''We do not know how to attack the problem of homelessness in Pawtucket,'' said one spokesperson of the Homeless Task Committee of the Pawtucket Alliance for Downtown Success. (PADS)
About 25 downtown neighborhood members on Thursday listened to a report that said attacking the homelessness problem in Pawtucket was challenging.
''Do you give the homeless housing and then attack the chemical abuse or do you attack the chemical abuse and then give the people transitional housing?'' the task force said.
City planner Michael Cassidy said that new homeless shelters were being built across the city, but not at the pace of the problem. ''The new homeless shelter on Garden Street should be finished very soon. Also, new units are available on Montgomery Street.''
Mayor James E. Doyle said recently that due to the transient nature of the number of homeless, the city cannot keep track of the numbers.
However, using state statistics, PADS members said homelessness in Rhode Island is growing at an incredible pace since 2006. Two years ago, about 6,200 Rhode Islanders were homeless; the number has increased to 7,800.
''However, homelessness is a sad situation,'' the PADS group reported. ''It really does not reflect well on the library when the homeless sleep there.'' Nevertheless, the group acknowledged homeless people have to sleep somewhere.
In essence, PADS wants to expand the numbers of people on the Homeless Task Committee. Please refer to the Pawtucket Alliance for Downtown Success website for the task force.
Neighbors, how do you think the problem of homelessness should be handled in the city of Pawtucket?
About 25 downtown neighborhood members on Thursday listened to a report that said attacking the homelessness problem in Pawtucket was challenging.
''Do you give the homeless housing and then attack the chemical abuse or do you attack the chemical abuse and then give the people transitional housing?'' the task force said.
City planner Michael Cassidy said that new homeless shelters were being built across the city, but not at the pace of the problem. ''The new homeless shelter on Garden Street should be finished very soon. Also, new units are available on Montgomery Street.''
Mayor James E. Doyle said recently that due to the transient nature of the number of homeless, the city cannot keep track of the numbers.
However, using state statistics, PADS members said homelessness in Rhode Island is growing at an incredible pace since 2006. Two years ago, about 6,200 Rhode Islanders were homeless; the number has increased to 7,800.
''However, homelessness is a sad situation,'' the PADS group reported. ''It really does not reflect well on the library when the homeless sleep there.'' Nevertheless, the group acknowledged homeless people have to sleep somewhere.
In essence, PADS wants to expand the numbers of people on the Homeless Task Committee. Please refer to the Pawtucket Alliance for Downtown Success website for the task force.
Neighbors, how do you think the problem of homelessness should be handled in the city of Pawtucket?
