Jarred Simmons: A better city wouldn’t have such homelessness

Those of you older than 30 can remember growing up in Merced when there wasn’t a hint of homelessness on local city streets. Merced in the 1980s had pride, and was a nice place to live with a thriving local economy.

As the saying goes, in order to solve a problem, you first have you have to create a problem. When you wave federal dollars in the face of state and local governments to boost their general funds, the temptation is too alluring. It is easier to accept the money than fostering an environment to attract consistent long-term economic development. Non-profits seeking federal grants reflect the same mindset instead of the heavy lifting of private sector fundraising.

As cited in the Merced Sun-Star article “Merced County counts homeless” (Page 1A, Jan. 28), the “effort for the annual homeless tally, which the county must do at least every other year to be eligible for federal dollars to fight homelessness” echoes the strategy: Build it and they will come. Our new Regional Transient Homeless Center on 14th and 15th and G will cement that vision.

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 2:16 PM with the headline "Jarred Simmons: A better city wouldn’t have such homelessness."