According to this story from KCRA 3, tent cities create more problems than just the magnetic impact they have on the homeless from a much larger area than locally, part of the essential rationale—of helping your neighbor—underlying the public’s tentative support for them; they also attract folks just wanting to offer direct help, and that should, one would think, be celebrated.
An excerpt.
"SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Oprah Winfrey Show put the spotlight on Sacramento's homeless problem, but some say an overwhelming response from the community could make the problem worse.
"Sister Libby Fernandez, the executive director of Loaves & Fishes, said those who bring goods to Tent City are creating a major health hazard.
"Fernandez said rats and seagulls go after the trash and bring their diseases along.
"It's really not a very good thing to do," Fernandez said. "For one thing, you have to have trash pickup.
"You bring things out there like clothing, suitcases food, water ... it just builds up an accumulation of trash."
"Fernandez said she thinks homeless residents need to find help off-site and shouldn't be catered to.
"Val Jon Farris of the nonprofit iCare-America disagrees. He said he works with people directly and lets them know how to be as responsible as possible.
"Tents, sleeping bags and cots are not going to wind up in landfills," Farris said."
