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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 7, 2018)
5A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2018 Homelessness: ‘It’s really hard to solve a problem unless you understand it’ Continued from Page 1A Alan Evans, director of Helping Hands, is worried about what happens when Walmart opens in Warrenton. People are already moving to the area for jobs and are strug- gling to find places to live, he and others say, adding that many of the jobs they’ve seen advertised by the retailer are part time and lower wage. A countywide housing study will illuminate where needs exist and what options are available. At the same time, though, county and city leaders say they know there is a hous- ing crunch and don’t expect surprises. While some steps have been taken to encour- age housing development, crit- ics say government should be doing more. Health care and mental health Like in many rural counties, there are gaps in health care for the poor and scant resources for mental health treatment. Jarrod Karnofski, the vice president of ancillary and sup- port services at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Asto- ria, has brought up three pos- sibilities at task force meet- ings: a health van to provide medical services to low-in- come students, medication-as- sisted treatment for drug abuse in conjunction with counseling and behavioral therapies, and a drop-in clinic for the homeless. Amy Baker, the executive director of Clatsop Behav- ioral Healthcare, has pointed to a need for a homeless facil- ity that would be open daily and offer a variety of services. Project Homeless Connect, which occurs only once a year, offers a possible model. Riverfolk, a nonprofit, has tried to fill one particular gap by focusing on getting the home- less their birth certificates and other identification. Lack of a state-issued identification card, a birth certificate or a driver’s license can keep people from landing jobs and getting hous- ing, say Mary Docherty, of Riverfolk, and Elaine Bruce, executive director of Clatsop Community Action. Root causes Every story is slightly different. Some people ended up on the street because of addic- tion or mental health issues. Others became homeless when medical bills or fam- ily circumstances wiped out their savings. Some are flee- ing abusive relationships and have nowhere to go. Some just reached the end of their options. Still others call them- selves “travelers.” The Asto- ria Warming Center staff said they saw everyone from elderly women to students use the emergency shelter during the winter. Groups working with the homeless often use different words and phrases to describe the people and situations Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian A building in Uniontown is surrounded by scaffolding prior to the beginning of renovations. they’re addressing. Many of these terms have been up for debate in city and county discussions and can trigger divisions. Leaders struggle to find succinct, accurate and inclu- sive language. Planning com- missioners working on a pro- posed code amendment to define emergency warm- ing shelters in Astoria, for instance, were accused by one woman of using bigoted lan- guage — charges they emphat- ically refuted, saying the lan- guage they proposed was drawn from policies devel- oped by other cities and orga- nizations. The homelessness solutions task force has also borrowed language from other cities, from advocates and social-service organizations. Some draw a line between local homeless and transients, who they see as contributing to issues such as public def- ecation and urination, public drunkenness, and boisterous behavior that can make busi- ness owners and residents feel unsafe. But some of the people these leaders would describe as “transient” bristle at the term, preferring the words “travel- ers” or “alternative lifestyle.” They aren’t here to make trou- ble, they say, but they want to live the way they choose. Perceptions Representatives of the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association and some business owners say the pres- ence of homeless people — especially people who are camping out in doorways, using the sidewalks as a bath- room, or harassing passers-by — is hurting their business. Astoria police say they often hear a perception that downtown isn’t safe. Where perception meets reality is not always clear, Chief Spalding says. Filling Empty Bellies, a nonprofit that provides lunch to whoever needs it at Peoples Park, and the Astoria Warming Center, which provides emer- gency beds to homeless people during the winter, have some- times been accused of making the city more attractive to the homeless. Both organizations dispute the characterization, counter- ing that they provide basic ser- vices to people in need. Dan Parkison, board chair of the warming center, notes that the center’s mission is simple: To make sure people don’t die from exposure. Filling Empty Bellies feeds around 20 to 30 people a day. Similar debates about “a hand out” versus “a hand up” have surfaced in the home- lessness solutions task force meetings. “It’s really hard to solve a problem unless you under- stand it, and I think one of the things that catches people up is: Is homelessness a choice or is it not a choice?” Baker said in May, “… and there’s always the question of do we punish it or do we help it?” People, even the ones who seem lost, want to be a part of a community. “Whatever our solution is, I think if we accept that this is not whether you’re giving a hand out, this is about helping people