Winter’s worry

This morning I awoke to a chill. With this first snap of autumn, I donned a jacket in anticipation of fleetingly cooler temps. Eventually, we’ll settle into a brisk fall, and then winter.

It’s my favorite time, but for others it makes for worry and hardship.

A reader’s email in my inbox today, for example, gave me pause:

“I am going to be homeless in a few days and I need some help … Can you let me know if they allowed tent city. I need a place to sleep.”

The reader, who wished to remain anonymous, was asking about progress on a proposed city-sanctioned homeless encampment.

The proposal came after homeless advocate Mark Merin toured Seattle’s tent city in March. Later, he urged Sacramento’s City Council to approve a permit for his own such encampment on land he owns downtown. The request came five years after Mayor Kevin Johnson promised to explore the idea of a tent city—and dedicate more services to the homeless.

Initially, council seemed interested in learning more about the request. Then, perhaps not surprisingly, it backed off it. City Councilman Steve Hansen, whose district would house the proposed site, told The Sacramento Bee, “I anticipate the residents who are already heavily impacted by the homeless folks in that neighborhood will be significantly opposed to this.”

Those residents will also enjoy warmth and shelter. As Seattle has demonstrated, there are ways to help the homeless without significantly burdening those who live nearby.

It’s time for council to revisit Merin’s proposal. If not a tent city, then something else progressive, efficient and humane. Time is running out.