LinkPolice crack down on Houston's homeless
12:37 PM CDT on Tuesday, August 26, 2008
By Wendell Edwards, Shern-Min Chow & Carolyn Campbell / 11 News
HOUSTON - Three Houston Police divisions on Tuesday launched a zero-tolerance initiative against the homeless.
Crackdown on Houston's homeless
August 26, 2008
Carolyn Campbell's report
Shern-Min Chow's report
Police officers, some on horseback and bicycle, launched the department's crackdown early in the morning.
Most of the homeless indviduals were warned to pack up their things and move along.
But one woman was ticketed because she had an open can of beer right next to where she was sleeping.
She claimed the beer was not hers.
Some who know about the new initiative call it HPD politics, while others said it was a good move for safety. But whatever people said about the program, it was not a secret to those living on the streets.
"Everybody knows there is going be a sweep on Tuesday. The police wants to make chief, so he's going to use the homeless to do it," said Jesse, who is one of Houston's homeless.
Panhandling often aggravates those working or travelling downtown. And some residents don't believe the homeless should be there at all.
"There are jobs out there for anybody. It's freeloading to me," said Chad Snipes, a Houston resident.
Snipes supports a police roundup of the people living on the streets, but homeless advocates argue that the actions are a waste of time.
"To pick people up and put them in jail, only to release them a couple of hours or days later to be homeless again, is not the most effective or efficient way to deal with the problem," said Anthony Love, who is member of the Coalition for the Homeless.
Good to know I live in such a caring, tolerant, helpful city.
