Handling the Homeless Situation

The effort to break ground on the Maritime Park project in downtown Pensacola has hit another small snag. Occupying the future site of the multi-million dollar project is 20-30 homeless people. This recent speed bump is in addition to the difficult task of relocating the Water Treatment Plant. The solution to the homeless problem is simple enough right? All the developers have to do is bowl the makeshift settlement over with a few bulldozers. Not quite. Although the squatters are trespassing and do not have the right to take up residence on the lot, they do have the right to pack up their belongings and relocate. Police are handling the situation as humanely as possible, posting signs notifying the homeless when they must voluntarily vacate the lot, or otherwise be forced out.

The residents of the waterfront shanty town known as the “badlands”, for the lewd acts that take place there, are taking the recent eviction notice with mixed emotions. While some are reluctantly beginning their exodus, others are more understanding. Arnie Orrick, a homeless man residing on the Maritime Park lot, said “That’s all right. I was under a bridge before I came here, I can go back.”

When the Maritime Park developers finally do clear the lot of all trespassers, where will they go? This rather small issue has highlighted an even bigger issue. How do we handle the homeless situation now that it has been inflated by the fact that 20 plus homeless people now have to seek new residence? They cannot all go to the Waterfront Rescue Mission, which is already overflowing as it is, and there cannot be a new “badlands” at the already seedy location under the 1-10 overpass.

Public safety becomes a big issue now as well. An influx of homeless people around Cordova Mall has already been noticed, and it will not be long until the number of wandering vagabonds gets to be a dangerous nuisance. Nobody needs to be overcome with vibes that give off an “I might get stabbed” feeling, like the vibe one gets when the iconic “S.A.R.S. lady” passes by in full HAZMAT attire. Commuters do not need any more bums on the side of Davis Highway and Brent Lane to pity, holding up signs that say “Vietnam veteran, please help.” How many down-on-their-luck Vietnam veterans are there in this town anyway? I am not saying that homeless people do not deserve pity, many people whose homes have been foreclosed on in light of the struggling economy do, and while it is easy to poke fun at the homeless people’s lack of creativity when it comes to evoking pity, it is difficult to figure out just what to do with them. Yes, our homeless problem is quaint compared to that of major U.S. cities like Atlanta and New York, but from a per capita standpoint it still is an equally serious problem, only to get bigger as soon as the Maritime Park developers eradicate the “badlands”.

In a few months time we will all see just how bad Pensacola’s homeless situation will be. Maybe the problem will continue to be as it is now, noticeable but manageable. Maybe the number of homeless newspaper salesmen will bloom and a new “bag lady” will steal the spotlight from the notorious one that stalks the streets around Cordova Mall. Only time will tell what truly becomes of the homeless situation, but a few pre-emptive measures might be in order. Perhaps some of the huge budget for the Maritime Park should be contributed to building new missions, and housing that not only keeps the homeless safe, but the general public as well. Odds are that will not happen, but something has to be done before a small problem becomes a big one.

Daniel Printz