Crystal Thomas
The State Journal-Register
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Though Lincoln Library has always been a favorite destination of the city’s homeless, the number of people sleeping outside of the library has increased visibly since May, according to anecdotal evidence by Springfield aldermen, as well as library and city officials.
The library is trying to address the needs of the homeless population by having weekly counseling sessions through Memorial Behavioral Health, as well as working with area shelter providers and Springfield police.
Aldermen, however, are frustrated with the discomfort caused to library patrons and what seems like a lack of progress toward a solution. Some are worried that public urination and defecation could affect downtown business in the height of tourist season.
The city hopes to meet with stakeholders and shelter providers to work toward a solution, Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder said.
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Library director Will O’Hearn said when staff identify bad behavior, they call police or ban the person, depending on what the person did. But he finds it unethical to ban homeless people in general from the library, which is a public space.
When he noticed the uptick in homeless people at the library, O’Hearn decided to bring resources to the library to help alleviate the underlying cause of why someone might be homeless.
The library has set aside meeting space for the homeless to receive weekly counseling from Memorial Behavioral Health through its program Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH).
Thursday was the third session for Tiffany Lowe, a PATH recovery specialist. Meeting in the library’s Bicentennial Room, she had pamphlets listing resources and cheat sheets of transportation providers covered by Medicaid plans.
On average, she speaks with three to five people during the two-hour sessions. Several self-identify as having a severe mental illness, she said. She’s hoping to build trust so she can guide them to medical, housing and employment services.
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Old problem, no easy solutions
The last time homelessness around the library galvanized the city to prolonged action was about 10 years ago. The public grew concerned with the stacks of belongings at the library. An alderwoman was attacked by a man in front of the police department, which is near the library. Two homeless men got into fight outside of the library that led to the death of one.
The council at the time wrestled with solutions. A camping ban was proposed by one alderman and shot down by the rest, who thought it would move the homeless to less visible sites instead of addressing the underlying issue.
A homelessness taskforce was created by former Mayor Tim Davlin. To address big items stored on library property, the city paid monthly rent of $150 for a Portable On Demand Storage unit. The unit had 21 lockers where the homeless could store bedding and backpacks.
The council once again is asking for solutions. They asked if PODS could be offered again, why the city’s overflow shelter wasn’t turned into a day center and why there isn’t a police officer dedicated to homelessness outreach.
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Langfelder said reopening the city’s overflow shelter, which is an overnight haven from November to April, would require funding. Even then, Langfelder said he didn’t want a space just for the homeless to congregate. Instead, he wanted the city to take a “holistic” approach by inviting in mental health providers, as well as job and housing assistance. Making a year-round overflow shelter would take time, he said.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 