MICHIGAN CITY — City officials are continuing to explore how best to address homelessness in Michigan City.
The Michigan City Common Council’s Public Health and Safety Committee, during a workshop meeting on Dec. 11, discussed how the city can create solutions to help the unhoused receive the support they need to become stable citizens.
According to Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch, the city has launched initiatives in the past and has met with mayors in other cities such as Bloomington to help resolve the matter.
The next step, she said, is to form an action agenda and to discuss creating a committee focused on this subject.
“Homelessness is a huge problem, it is not new to our community, but it’s a problem that our community needs to address with the compassion and unity it deserves,” said At-Large Councilmen Dr. Vidya Kora.
Access to public transit, affordable services and men’s shelters has made Michigan City a hub for unhoused individuals in the surrounding area. However, Councilman Don Przybylinski said he feels the situation brings challenges, especially related to environmental and quality of life concerns.
“We have to manage the problem of people loitering, urinating, defecating on store fronts and panhandling across the community,” Przybylinski said.
Nelson Deuitch said the questions to consider are why the unhoused are in their situation, whether there are behaviors stemming from substance abuse, why they do not want to use city services and is it because it’s cheaper to be homeless than to pay rent?
“We need to bring everyone together and make it clear – you have to help us help you,” Nelson Deuitch said.
“We want to help you be productive – whether through telemedicine or telehealth. We’ve been exploring options to provide telehealth services at the Swanson Center for mental health and addiction services,” she added.
Nelson Deuitch also expressed her interest in knowing the specific needs of unhoused individuals.
“Throwing money at the issue is not the solution without knowing what their problem is,” she said.
Surveying is where it begins, according to Sixth Ward Councilperson Nancy Moldenhauer.
In Michigan City, many nonprofit organizations conduct multiple surveys throughout the year, especially in winter, to identify individuals who are not accessing available services.
“We want to know about them; they are an important part of the total population,” Moldenhauer said.
“They are having a conversation with these individuals to see what type of service they are looking for,” she added.