become contributing members of the community,” she said. “That kind of breaks down some of the barriers and reluctance to help.” Wedell: After leaving the 11th Street area, some businesses want him back Continued from Page 1A Jessi Anderson John Wedell orders food at the Astoria Coffeehouse and Bistro. downtown and no business or property owners are pursuing any formal action to make him leave. Wedell can come and go from the area just like any other citizen. Wedell, who has split his time between Astoria and Forest Grove for decades, said last week that he left the 11th Street area because he was told he couldn’t loiter. He often slept on the street at night, surrounded by his possessions, and then would spend much of the daytime hours on 11th and nearby streets. It is illegal to camp in city limits, but police had not pursued charges against him. Some businesses want him back. “He’s like family,” said Vicki McAfee, owner of A Gypsy’s Whimsy on Com- mercial Street. She would talk to him every day on her way to the shop, and he used to be a regular visitor when she maintained a tea room at a former location. “He’s welcome here as far as I’m concerned,” said Scott Lee, a Clatsop County commissioner and owner of Bikes & Beyond, who had been trying to get Wedell to T HURSDAY E VENING (2) (-) (-) (6) (-) (8) (9) (10) (12) (13) (-) (20) (-) (29) (30) (31) (32) (34) (35) (36) (38) (39) (43) (44) (45) (46) (47) (48) (49) (50) (51) (52) (53) (54) (56) (57) (58) (61) (63) (64) (65) (162) L KATU KOMO KING KOIN KIRO KGW KRCW KOPB KPTV KPDX KCPQ TBS KZJO ESPN ESPN2 NICK DISN FAM FMC LIFE ROOT FS1 SPIKE COM HIST A&E TLC DISC NGEO TNT AMC USA FOOD HGTV FX CNN FNC CNBC BRAV TCM SYFY RFD (2) (4) (5) (-) (7) (-) (3) (10) (12) (-) (13) (20) (22) (29) (30) (31) (32) (34) (35) (36) (38) (39) (43) (44) (45) (46) (47) (48) (49) (50) (51) (52) (53) (54) (56) (57) (58) (61) (63) (64) (65) (162) 6 PM Complicated Wedell’s move, from 11th Street to a lot near a gas sta- tion on Marine Drive and away from the heart of down- town, revealed just how com- plicated discussions around homelessness can become. When city and county leaders discuss where to focus resources or add ser- vices, the intended targets are usually people who are looking to improve their sit- uations: kick addictions, treat medical and mental health issues, find employment, qualify for housing, reunite with family. For many, Wedell seems to fall into a different category altogether. He has been here for years. He is recognizable, well-known and beloved by many, but he is also generally uninterested in seeking out services or housing. At a homelessness solu- tions task force meeting in Astoria in May, Spalding commented that police offi- cers serve all segments of the population. To Spalding, the question becomes: What side of the community or the problem do we listen to? Do officers simply move Wedell along? Are there more cre- ative solutions? “I think John is the hard- est-to-solve problem,” replied Sarah Lu Heath, exec- utive director of the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association. SCHEDULE THE DAILY ASTORIAN A move back to 11th Street over the past few days. “He’s wel- come to camp in front of the shop.” Police have fielded approximately 17 calls related to Wedell this year. The calls ranged from a wel- fare check to complaints that his possessions were clog- ging up sidewalks or, as on Marine Drive, blocking drivers’ views of traffic. He had been told before that he needed to reduce the amount of stuff he was leaving on the sidewalk, often stacked along one side of Godfather’s Books at the corner of 11th and Commercial. The complaints about Wedell’s possessions block- ing the view of traffic was the first time he or his stuff had risen to the level of a public safety issue, Spalding said. “Most people know him and like him,” Deputy Chief Eric Halverson said. “We know him and like him, but we have to respond to the complaints.” To members of the Asto- ria Warming Center board, Wedell illustrates the need for a range of solutions across the “continuum of homeless- ness.” One member com- mented: “A ‘one solution fits all’ is going to harm John.” Local hangouts Wedell said last week he intended to return to down- town at some point. “I may not be sleeping down there, but I’ll go about my daily business,” he said. Godfather’s Books and the Astoria Coffeehouse and Bistro, on 11th Street, were two of Wedell’s regular spots. He has long been welcome at both, though at times employ- ees have had to remind him to keep his possessions out of the main part of the sidewalk. This year, Jimbo Defeo, owner of the coffeehouse, also had to ask Wedell not to take over tables in the din- ing room anymore or bring his stuff inside, but Wedell was still welcome to sit in the lounge area. Wedell told Defeo he had been sick several times that winter and spring. Defeo said he emailed Wedell’s broth- ers about Wedell’s health, but never heard back. Evening listings THURSDAY A - Charter Astoria/ Seaside - L - Charter Long Beach 6:30 7 PM 7:30 8 PM 8:30 9 PM 9:30 10 PM 10:30 11 PM J UNE 11:30 7 Jeopardy! (N) KATU News at 6 (N) Wheel Fortune (N) Celebrity Family Feud The $100,000 Pyramid To Tell the Truth KATU News (N) (:35) Jimmy Kimmel KOMO 4 News (N) Wheel Fortune (N) Jeopardy! (N) Celebrity Family Feud The $100,000 Pyramid To Tell the Truth KOMO 4 News (N) (:35) Jimmy Kimmel (5:00) NHL Hockey Stanley Cup Playoffs Washington vs Vegas (L) Evening Local Lens Tapping In Dateline KING 5 News (N) (:35) Tonight Show KOIN Local 6 (N) Evening News (N) Extra Ent. 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