By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Homelessness is a growing problem nationally.
St. Joseph is no different.
St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster says he has heard plenty of concern about the homeless population. Luster says the issue isn’t really a policing issue.
“Kind of always start off by saying, if we could have arrested our way out of it, we would have done it a long time ago,” Luster tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline, “You can’t do that and that wouldn’t be the right thing to do anyways.”
Still, police can play a role, according to Luster, who adds the St. Joseph Police Department has taken a step toward attacking the problem by designating a Homeless Liaison Officer. Luster has also applied for a grant to pay for a social worker within the St. Joseph Police Department to address the problem.
Luster says it is unlikely homelessness can ever be eliminated.
“But if we can have better outcomes and have fewer out there, I think that’s a positive thing for those people,” says Luster. “I think it’s a very positive thing for this city.”
Luster says Homeless Liaison Officer Cameron Shoemaker is already establishing relationships with the homeless as well as service providers to meet their needs, such as providing mental health services and addiction treatment.
“We have a vision that eventually we will have our own homeless outreach team, which is this boots on the ground, 40-hour week, four or five people, specialists in their own areas, are out here, boots on the ground, communicating daily, building those relationships and really trying to get the proper resources in a timely manner to this population that’s very difficult to manage sometimes,” according to Luster.
Luster says St. Joseph city officials have been reviewing the work of Sarasota in dealing with homelessness in that Florida city. Sarasota does have an outreach team of police officers and social workers who regularly work with its homeless population. Sarasota also has established a Community Care Court, specifically assigned to handle crimes arising from homelessness. It seeks treatment rather than incarceration.
Luster wants to create a similar long-term plan to address homelessness in St. Joseph.
“That really wasn’t on my radar when I took over as chief in St. Joe and it’s just one thing I continually heard about,” Luster says. “Obviously, it was a big concern to this community. I want to make sure we’re doing what we can to help address it.”
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