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Pastor urges Newcastle to expand outreach as homelessness rises in parks
Summary
Pastor Kevin Kidwell told the council that encampments in city parks have increased since his last count and urged the city and local businesses to provide training, work opportunities and facility space for outreach programs.
Pastor Kevin Kidwell of EK Ministries told the Newcastle City Council that homelessness in city parks is worsening and appealed for coordinated action. “The last total count I gave you was 52,” Kevin Kidwell said, and he described a recent rise in people sleeping under stadiums and stages. He urged the council and local businesses to provide training and short-term work opportunities so people are not merely labeled or left without options.
Kidwell said EK Ministries has tried outreach efforts and has placed people with brief jobs and cleaning tasks but lacks a dedicated facility. He asked for better communication with city leadership and for help in connecting veterans and others with the Veterans Administration and other programs. Council members asked follow-up questions about how many people were seeking work; Kidwell estimated “about 20, 30, 40, 50 people” could benefit, but added there is no central facility to host training.
The exchange occurred during the public-comment period. The council did not take formal action during the meeting but discussed outreach capacity and the need to coordinate with social-service providers.
