During the Common Council meeting on Monday night, Resolution 20-22 was passed by a vote 5-4. The community came out in full support of the resolution during a lengthy public comment period. Speakers who commented in support of the resolution included the owner of the building formerly used as the DMV across the street from Doulos Church, Mike Hamman of St. Joseph County government, Dr. Fox of the local health department, members of the Monroe Park Neighborhood Association, residents of the neighborhood, students, and advocates. It was clear from the empassioned remarks that it's growing consensus in the community for the City of South Bend and specifically, Mayor James Mueller, to step up with solutions to the inhumane and unsanitary conditions in which our street houseless live.

The text summary of Resolution of 20-22 is as follows:

20-22 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ADDRESSING THE EMERGING HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, STRONGLY ENCOURAGING MAYOR MUELLER TO PROMPTLY PREPARE AND PRESENT TO THE COMMON COUNCIL AN EMERGENCY TEMPORARY AID AND SHELTER PROGRAM TO RESPOND TO THE EMERGING HOMELESS CRISIS, AND TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY RELATING TO THE CURRENT HOMELESS CRISIS, AUTHORIZING THE SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN REGULATIONS TO FACILITATE THE EMERGENCY TEMPORARY AID AND SHELTER PROGRAM, AND PROVIDING FOR APPROVAL OF SUCH EMERGENCY SERVICES CONTRACTS AS ARE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM.

Here are the Common Council members' Yea and Nay votes: 

Karen White, At Large - Sponsor, Voted Yea
Henry Davis Jr, District 2. - Sponsor, Voted Yea
Lori Hammond, At Large - Sponsor, Voted Yea
Sharon McBride, District 3 - Voted Yea
Canneth Lee - District 1, Voted Yea

Troy Warner, District 4 - Voted Nay
Rachel Morgan, At Large - Voted Nay
Jake Teshka, District 5 - Voted Nay
Shiela Niezgodski, District 6 - Voted Nay

If you are disappointed in your representative's vote against Homeless Resolution 20-22, please contact them and let them know!

Troy Warner, 574.235.5567, twarner@southbendin.gov 

Rachel Morgan, 574.235.5567, rtomasmo@southbendin.gov

Jake Teshka, 574.292.2381 Cell, jteshka@southbendin.gov

Shiela Niezgodski, 574.235.5567, sniezgod@southbendin.gov

What next?

We anticipate Mayor Mueller may veto this resolutions so it's important that you please continue to share our petition with your social media and email lists to urge the city to more forward in opening an emergency low barrier shelter and provide the resources necessary to operate it and to follow CDC guidelines during the COVID pandemic, not just for the health and safety of our most vulnerable, the unsheltered, but to also protect our larger community from any additional spread of COVID. 

Thank you for your support. 

Here’s a link to share https://www.change.org/p/mayor-james-mueller-we-demand-immediate-action-for-south-bend-s-street-houseless