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keli.rabon@wreg.com
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(Memphis 12/8/2009) Ryan McNeese has been homeless for two years.
"My boss came to me and said, 'Hey things aren't going well so we've got to let a couple of you guys go,' and I was one of them," McNeese said.
Like many of the city's 1800 homeless, McNeese spends cold nights on the streets.
"I just tried to pick the best spot, over on Poplar and Danny Thomas,"
A push to purge the homeless population from city streets may make it more difficult for people like mcneese to sleep downtown.
June Averyt with "Door of Hope" says that won't fix the problem.
"Are they supposed to disappear? Fall off the face of the earth? What they need are the services," Averyt said.
The city received $4.2 million in stimulus money to address the homeless issues in Memphis, but no concrete plans have been made.
Mayor Wharton is pushing to establish a city-run shelter, but Averyt doesn't want to see the city squander the money on more short-term living.
"Shelters are wonderful for people in an emergency. They are not for people to live or stay for extended periods of time," Averyt said.
She believes long term housing could help people like McNeese get back on their feet.
With a roof over his head and a steady job, McNeese says, he could start planning for his future.
"I don't know when, but I know at some point, it's gonna pick up for me," McNeese said.
Housing & Community Development Director Robert Lipscomb says next week his office will meet with various community groups to develop a long term housing plan focused on building a homeless shelter, in addition to more short term goals of finding a place for people to stay when the weather drops below freezing.
- The City of Memphis received $4.2 million in stimulus funds for homeless programs and prevention.
- Wharton's Administration is still working to develop plans for a new shelter.
- Advocates for the homeless say the money would be better spent focusing on long-term housing, not shelters.
keli.rabon@wreg.com
Facebook - WREG On Your Side Investigators
Twitter - @nc3investigates
(Memphis 12/8/2009) Ryan McNeese has been homeless for two years.
"My boss came to me and said, 'Hey things aren't going well so we've got to let a couple of you guys go,' and I was one of them," McNeese said.
Like many of the city's 1800 homeless, McNeese spends cold nights on the streets.
"I just tried to pick the best spot, over on Poplar and Danny Thomas,"
A push to purge the homeless population from city streets may make it more difficult for people like mcneese to sleep downtown.
June Averyt with "Door of Hope" says that won't fix the problem.
"Are they supposed to disappear? Fall off the face of the earth? What they need are the services," Averyt said.
The city received $4.2 million in stimulus money to address the homeless issues in Memphis, but no concrete plans have been made.
Mayor Wharton is pushing to establish a city-run shelter, but Averyt doesn't want to see the city squander the money on more short-term living.
"Shelters are wonderful for people in an emergency. They are not for people to live or stay for extended periods of time," Averyt said.
She believes long term housing could help people like McNeese get back on their feet.
With a roof over his head and a steady job, McNeese says, he could start planning for his future.
"I don't know when, but I know at some point, it's gonna pick up for me," McNeese said.
Housing & Community Development Director Robert Lipscomb says next week his office will meet with various community groups to develop a long term housing plan focused on building a homeless shelter, in addition to more short term goals of finding a place for people to stay when the weather drops below freezing.
