Homeless Task Force
In response to a visible increase in the homeless street population, the Mesa
City Council convened A Citizen's Task Force on Homelessness in 1995. The Task
Force worked for ten months to develop the current homeless plan that was
adopted by the City Council in March 1996.
The philosophy adopted by the Task Force can be characterized as one of
"compassionate accountability" which incorporates the following
beliefs:
Homeless people have the potential to contribute positively to the
community. We should be not fooled by their present circumstances into
believing they have nothing to offer.
The community can best help by creating viable ways for homeless people
to remove the barriers to ending their homelessness so they can become
productive members of the community.
Once viable programs are in place, the community has a right to expect
that homeless people will work at ending their homelessness and not use
places and facilities intended to benefit the whole community to maintain
their homeless lifestyle.
Individuals have a right to make choices about how they live their lives
and whether or not they will use the programs available, but must also
take responsibility for their choices when they fall outside of behavior
considered acceptable by the community.
Homeless Task Force Report
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