n REGIONAL CHALLENGE: HOMELESSNESS
HOW DO YOU SEE HOMELESSNESS AFFECTING BUSINESSES, AND
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE ROLE OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN
SOLVING THIS CRISIS?
“We have had local businesses complain
about homeless individuals loitering
and/or panhandling in front of their
offices and stores. Our goal has been to
direct our outreach teams to these areas
and attempt to engage these individuals into
program services. Our Whole Person Care pilot program
has been particularly successful in working with many
of these individuals. … For our safety-net programs to
be truly successful, we need the support of the business
community. Support for siting any facility is essential for
success. Other support is also critical. For example, in
North Auburn, many of the local businesses support The
Gathering Inn’s emergency housing program at the (Plac-
er County) Government Center. They provide financial
assistance, in-kind donations and mobilize volunteers to
assist the program and meet whatever needs they may
have.”
– Jeff Brown, Placer County
“Handling or dealing with the homeless is a core issue
that affects the livelihood of business owners. Loiter-
ing drives customers away, and, oftentimes, there is a
criminal element — not always, but it does occur. Our
local businesses were plagued with such issues until
the Marysville Police, led by Chief Christian Sachs, made
a huge impact. We can’t criminalize being homeless, but
we can enforce other nonassociated laws such as loitering
and panhandling. The largest solution was in landscaping
and clearing brush, exposing the business and eliminating
hiding areas. This translated into a 90 percent reduction in
those types of complaints among business owners.”
– Mike Leahy, Yuba County
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“Many businesses … complain of a lack of patronage due
to homeless individuals loitering in the area and fright-
ening customers. … Businesses can partner with local
government agencies to come up with viable solutions …
through education, crime prevention through environ-
mental design, hiring new or additional security staff, com-
municating and partnering with neighboring businesses,
and contacting local law enforcement agencies.”
– Lt. Jausiah Jacobson, Fairfield
“The business community needs to meet and share their
experiences and discuss ideas — since blaming doesn’t
work — about how to address the problem.”
– Denise Cloward, Amador and Tuolumne counties
“In a very negative way — we see trash and drug para-
phernalia, which means people don’t go to certain stores
or shopping centers because of the homeless contingent
frightening folks. This all leads to a loss of revenue, from
the business owner to the county, state and federal
government. … (Business owners) must continue to call
the police and sheriff’s departments, which in
turn brings the problem to the forefront as
an issue to be solved in our community.
Compassion and support are also import-
ant. It’s tough on the homeless to be in that
situation, and it’s also tough on our busi-
ness community to deal with it every day.”
– René Evans, El Dorado County