Homeless task force to make final report

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“Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another.” -Erma Bombeck

It’s hard to come up with adequate words to describe how much the support we received means. You all brought such enthusiasm, generosity, positive energy and a beautiful intensity that carried us through something we didn’t know we would survive. Countless goals were achieved. Thanks to your selflessness an impossible task became accomplishable. It showcased the incredible teamwork that helped bring us closer together as a company and community. You made an unforgettable difference and we are so profoundly grateful.

We want to give an enormous thanks to all the Breweries, Businesses and People for the amazing support, equipment, time, food and monetary donations. For all the wonderful things you came together to do. We love you all from the bottom of our hearts. Because of you, we again have a chance to reopen our doors and offer a place for the community to gather. We really can't thank you enough! Without further Adieu

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Waynesville Task Force on Homelessness issues final recommendations

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS EDITOR

Riddled with dissention, defections and a lack of clear direction, Waynesville’s Task Force on Homelessness finally limped across the finish line last week, issuing final recommendations that will soon be considered by the Waynesville Board of Aldermen.

“At this point it has been a long year for many reasons. I’m encouraged by the work that the task force engaged in over this year and I think what we have now is the most comprehensive understanding of homelessness in our community,” said Dr. Amy MurphyNugen, chair of the task force. “Through the community feedback, through surveys with people who are homeless, listening sessions and business surveys, I think we have captured how our community wants to move forward.”

At the previous meeting on Sept. 2, members failed to agree on a set of final recommendations, despite more than 18 months of preparation, research, meetings and a 200person community survey.

It did, however, make one thing clear by motion: a low-barrier shelter would not be recommended, despite just 12.5% of survey respondents saying services to the unsheltered should be limited or end altogether.

A series of high-profile resignations followed that meeting, including Mountain Projects Executive Director Patsy Davis, who said she felt the meetings weren’t productive. Davis has more than 30 years working in the social services arena in Haywood County.

Task force member Dale Burris supposedly resigned at that same time, saying in an email that the group had “gone south” and that he would “now go back to work and help people here in Haywood County,” but Burris had apparently been coaxed back by the time the task force met again on Sept. 23.

That meeting barely met quorum requirements, but task force members under the guidance of Murphy-Nugen spent almost two hours debating the remaining items in the task force’s 147-page draft report, which was issued back in July.

The first two items addressed a series of draft recommendations for the Town of Waynesville to hire additional staff specifically assigned to address homelessness — one CARES coordinator and two neighborhood outreach workers.

Burris made a motion to remove all three positions from the list of final recommendations, but task force members seemed to be confused over what, exactly, a “yea” or a “nay” vote would accomplish.

“I think they were, because it was worded negatively,” Murphy-Nugen said.

All nine members present including Burris subsequently voted “no,” which would indicate that the draft recommendation for three positions remain in the final recommendations. However, a subsequent, contradictory, superseding motion will apparently render Burris’ motion moot.

That second motion was to issue a final recommendation to aldermen to hire the coordinator, but not the two outreach workers.

Burris again voted no, but every other remaining task force member voted yes, including Waynesville Police Department Chief David Adams, WPD Lt. Tyler Trantham, Haywood County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kevin Ensley, Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher, Pathways Executive Director Mandi Haithcox, Pathways Case Manager Keri Guidry, Grace Church Rev. Joslyn Schaefer, St. Sophia Deacon Bob Cummings and Hazelwood property owner Wanda Brooks.

“What I heard from the task force is they did not want to move forward with the two outreach workers, but they want to retain those activities so those activities, as they’re recommending it now would be overseen by the CARES director,” Murphy-Nugen said.

The third motion, offered by Ensley and approved unanimously, was to strengthen and expand shelter capacity in the county as well as to pursue other affordable housing options — a difficult task in a red-hot housing market where 42% of unsheltered individuals receive some level of financial support from employment, government assistance or acquaintances but 75% say they can only afford to pay $500 a month or less.

The last recommendation was something that saw strong support from Sheriff Christopher, who remarked that he runs what is de facto the largest mental health facility in the county.

“We have an action item that says the CARES director will assist in building network capacity among other providers, including mental health. The task force wanted us to pull that out and give more specific and concrete action steps around mental health,” MurphyNugen said. “So what they considered was a series of action steps that we drafted in response to that request. They range from doing a mental health/first aid training for the entire community, to doing a mental health providers panel so people are aware of what services are available, to exploring the possibility of creating a public-facing free clinic that would be staffed by pro bono providers, all the way to supporting Medicaid expansion.”

Murphy-Nugen said she’d present the final report to aldermen on or before Oct. 5, at which time it would also be posted on the town’s website. That puts the matter on track to be considered by aldermen on Oct. 12, but the agenda for that meeting has not yet been released.

“I think it’s a good compromise,” said Waynesville Alderman Anthony Sutton, who sits on the task force F

Women and children are more likely to be victims; unfortunately trafficking often goes unrecognized and is far more prevalent here than most people realize.

Zonta Club of Franklin will hold a Red Sand Project event to highlight how it affects the community and country and introduce some of the organizations here that combat it. Participants will be given red sand that they will use to fill the cracks in the sidewalk, to draw attention to those who cannot advocate for themselves.

The Red Sand Project will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, in front of the Macon County Courthouse in downtown Franklin. Social distancing will be practiced, and masks are advised.

WE RECYCLE WASTE WOOD STUMPS • LIMBS • BRUSH

Seasonal flu clinics open

With flu season approaching, Macon County Public Health Center is announcing the upcoming drive-thru seasonal influenza clinics. Protect yourself and those around you during flu season by getting your flu vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone over 6 months of age receive the yearly flu vaccine. The influenza vaccine is reviewed annually and is designed to protect against the four strains that research indicates will be the most common this year.

These flu vaccine clinics will be first come, first serve and an appointment will not be necessary. Individuals 65 years and older are eligible to receive high-dose influenza vaccine. High-dose vaccine will be available as long as supplies last. The cost for the regular dose is $36 and the high dose (recommended for those 65+) cost is $73. Insurances will be filed, so we ask that you bring your insurance card with you to the flu clinics.

The flu vaccine clinics started Monday, Sept. 27. Drive-thru flu clinics will be held 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at 1830 Lakeside Drive, Franklin. For more information, call 828.349.2437 or email mcphpublicinformation@maconnc.org. your friendly, local blue box — smoky mountain news

but has abstained from voting, since he’ll be one of five aldermen to consider the final recommendations. “I think we had lots of community input, I think over 300 surveys came in and the clear majority, 70%, indicated that we needed to move forward and do something to assist the homeless. I feel very confident that everyone’s voice was heard and that it was a compromise. It’s not exactly what I would have wanted to be recommended to the board, but again, I get to discuss that one with the board.”

Upon consideration, aldermen could approve the recommendations wholesale, modify them or dismiss them completely after one or more public comment sessions on the report itself.

“From the beginning, we were concerned about strengthening services, addressing existing gaps and responding to the concerns of neighbors and residents impacted by homelessness,” Murphy-Nugen said. “I think we have developed a response in the CARES framework to do that.” featuring THE MADISON ESTATE COLLECTION

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