FRESNO, CA (KM,J) – Fresno City Council Member Steve Brandau was targeted by an activist – he found an effigy of a homeless person with his face, in his parking space Tuesday morning.
Brandau had championed the No Camping Ordinance in Fresno to combat the homeless problem here, but he says he’s looking for a strategy how to get people off the streets until housing becomes available.
He shared his idea with KMJ’s Broeske & Musson show, Tuesday morning.
“I’m looking at a model that I’ve seen in San Diego where there is a huge industrial tent. It could be 100 yards long and 40 yards wide, and you have bunk beds, and beds inside there and dividers. You have homeless people allowed to stay in that type of environment to get some kind of temporary shelter.” – Fresno City Council Member Steve Brandau.
Brandau thinks that the idea of a tent makes sense, and would place it in downtown Fresno in an area where the social services are already located.
The homeless problem is affecting cities throughout California. Recently, the City of El Cajon in San Diego tried to fight their problem, making it illegal to feed the homeless in wake of a hepatitis a outbreak that has killed 29 people. Twelve people were charged on Monday for defying the ban – which activists there call a draconian measure to criminalize homeless residents.
In the quest to control homelessness here, the City of Fresno has already broken-up 400 encampments.
Brandau says he and key city leaders will be taking a trip to see an example of the tent in San Diego.
