Report on Homelessness in Monrovia

Monrovia has about one homeless person per 1,000 residents, according to a report to the City Council by Monrovia Police Chief Jim Hunt, though several audience members disputed that as too low a figure. San Luis Obispo, by comparison, he said, has about 48 per 1,000. Hunt said most of the homeless in Library Park are "resistant," meaning they've been offered assistance but have refused it. Also, he said that by making many felonies into misdemeanors, Proposition 47 has made it much more difficult to enforce laws, as basically all police can do is give tickets. Several speakers suggested the city provide showers, storage, bathrooms and housing for the homeless.

- Brad Haugaard

2 comments:

  1. Sorry, after 8+ years of seeing the same people living in the park the only conclusion for me is that these particular people do not want help and are happy with where they are in life. Why should we now pay for them to have other amenities?

    There are great organizations in the area like Foothill Unity Center, Salvation Army, Union Station etc they provide means for them to elevate themselves.

    I'm tired of the drug dealing, drug taking and crime that is so common at the park.

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  2. Can we close the park at night? Like midnight until 6 am in summer and 10 pm to 7 am in winter? Moving these people daily would discourage them to keep coming back

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