Hamilton explains plans for public shelter

Democratic mayoral candidate John Hamilton pledged at a press event March 1 that, if elected, Bloomington will have a permanent homeless shelter by 2012.

Hamilton said his comments about the city’s lack of facilities to serve the homeless have been misconstrued. He said some have come to believe he means that he wants the city to own and operate a homeless shelter.

“That’s not the key point,” he said. “The key point is that for seven years in this community, we’ve had no shelter for a homeless family with kids. That’s just not
acceptable.”

Hamilton said Bloomington needs a permanent shelter for winter months. Currently, many homeless people stay at the Interfaith Emergency Winter Shelter, a volunteer-based, nights-only shelter at rotating locations in the city.

“I think it should be a public-private partnership to do something that’s needed,” Executive Administrator of IEWS Ken Rogers said.

Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan, who is competing against Hamilton in the primary election, said the city has been working to provide support for charitable organizations. He said the focus should be on funding that can be applied to several organizations rather than specifics.

“I’m really concerned that there are too many worthy causes in need of services,” Kruzan said. “I don’t know how you explain to Middle Way House or Big Brothers Big Sisters or the community kitchen why you’re not fully funding them.”

Hamilton said specifics regarding public and private involvement would need to be worked out. But he said the city is not currently addressing the needs of some of its homeless population.

“It’s not acceptable to me that a homeless family in Bloomington has no place to stay,” Hamilton said. “The city needs to sit down with the leadership in social sector services and figure out how to provide shelter in a sustainable way.”