In this week’s episode of The Lamp, Pat Munsey talks about the Kokomo Urban Outreach Empty Bowl fundraiser and levels criticism at the City of Kokomo for its proposed ordinance addressing the homeless situation on public property. Catch new episodes of The Lamp and other great content each week on the Kokomo Lantern Podcast Network!
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Turn Homelessness from A Problem to A Solution
My name is Mike Katcher and it is my intention to run for the district 30 seat in the Indiana House of Representatives. The district includes most of Kokomo and east past Greentown and Swayze. The reason I am running is to offer my experience and skills in an effort to give to Indiana what America gave to me. The freedom of worship or not, public education, literature, neighborhood, family, healthcare, and work. I am an engineer retiree from Haynes, a former rocket scientist. I am tired of the loss of freedoms put into law by my Republican colleagues in the Indiana House. This job is not rocket science but Indiana is slowly losing these freedoms and as a result increases in drug addiction, crime, and gun violence while reducing life expectancy.
An example of this loss of freedom is the new ordinance proposed by the Kokomo administration that proposes the arresting and stealing property from the homeless in our community. They need a place to stay that is safe that provides privacy and a place to sleep, wash and congregate with friends. Instead of forcing them to relocate why not provide them a place to satisfy their needs at a low cost to the city. There is an enormous amount of funds dedicated to the battery plants and buying land for these factories that could be in a minor proportion devoted to the homeless. Many of these ate veterans or mentally retarded or disabled and are present in all communities and are a result of the closure many years ago of mental hospitals having forced incarceration. The homeless need safety, the freedom to come and go as they please and personal hygiene.
Small, dispersed areas of the city should be purchased and set aside for them with small, insulated dwellings that can be locked, have a bed, shower, toilet and wash basin. This might provide privacy and security which they now lack. These dwellings could be set up in rows for economy. Japan provides at railway stations, small secure containers set one atop the other to allow overnight passengers between trains to nap or sleep in self-locked privacy and safety. Common toilets and showers are provided. The containers are large enough for the guest to sit up and read in light. This sounds better than a cardboard box on pavement outdoors, or a park bench or a water fountain shower or a hallway toilet. Charity food service might be provided. Some of the more capable homeless might serve as caretakers working for a nominal fee.
We need to convert homelessness from a problem to a solution.
Committee to Elect Michael Katcher
P.O. Box 2401
Kokomo, IN 46901-2401
katchmk41@gmail.com