SHREVEPORT, La. – Shreveport’s homeless crisis is worse than the nation’s capital when measured per capita, according to Larry Otwell, executive director of the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission.
Otwell says the issue isn’t new — and relocating homeless individuals has been a long-standing practice in the city.
Relocation Without Solutions
“Unfortunately, we’ve been doing this for probably six to eight years,” Otwell said, referring to moving homeless encampments out of high-traffic areas. “We’ve been moving people out of the city for tourism and businesses. I understand why — it’s crime, panhandling, and all that. But if we don’t fix the problem, we’re just kind of kicking the can down the road.”
The problem, he added, is that relocation simply shifts the burden to other communities without addressing the underlying causes of homelessness.
Impact of Budget Cuts
Otwell pointed to years of budget reductions as a major reason for the current crisis, saying those cuts have eliminated critical programs designed to help people break the cycle of homelessness…