The Jimmie Hale Mission in Birmingham is sharing a statement in light of the City of Homewood’s new ordinance banning encampments and sleeping on public property without a permit.
Executive Director Perryn Carroll shared this statement with ABC 33/40, saying, “This ordinance, and others like it, do nothing to help the homeless. Instead, it further alienates those that are struggling. To help the homeless and ease the concerns of the community, the homeless need to be compassionately connected to services that address the root cause of their homelessness such as mental health issues, addiction and sudden financial crisis. That is why programs such as Jimmie Hale offers are so effective in addressing the problem. We offer safe shelter, food, counseling, mental health support, job readiness training and employment and housing assistance. Only by providing the resources needed to change the situation will we reduce the number of homeless in our communities.”
The city council passed the ordinance last week. It is effective immediately…