Business owners on Lincoln Avenue express serious concerns about the impact of homelessness on their community and economic well-being. They support Mayor Matt Mahan's Responsibility to Shelter proposal, which suggests misdemeanor charges for individuals refusing housing multiple times, aiming to expedite their transition from the streets to shelter. This policy seeks a pragmatic balance between addressing homelessness compassionately and ensuring community safety from associated issues like theft and drug use. The business community feels that maintaining the status quo is detrimental, and they advocate for a shift towards prioritizing the needs of both the unhoused and the broader community.
Enforcing shelter acceptance will help reduce street homelessness and safeguard our community from the negative impacts of its expansion such as theft, property damage, open-air drug use and loitering.
The presence of unhoused individuals in our business districts affects foot traffic, customer perceptions and ultimately, our local economy.
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