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Residents press Georgetown council over Shepherd's House; council to form homelessness committee
Summary
Multiple residents at the Aug. 11 Georgetown Town Council meeting raised safety and service concerns about Shepherd's House and panhandling; one speaker urged recognition of transitional housing as civic infrastructure. Council members said the town manager will convene a committee and request letters from residents who want to participate.
Residents pressed the Georgetown Town Council Monday, Aug. 11, to address homelessness, the operations of Shepherd's House, and street panhandling, with a range of speakers urging both stricter enforcement and sustained transitional housing supports.
“I'm not comfortable living across the street from them,” one resident told the council about a site near the Shepherd's House, adding, “I think it's wrong for the town of Georgetown.”
Several speakers described specific safety or nuisance incidents. Shelley Wise said she was “mad” and described an encounter in which a person stepped in front of a family member’s vehicle and would not let the driver pass. Adam Butchkowski and Dennis Winson Reed urged community responses that include refusing donations to organizations they view as enabling, and suggested using consumer choices to signal disapproval of businesses perceived to support panhandling. Eddie Wise called the nearby services “an enabler” and said he doubted the services were helping residents improve their situations.
By contrast, John Peterson spoke in favor of transitional housing as a civic service, telling the council: “Transitional housing is civic infrastructure. Transitional housing is a stabilizing force for those facing barriers to long term housing.” Peterson said partners in Georgetown include the county community development and housing department, the VA clinic, behavioral health providers, probation and parole, and community legal aid.
In response, a council member told the public the town will organize a committee to examine homelessness and recovery houses. The council member said, “When Gene gets back, he's gonna send out an email to council members and anybody that wants to be involved with this committee,” and that interested residents should submit a letter explaining why they want to serve on the committee.
No formal policy vote on homelessness was taken at the meeting; the transcript records the council directing staff to assemble the committee and solicit participation by written request.
