Trending
Lorrie Catalano knows the homeless need help.
Last winter a friend called Catalano and told her that her cousin was at the Code Blue shelter. Catalano's cousin has MS and was also schizophrenic.
"Nobody would help her," Catalano said. "She came to that shelter and she was fine while she was there at night, but then she was set out on the streets first thing in the morning. She was assaulted by two men sexually and physically. She went to the hospital and the hospital sent her away and on the paperwork they specifically wrote that she was homeless. That never should have happened."
Another of Catalano's cousins, whom the Colfax Street resident said is an addict, is also among the homeless. When Catalano found out she went looking for her cousin. Speaking to members of the City Council this week, Catalano spoke from the viewpoint of someone who is invested in helping the homeless but is unsure of where to turn.
"I think we do need a clean slate," she said. "Instead of everybody going back and forth, everybody needs to work together. Take advantage of the volunteers out here that are willing to help. We're not asking for anybody to pay us to do it. We want to help."
How to do so is one of the questions yet to be answered as the city works to help the homeless. For years volunteers have taken it upon themselves to help as best they could. Bonnie Weber is one of those who has been working on her own to provide the homeless with clothing, food and shelter. When city officials declared a state of emergency to help deal with the homeless population, one of the things the city requested was that help be funneled through agencies that will help provide transitional services that get homeless off the street rather than helping them live more comfortably outdoors.
As the city and its non-profit partners perform targeted sweeps of areas where the homeless have amassed, they are asking homeless residents to use resources available through the county and non-profits. The Post-Journal has reported in the past that some homeless are declining assistance for various reasons, and county officials have told The Post-Journal they constantly encourage the homeless to use existing Social Services programs. City officials began asking in late July that city residents stop taking upon themselves to help the homeless and instead support existing programs that attempt to help those in need.
"Jamestown residents are known for their empathy and generosity, often providing food, supplies, and money directly to campers," the city said in its July 25 news release. "While these acts of kindness are commendable, they can inadvertently perpetuate a cycle of dependency and deter individuals from seeking long-term solutions. The city encourages residents to channel their goodwill through structured programs that offer sustainable support and promote self-sufficiency."
Before a targeted sweep happens city officials post a notice contact information for nearly 15 agencies that can assist with transitional easement also appeared at the bottom of the notice, including the county Social Services Department, county Mental Hygiene Department, Salvation Army, UCAN City Mission and Chautauqua Opportunities. Contact information is also listed for the Chautauqua Center, Evergreen Health Association, Mental Health Association, Love INC., SafePoint Lighthouse, Recovery Options Made Easy, Chautauqua Works, Infinity Resources and St. Susan Center.
Catalano, Weber and Merry Williams-Diers all asked the council, in one way or another, how they can continue to help the homeless. Diers, like Catalano, asked for a blank slate.
"Just in general I like to be a voice for our voiceless and be a louder voice to echo those that either cannot attend or do not know the proper channels or procedures to go through," she said. "I think we need to start with a fresh slate. I think at this point everybody's on defense and we are not going to accomplish anything in that manner. So I think communication is a big part in that. So rather than sharing misinformation across social media platforms and elsewhere, we all (need to) get on the same page and are actively brainstorming what we can do as city leaders, city officials, community members, non-profit organizations to get on the same page to hopefully decrease the number of shelterless residents in Jamestown before snowfall."