MOUNT VERNON — Two months ago, city officials started the search for solutions to the problems caused by homeless camps on the city’s west end. Tuesday evening, they met with residents at Arch Park to report on their progress.
Residents previously related stories of being threatened, chased by someone with an ax, knives pulled, and gunshots. Other stories involved seeing drug buys, having needles — individually and in bundles — deposited in their yard and Arch Park, fires, and meth labs.
In May, some residents met with Mayor Matt Starr at City Hall. Others, along with community members representing various social service organizations, joined via Zoom. The group categorized the problems into several areas:
•Jurisdictional
•Well-being of landowners
•Private property of landowners
•Identify public health issues
•Social services
Jurisdiction
One of the big issues residents raised is confusion as to who to call when these incidents occur. The camps are located on “island” parcels that are in Clinton Township but surrounded by property within the city.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office responds to incidents on township parcels. The Mount Vernon Police Department responds to incidents on city parcels. The homeless individuals move from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
Sheriff David Shaffer explained that he has three deputies on each shift to patrol the entire county. It can take a while for deputies to respond depending on where they are when dispatch receives the call.
MVPD Chief Robert Morgan said that while the MVPD can respond and mediate the situation until the KCSO arrives, his hands are tied because it’s not the MVPD’s jurisdiction.
That problem may soon be solved.
Mark Ramser, owner of the township parcels, has petitioned the county commissioners to annex the property into the city. He has requested a Type 2 expedited annexation.
In explaining the process, City Law Director Rob Broeren said the commissioners will notify the city and township of the annexation request. Once the city and township act on the request, the commissioners will approve it.
“It can be a fairly quick process once we get the paperwork together,” he said. “Hopefully that will be in the next two weeks. Then it will take about 20 to 30 days.”
“With that, that clears up the jurisdictional issues,” Starr said. “You’ll have just one phone call. Then the police chief has the authority to enforce the trash ordinance and trespassing ordinances, too.”
In response to a question about junk cars, Morgan said the city’s code enforcement officer would have authority to look at the situation.
Relating to arrests that are made, one resident asked, “Will the court will do something other than let them out?”
Public Health Issues
Starr said the Environmental Protection Agency gets involved when trash and other material hits the river. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is involved with the items before they get into the river.
“We still are finding out information on the environmental issues. We are continuing to work on that as well,” he said.
Regarding cleaning up the embankment, Starr said the city is a Bee City and thus has to hold off mowing until the city finds out what that involves.
“That’s going to keep them out, if we get that cleaned out. They won’t stay there if they can’t hide,” one resident said.
Chief Morgan said that individuals in the adult probation program can do some cleanup as a community service project.
“Maybe not so much the underbrush and vegetation, but we’ll get the trash out. That will help with the EPA and ODNR problems with keeping stuff out of the river,” he said.
One of the oldest parks in the city, Arch Park was previously the site of horseshoe tournaments, ball diamonds, and even the circus. Starr invited the residents to participate in the city’s parks master planning survey and let the city know what improvements or suggestions they have.
“There’s obviously a lot of pride in this park. Maybe one of the blessings is this will bring back the spark,” he said.
Social Services
The social services aspect of the homeless problem is perhaps the most controversial. Residents, city officials, and social service representatives agreed there was a lot of emotion on the issue.
“There are a lot of social services, but the problem is we don’t know who is doing what when,” said Mayor Starr.
“Everybody does a piece or a part,” agreed Tracy Elder, founder of the Mount Vernon-based International Alliance of Chaplain Corps. “The agencies, to the extent that they can, work well together, but, there’s some red tape.
“Those agencies are really working hard, but we need to bring it all together,” she added.
One suggested way to bring it all together is through a community navigator who will become familiar with all of the services and agencies. The idea is in its infancy with nothing yet formally created.
Joe Noonen, pastor of The Shepherd’s House Church of the Nazarene and retired chaplain at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, said social service agencies are reactive rather than proactive. He said the goal is to reach out to those in the homeless camps rather than wait for them to be arrested and then respond.
“We need to never lose our sense of shared humanity and community,” he said. “Many in the encampment don’t know how to articulate thoughts or needs. We need to start there without reducing everything to a criminal act.”
Noonen said that once a navigator is in place patterns will begin to emerge.
“We don’t know where the gaps in service are because we don’t have a continuum of care plan,” he said.
That continuum of care will include Knox Community Hospital and the KCSO.
Elder said there are some who are willing to come in before they are arrested, but it takes people willing to go out to them. For others, it takes an arrest.
“I understand the necessity for arrest, but I also understand the need to extend a hand,” she said.
Resident Don Lang has lost family members to drug overdose and alcoholism. Other family members are dealing with health problems related to alcohol, and one family member is in prison for killing two people in separate incidents. He believes individuals in the camps have to hit rock bottom before they will reach out for help.
“By catering to them, they will not hit rock bottom,” he said, adding that there are many piles of donated clothing and food strewn about or thrown away by those in the camps. “Can we get the community to quit catering to them?”
Elder said those in the camps need to hear from someone like Lang who has experience with the issues the homeless face.
“I am going to come to you and ask you if you’ll help me solve the problem,” she told Lang. “We need someone who will talk straight to them. We need the carrot and the stick. Will you help me?”
“Yes,” said Lang.
Elder and Lang will meet today to plan a course of action.
Lindsey Creager and Andrea Thompson of Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action Commission spoke briefly to the group.
Creager said Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland can help individuals with utilities, their first month’s rent, and security deposit. The agency can also help with emergency shelter and motel stays.
Thompson, who lives in the west end, said that permanent housing is a problem.
“The housing isn’t out there, or it’s not affordable,” she said.
