A call to action for South Bend to address chronic homelessness in the city

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Monroe Park Neighborhood Association will ask the city of South Bend on Monday, July 13th, to find permanent sustainable housing for those without shelter. Currently, there is a “tent city” setup outside Dulous Chapel on South St. Joseph Street.

The Association is also asking that the Salvation Army building be opened immediately as a 24-hour emergency shelter for one year.

Additionally, the Association is offering to work with City partners to make the Salvation Army suitable to handle such a new endeavor.

“We don’t want something for a few months. A year is a good start but this has to be permanent. If you walk south bend almost everywhere you go mostly, you see homeless people. So it’s been a problem that we haven’t addressed for years and it’s time for use to sit down at the table and do it this year,” said Stacey Odom, President of the Monroe Park Neighborhood Association.

The Common Council and Mayor James Mueller will be discussing a resolution at the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday.