HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7033 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7033
July 9, 1985
;j To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Subject: COMMITTEE ON THE HOMELESS
Of 71)
The homeless population in Fort Worth is increasing according to all
available data. Although it is difficult to document the exact population of
the homeless, generally the accepted figure is approximately 1,500 at any
given time. The homeless include transient individuals that have not had a
permanent address in years or a family which has either been evicted from
their home or recently has moved to Fort Worth in search of a job.
The single homeless person is the most visible to the general public,
especially in the downtown area. This subgroup of the homeless can generally
be described to have some of the following characteristics: (1) unemployed,
(2) unskilled, (3) little or no income, (4) some level of mental health
problems, (5) alcoholism, and (6) poor health. -
The increased homeless population has forced some social service providers to
begin discussing possible solutions to this problem. Any solution must
address problems caused by the homeless which include: (1) negative image of
downtown Fort Worth, (2) begging, (3) verbal harassment of citizens, and (4)
crimes. Conversely, the solution must address problems experienced by the
homeless which include: (1) lack of health services, (2) unable to provide or
purchase basic services, (3) victims of crimes, (4) alcoholism, (5) mental
problems. -
The City Council , at the June 11, 1985, Pre-Council meeting discussed these
problems and directed the staff to recommend a committee to review these
problems and recommend solutions. The purpose of the committee will be to:
1. Review current services available to the homeless in Fort Worth.
2. Review the problems created and experienced by the homeless.
3. Make recommendations as to how to improve the services for the
homeless in order to address the identified problems.
4. Identify possible resources to implement the committee's
recommendations.
[ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.- 7033 - p.2
July 9, 1985
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
COMMITTEE ON THE HOMELESS
The City Council may select the membership for the committee from the
Dr. Robert Bohl First Presbyterian Church
Dr. Brooks Taylor Public Health Department
Capt. Marshall Gesner Salvation Army
Hartley Sappington Mental Health Mental Retardation
Frank Wahwassuch Presbyterian Night Shelter
Dorothy Harwood Department of Law
Donna G. Opperman Chamber of Commerce
Bill Jablonowski St. Stephen Presbyterian Church
Ramon Guajardo Housing and Human Services
Capt. Mike Culpepper Police Department
Ken Devero Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.
The recommendations from the committee will be submitted to the City Council
and shared with the appropriate agencies and funding sources.
If additional information is needed it will be provided upon request.
Douglas Harman
City Manager
-ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
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