Bloomington: A home for all of us

April 1. This date might not mean much to IU students, but to more than 60 Bloomington residents, this is the first day they will not have a place to sleep at night.

The Interfaith Winter Shelter will close its doors April 1, leaving Bloomington without an emergency low-barrier shelter.

The Ubuntu Working Group is a collaboration of social workers, community members and individuals experiencing homelessness who are working to create a low-barrier shelter that will fill the needs created when the Interfaith Winter Shelter closes.

A low-barrier shelter accepts anyone in need of a place to stay regardless of addiction issues, criminal history, etc.  Ubuntu would be the only shelter of its kind in Bloomington.

These efforts have been met with incredible resistance from the mayor, city council, business people and other various community members.

My question is simple. When did helping people put a roof over their head for a night become a political issue?

Having a safe and dry place to sleep should not be a luxury, but a human right in Bloomington. This is not an issue students can afford to be apathetic about any longer.

We are a part of this community, and we cannot stay silent while our neighbors without homes are being ignored and denied necessary services.

Bloomington should be a home for everyone, not just a home for those with money and houses.

Stephanie Waller
ubuntushelter@gmail.com