High rent, low availability trigger homelessness, emotional responses in public
This past June, the Supreme Court passed a ruling that allows for the criminalization of public camping for people experiencing homelessness. Impact from this decision is being felt at the local level following disputes over the summer regarding homeless encampments behind the Orrin King Building in Oshkosh. Two committees of the Winnebago County Board have voted in favor of a law penalizing public camping outside of parks. As of now, this issue has not come in front of the entire County Board, and another ordinance that would give police the authority to issue citations against or arrest individuals for loitering was rejected. Services like Day by Day Shelter, Father Carr’s, and Salvation Army aid in combating homelessness, but waiting lists and housing scarcity have left some people sleeping on public property.
A lack of housing and increased evictions can be traced back to COVID, according to Lu Scheer, Housing Grants Specialist for Winnebago County.
“During COVID, there was a time that landlords were not allowed to evict people,” she said. “There were a number of months where the natural flow of people in and out of apartments stopped.”
Though this policy provided a layer of security for those who may otherwise have been unable to keep their housing, it left many others out on the street. The government also provided supplementary funding to help renters pay their apartment bills while they couldn't work jobs during COVID, but landlords increased prices in response. After governmental support ended, people were unable to pay the higher rates and were evicted. This, in addition to big investment companies upping prices, upended the housing market. Winnebago County Community Health Strategist Lynnesey Erickson confirms this steep increase in the cost of housing.
“Within Winnebago County, rent has increased 20-35% in the last two years,” she said.
This leaves a gap in the housing market which has yet to be filled. Chris Blake, an advocate for ESTHER, a faith organization supporting community nonprofits, recognizes this gap.
“There’s not enough affordable housing, and what we mean by that is a maximum of $500 a month for rent,” he said.
With growing rent rates and a barren housing market, more are left on the streets and in public encampments like the one at the Orrin King Building. Claims of drug use and maintenance issues at this site have soured the community’s attitude towards public camping. The proposed ordinance on this issue would make all public camping on county property illegal, with offenders subject to being ticketed.
“The main purpose would be that people would not stay overnight; the concerns being damage to buildings and safety,” Scheer said.
Many of those experiencing homelessness resided in the Orrin building. Neighbors and community members felt pestered by their presence, ESTHER associate Miracle Wheeler affirms
“It gave the ‘not in my backyard’ people an opportunity to see the worst, because I really don’t believe that 100% of the people were horrible and trashing the place,” she said.
Wheeler understands that not all of those living in these areas are causing distress.
“Let’s police the ones that need to be policed, but not everybody,” she said. “Not everyone is responsible for some bad behavior.”
In addition to the sometimes unnecessary policing of the homeless, people were moved along with no clear direction. Though the county has resources, many of those have waiting lists and requirements that are impossible to meet with a low income. If one of these individuals were to overdose or be robbed or assaulted, there would be few people to offer help.
“It’s safer for them to be out in public than going underground. If something would happen, they wouldn’t be found,” Wheeler said.
Moving people along without a real idea of where they can go is one of ESTHER’s and other nonprofits common criticisms of the current system and the system the new ordinance would support.
“Whether the ordinance passes or not, our community needs to adapt to the philosophy of solving homelessness, not ‘we need them to move down the street’,” Scheer said.
Those who are currently homeless and are being moved face specific challenges.
“When people who are living outside are forced to move along or receive fines, it’s so much more difficult to get connected to resources or maintain resources you're already connected to,” Erickson said.
A common solution is designated spaces where people experiencing homelessness can go without the risk of being ticketed. Erickson believes there are many benefits to this model.
“Safe parking spaces and lots, with cameras and ports to charge a phone,” she said. “That's a recommended and effective solution we’ve seen in other communities.”
The surface cost is high, but the nonprofits of Oshkosh and other communities believe it’s something that can be accomplished.
“We have to pool our resources, no one single entity can do it,” Blake said.
He mentions that instead of arguing for the little grant money available, the community must organize and coalesce ideas and resources to work towards solutions. Wheeler shares this position.
“Imagine the work we can do together,” she said.
Members of the community can prioritize the voices of the affected, and remember to extend respect to those who are experiencing homelessness as they would to any other neighbor.
“Listen to them, listen to our community,” Blake said. “They are still part of our community.”
Similar words were given by Scheer, who says the community is missing something.
“Seeing people who are on the streets should make us uncomfortable,” she said. “We should have empathy and compassion.”
by Isaac Considine-Buelow
Published November 4th, 2024
Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue II