Homeless plight in Haleyville in focus at council meeting

HALEYVILLE    -  The topic of homeless people in Haleyville once again came before the Haleyville City Council, this time with a plea for unity.
Mayor Ken Sunseri first addressed the homeless situation in the city, as well as refuted ongoing rumors about the subject.
“We don’t know why we’re seeing an influx of homeless people,” the mayor began. “I mentioned about the possible bus (Greyhound) stopping here to allow people to use the restroom and get drinks.  We don’t have a confirmation on the bus coming in and stopping here.
“Our police department has been checking with people, checking their identification and doing what we can,” Sunseri added.
The city, the mayor continued, does not have a shelter to house homeless individuals.

 “There is a place in Florence where we can take them that can provide a bed and meals.  We want to help these individuals,” Sunseri said.
“We’ll be happy to take them there, but we can’t  force them to do that,” Sunseri noted. “They have rights like everyone else.”
If a homeless person agrees to seek additional help, a police officer can transport them to a facility such as in Florence, that can provide them assistance, the mayor explained.  The mayor is concerned that transporting someone to Florence would take the officer away from his local job.
When asked about the cost of doing so, Sunseri responded, “It’s a cost one way or the other, whether we have them stay here and interrupt businesses throughout town or we have a problem with them not having a place to stay.
“Sometimes, you have to ignore the costs and do the best you can for the individual,” Sunseri pointed out.
The transportation of these individuals would constitute the time involved, as well as gas prices, the mayor stated.
 “...We don’t know why they are homeless. We don’t know the circumstances.  Sometimes, it may be a mental health thing. It may be a financial crisis. It may be a family disaster. We really don’t know,” Sunseri continued.
“We want to help these people, but in the same respect, you just can’t have people wandering around town, sleeping in every corner and at every business in town either,” Sunseri pointed out.
In the past, homeless individuals have set up tents, including at Rocky Ravine Park, which the city had to remove, Sunseri emphasized.
“It’s more or less the situation of them walking through town or in different areas of town,” Sunseri added.
House of Refuge Church Pastor Ricky White and David Harbin, who both work with The Upper Room - A Gathering Place, a mission providing food and services to the homeless and others in need throughout the community, approached Sunseri and the Haleyville City Council about an issue they felt needed to be addressed.
White informed the mayor and council that he had been invited by Harbin to attend the meeting due to the city’s homeless situation.
“There is always a lot more to do, and teamwork is the best way to do it.  Once we come together as a community with ideas and planning to bring them before the governing part of the city, I think we can get a lot done,” White said.