City Struggles to Find Solution for 'Tent City'

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS – Tuesday evening, SMD 5 councilman Lane Carter held a town hall meeting to discuss the rising concerns over what many have coined “tent city.” Though San Angelo has seen a couple “tent cities” pop up around town, many residents are concerned about the biggest “tent city” living under the Houston Harte Highway near the crossing of Bryant and McDonald's and Central High School. This meeting may have brought the community closer, but those looking for a solution to “tent city” are out of luck.

Tuesday’s meeting was meant to garner “awareness,” said Councilman Carter as well as a means to determine “how [the City] can pull together to see how many avenues there are to help [organizations] that can in turn help [San Angelo’s] homeless.”  Councilman Carter noted that back in January, he and Councilwoman Lucy Gonzales, with the help of public housing and the City’s legal administration, formed a committee to tackle the new issue. The San Angelo Police Department has also been aiding the committee search for solutions.

Police Chief Frank Carter spoke to the filled city council chambers, citing that currently 21 people, including 3-4 women, live underneath the Houston Harte Hwy. Currently, San Angelo only has an ordinance in place that prohibits camping in city parks. Chief Carter stated that because the police force has now begun to enforce this specific ordinance, many have moved to live below the bridge because they know the property belongs to state controlled TxDot.

Bob Salas, Director of Neighborhood and Family Services and member of the Homeless Coalition, also explained that there are several types of homeless persons: chronically homeless and situational homeless. A chronically homeless person is someone who may have/had drug, alcohol, and/or mental problems. Situational homeless people are people who have nowhere to go as they have gone through tough times and may have lost their homes and job.

Many residents who spoke during the public comment section voiced their concerns over the children that pass through to go to McDonald's during their lunch period.  Though no real solution was proposed for this specific topic, City Manager Daniel Valenzuela did touch upon the possibility of purchasing a piece of land near the Salvation Army for residents of “tent city” to move to.

However, one resident was not pleased at all with the residents of “tent city.”

In a longer speech, one SMD 4 resident claimed that all of “tent city’ homeless population “is made up of drug addicts, alcoholics, and mentally impaired people. A large number of them receive disability checks, and use the money to buy their drugs and alcohol. The ones who live under the bridge pose a danger to citizens, and I believe we need to be protected from them.” She further stated that she knew that the residents under the bridge have syringes and drug paraphernalia sprawled in the open, and called for Councilman Carter to not “move [the homeless] into the neighborhoods” saying, “We don’t want them in the neighborhood. We want them out.” 

However, Reginald Felton, a current resident of “tent city,” shed a different light on the situation. 

“I get $750 per month. I can’t afford rent, and I can't pay the bills with that; my only choice is to be in “Tent City.” In regards to the community's concerns with the homeless interacting with local high school students, Felton added, “We see [the kids] walk by, [but] we stay on our side; we don’t want trouble with the schools or students. Please help us find a place. I want to get off the streets,” he pleaded with the attending residents and City officials. Many further supported Felton, saying pitting the city against the homeless is not a solution.

What’s Next?

Councilman Carter reiterated that the committee is “trying to pull all the venues together to [find] the best solution possible.” Councilman Carter acknowledged that the solution to “tent city” will not occur overnight, but stated that the City will do its best.

The City’s Deputy Attorney also added that officials will look into creating a new ordinance that will prohibit people from living in public areas by focusing its regulations and guidelines on public safety.

However, many questions remain after Tuesday night's meeting. What will become of the homeless who depend on public places as their homes? Where will they go after the City kicks them out of their ‘homes’? What responsibility do we have as a city? How do we make the city safer for the children without endangering other people’s lives? 

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