Step up, City Council

This afternoon in my Social Work Welfare Policy and Practice class, council member Martin Spechler spoke in an effort to share with us the work the city has done in regard to our current homeless situation.

Spechler regarded our classroom with disdain as he explained to us all the ways the city council aids the city of Bloomington and funds various organizations.

Instead of informing and enlightening us, as I’m sure he intended, he insulted people experiencing homelessness, our social work values and his own citizens.

Many of my classmates work for and volunteer with people experiencing homelessness and various resources including the Shalom Center, Martha’s House and Amethyst House, among others.

We are all fully aware of our city’s current situation having closed the Interfaith Winter Shelter as of April 1. Since then, a population of 60 to 100 people sleeps on the streets.

Some members of this population are lucky enough to have found temporary housing for their children with extended family members or friends, but others are not so fortunate.

During our class session, Spechler continued to regard people experiencing homelessness as “unattractive, dirty and smelly.” He took the liberty of speaking for the whole city of Bloomington, saying the entire city dislikes this “disruptive” population.

He even went on to say Mayor Mark Kruzan does not want to open a low-barrier shelter because he fears it will attract people experiencing homelessness from neighboring areas, increasing our population and making the city look bad.

One of the values of a social worker is to believe in the dignity and worth of a person, and this means all people. What I found most unsettling and, frankly, disturbing was the way in which Spechler continued to refer to people experiencing homeless as “unattractive.”

We social workers study ways to look past people’s current unfortunate situation, find strengths within each individual and seek out resources to help them become the best citizens they can be.

If Spechler is, in his own words, “more enlightened than the general public,” then how can he continue to talk about this population as if they’re subordinate?
Spechler mentioned the city council would not fund a low-barrier shelter. He did, however, say the solution to our city’s situation would be a housing-first approach.
This means providing the homeless with proper low-barrier housing and, in doing so, giving them a consistent and safe environment in which to develop their skills, perhaps rid themselves of addictions and avoid further damaging behavior.

I’m left wondering, since the council member considers himself a well-connected man and mentioned representing Bloomington’s wealthiest area, is he using his appointed position of power to search for more funding for low-barrier housing?

Spechler also said a respectable, experienced individual is needed to start this low-barrier housing, someone who would preferably be in town for some years to come. He also indirectly alluded to preferring that this person be religiously affiliated, which I found unnecessary and frankly biased to his idea of what a “respectable” person should be.

Students understand that we are not regarded as long-term members of the city, as we all hope to receive our respective degrees and find work wherever we are fortunate enough to do so.

Though we may not all plan on staying in Bloomington for the next 40 years, we are still allowed to care about the town for the next four.

Spechler understands the gravity of our city’s homeless situation, represents the wealthiest area of town, is in a position of power, helps decide how the city spends its $30 million budget and took the time to come to our class and enrich us with his wisdom.

Why isn’t he currently using his countless resources to help the city of Bloomington form a committee for finding the type of person he seeks to run a low-barrier shelter? If the public cannot trust elected officials to take note of the issues at hand that their citizens care about deeply, these officials should not be in office.

I urge you, Spechler, to respect and acknowledge the values presented to you by the School of Social Work and respect the voices of your citizens, whether you consider them “attractive” or not.

Do your duty to the city of Bloomington.

Rebecca Shappell