ABILENE, TX — Homelessness has increased dramatically since the pandemic, doubling in San Angelo from 2022 to 2024. The city of Abilene has also been affected by the perpetual problem, recently enacting a new city ordinance addressing the issue. The consequences of House Bill 1925, which criminalizes camping in public places, continue to unfold as numerous campsites for Abilene's homeless population are systematically cleared out. Enacted in September 2021, the legislation has prompted local nonprofits to increase their efforts to assist those affected by homelessness.
Stephanie Stewart, the director of City Light, a local nonprofit dedicated to aiding the homeless, expressed firsthand observations of the stressors resulting from the clearouts. The displacement has led to heightened tensions among individuals who, due to the lack of designated areas, struggle to find new locations for relaxation and sleep.
Abilene Homeless Camp
(Credit: Screen Grab KTAB Video)
Abilene Feeding the Homeless
(Credit: Screen Grab from KTAB Video)
"People being upset for obvious reasons, and the place where they used to be able to relax is not there… So, [they're] having to find those new locations to relax, places to sleep," Stewart remarked. Displaced individuals often have to leave behind possessions due to the absence of secure storage.
Mark Hewitt of Love & Care Ministries acknowledged the rationale behind the clearouts, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a clean city appearance. Despite this, he emphasized his commitment to assisting those affected. The most recent campsite clearance occurred on Valentine's Day, with local nonprofits working to address the immediate needs of those impacted by homelessness.
San Angelo LIVE has been pursuing extensive coverage of our own Homeless problem, shining a lot on an often complex and controversial issue. The criminalization of camping in public places, a consequence of House Bill 1925 in Abilene, a city eighty miles up the road, could indicate the type of ordinances forthcoming from the City of San Angelo.
Catch up on exclusive LIVE coverage of homelessness in San Angelo with the following articles:
https://sanangelolive.com/news/san-angelo/2024-02-12/hope-heartache-inside-san-angelo-homeless-camp
Closet for the Homeless in Abilene
(Credit: Screen Grab from KTAB Video)
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Comments
According to the Star Trek timeline, we're due for some nuclear war and eugenics wars. That can't happen without bad economies and overwhelmed governments cracking under the pressure of harsh times.
Kudos to city and state governments across the US for keeping things nice for the Boomers so they can die without seeing the awful mess they've left. If we keep hitting the snooze button our big problems, we can just blame China once they deal with them on their side of the fence and overtake us...
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkShe's worried about the homeless having places for relaxation and sleep?!
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkThey are still people, I guess when someone has no money they aren't deserving of even the slightest comfort according to you, what a goon clown, nice first grade nickname BTW, keep telling yourself that 🤡🤡❄️❄️😂😂
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkPost a comment to this article here: