Downtown Fort Wayne has seen significant development over the last decade, with more businesses and special events filling the downtown area. But when the city approves a new skyscraper or events center, how does that affect people who are living on the streets?
In part three of a five-part series that looks at homelessness in Northeast Indiana, WBOI’s Zach Bernard explores downtown development, and how those who are displaced fit into the City’s vision.
When it comes to people who are chronically homeless living on the streets of Fort Wayne, few know the population better than Sally Becker Segerson.
Segerson operates Street Reach for the Homeless, a local grassroots effort that aims to provide food, warmth and comfort for people living on the streets. We spoke about homelessness in Fort Wayne, and came upon the subject of downtown development removing “safe havens.”
“There are never ‘safe havens,’ because at no point in time in this city is it within the law for you to be camping within the elements,” Segerson says.
This is a fact. So when the city or business chooses to erect a new skyscraper in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne, as long as they have rights to the land, they can do so.
The problem is, that building could be built over an area where homeless individuals camped or once congregated. A prime example of this is the city’s newest riverfront project. While the City can legally build on the land, it poses questions as to where those individuals go from there.
Segerson describes the future vision of Fort Wayne as the “perfect Norman Rockwell setting,” which she fears would ignore the city’s homeless. She notes a disconnect between how the city develops new downtown establishments and how it addresses those who are then displaced.
“At what point in time, in the name of riverfront development, downtown development… does this city put that same time in human development,” she asks. “These men and women are humans, and how are we helping them once we have clearly displaced them?”
When she says “human development,” she means helping people get back to a place of self-sufficiency through aid and programs, instead of simply forcing them to look elsewhere for shelter.
She isn’t the only one calling for this, either. Service providers in Northeast Indiana agree with the need for a greater focus on human development. Terry Anderson is the director of Just Neighbors in Fort Wayne, a faith-based organization that serves situationally homeless families. He says he wishes there was a greater emphasis on this particular discussion.
“We’re not talking about throwing a lot of money at this,” Anderson said. “What we’re talking about when we talk about human development is a more comprehensive, coherent approach to things; a plan, like we have other economic and other community plans.”
Fort Wayne’s office of housing and neighborhood services department says these concerns are considered in their monthly board meetings.
The department emphasizes its low-income housing options through HUD tax credits, which would enable a displaced person to take their next step toward self-sufficiency. They note Randall Lofts, located near the Landing downtown, as one example of this.
But when it comes to human development, the city says striking a balance between interests of business owners and homeless people is a difficult one, something Anderson understands.
“If I were a small business owner, or I were a city police officer charged with enforcing the law, I don’t think we can ignore those things,” he says. “I think that too becomes part of a human development plan of, how do we deal with the fact that we have homeless people in Fort Wayne?”
For those still looking for help, Segerson at Street Reach has suggestions. These include the Rescue Mission, as well as the Ave Maria House on Madison street.
“If you decide to stay in the elements, know that you can take two showers a week there,” Segerson says, of the Ave Maria House. “Know that you can wash your clothes there. Know that you can use that as an address if you have no mailing address and we need to start getting your identification back.”
There’s always Street Reach for the Homeless, too.
Segerson also offered advice on how to repair the disconnect between downtown development, and aiding the homeless population.
“It begins by looking at them as people,” she says. “Valuing them as human beings, as a part of this community, not as a used tissue thrown on the sidewalk hoping the wind will blow it away.”
While she says the City has done great work to assist the homeless population, she says there needs to be an even greater focus on helping those who are displaced, especially as Fort Wayne continues to grow.
That was part three of a five-part series on homelessness in Northeast Indiana. Next Monday, we’ll look into housing options and affordability to homeless individuals, as well as projects that are currently in development.
