12-20-17 Health and Public Safety

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homeless rights. They are citizens and they have rights. A lot of people treat homeless differently. They get treated as invisible and with disrespect. Letting the homeless know they have rights is the first and foremost importance of a bill like this. Many of them think that they've been kicked around and mistreated. They are depressed people and yes they do turn to drugs and things. But knowing they count and they matter and they have rights is important. We met a twenty-six (26)year old boy three (3) weeks ago. He didn't think he had any rights and he was laying in front of a building. He was a type-one (1) diabetic and was in critical condition. The police came to harass him to ask him to move. We had to ask the police to call the ambulance. He could have died. The fact is he got better and his toe was amputated. He also got into the FUSE Project today. He had to know that within his own person he's got rights. He did not know that. He could have died. I just want to let people know that there are people that don't know they have rights unless we make it official. Let's not stop before crossing the finish line. Nate Levin-Aspenson, 330 W. Colfax Avenue, stated, I would like to first of all join others in commending the Council for,not only taking on this issue, but including the public in the discussions. This is an important opportunity for the City to take a stand of moral leadership in the region. My concerns are, frankly, granular. I want to see, when we do get to the end of this process, when we implement this Bill of Rights, we must make sure the constituents primarily affected know about it. They need to have access to that information so they can be advocates for their own rights. While drafting this Bill of Rights, I also advocate against using language that could be too broadly construed by City or local officials. A word that comes to mind for me that is an example is using the word reasonable. It has to be more than a vanity effort. Becca Burton, 4991 N. 475 East, Leesburg, IN, stated, I'm here today to publicly advocate for the rights of the homeless. They are human beings and deserve to be treated as such. They have received a lot of humiliation. Code Enforcement took their belongings. That is unconscionable. The signs in downtown that say don't give to panhandlers need to go. They are humiliating. It is already humiliating enough to ask for money to survive and I think throwing that in the homeless faces is something we need to address. Homeless individuals should be treated the same as everyone else. Sue Kesim,4022 Kennedy Drive, stated, One (1)thing I've noticed in this issue is the availability of public restrooms. I would like something in this bill about public restrooms. There are health issues to this. They are denied access to public restrooms. There needs to be a solution of having a place to relieve oneself. We all need a place to properly relieve ourselves. I understand there had been some destruction of property and perhaps somehow that can be addressed. It is hard to get a job if you can't at least wash yourself and make yourself presentable. Some high schools allow students to come wash their clothes. I want you to consider the availability of public restrooms and a place to wash. Charles Smith, 2001 S. Warren Street, stated, This isn't a new issue to me. This is now the third winter I have watched this. Everybody had a valid point today. I keep hearing the word homeless. That life is a reality. There are some people on the streets that are actually living with somebody. And they are homeless. These individuals have mental problems, criminal problems and others. It is against the law to expose yourself to go to the restroom. I have that privilege of living in a home and taking a shower and they don't all have that privilege. There aren't beds for 7