests who need our services and to communicate with city officials to find common solutions to a complex issue.
Sincerely,
The Friends of the Homeless Board of Trustees
Jack Ream, founder
Rev. Joe Svancara, president
John Kelly, vice president
Amanda Fontana, secretary
Kelly Menard, treasurer
Matt Ritzer, co-chair, Jack’s House of Hope Capital Campaign
Gail Baldwin
Rev. Robert M. Eller
Rev. Ben Lippert
Jesse Moses
Rev. Mike Pozzuto
Shelley Recchiuti
Holly Waldenmyer