Sep 25, 2007 7:52 pm US/Central
Fort Worth Creating Plan To Help Homeless People
by Joel Thomas
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 News) ―
Think about what a person needs before they can get a job.
They need a place to take a shower, clean clothes, a way to go to different locations in search of the job and basic identity cards.
Now think about how hard those things are get if you are homeless.
Fort Worth's leaders say the city's approach is unfocused and largely unsuccessful in getting people off the streets.
"Fort Worth is the largest city in the nation that doesn't have a homelessness plan," said Homelessness Coordinator Otis Thornton. "Other cities in the nation have structured plans that respond to homelessness in a proactive way."
Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief says his new priority is to fashion a comprehensive program to help the homeless in Fort Worth.
They hope to have more people like Frederick Stewart.
"I'm going for the counseling, because if you don't get anybody to direct you out here, you're going to drink, or you're going to do drugs, or you're going to fall into some sort of criminal activity," said Stewart. The homeless Fort Worth resident says counseling has helped him.
His plan includes a helping hand from Fort Worth businesses and residents.
"When we're proud of something, we take ownership of it," said the mayor. "When we're not so proud of something, we take responsibility for it. And that's what I'm asking our city to do. I'm not proud of the way we're dealing with the homeless problem in our great city. We're better than that."
Business leaders are responding to the mayor. They've invited the National Homeless Czar to speak in Downtown Fort Worth this week.
(CBS 11 News)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments