A SAFE PLACE TO CALL HOME

BY NEAL VANSKIVER, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES, NETWATCH

When addressing concerns relating to homelessness, it's generally considered critical that those engaging in these discussions take an approach rooted in empathy and understanding. After all, most of these individuals are regular citizens who have fallen on hard times - and with inflation recently reaching a historic 9.1%, it is not difficult to imagine why homelessness is becoming an epidemic that affects virtually every region in the United States.

Areas with a high population density, often large cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, or New York City, have recently experienced an increase in homeless populations. These people in need are seeking shelter from the elements during the harsh seasons. More often than not, these individuals find refuge outside of retail stores and their surrounding areas. While their desire to stay in these areas is understandable, it is not a viable long-term solution for anyone involved. In various industries, retailers have gotten used to their traditional ways of encouraging unhoused individuals to seek shelter in a more appropriate area that does not interfere with day-to-day operations. Still, these methods have more than their fair share of drawbacks. For instance, they can be overwhelmingly dehumanizing toward homeless individuals, and in some cases, dangerous.

Like any form of loitering, the prospect of homeless camps and unhoused individuals making themselves at home on the doorstep of retail stores comes with its fair share of risks. For example, when people are seen loitering on business property, homeless or otherwise, it tends to drive prospective customers away from the area to do their shopping elsewhere. In addition, when groups of unhoused people form a camp outside of a business in tents or other improvised shelters, it can create a barrier between prospective customers and the entrance of the retail shop. This can eliminate a customer's motivation to enter the store, as navigating their way through or around these camps puts both parties in an uncomfortable situation. Needless to say, when left unchecked for extended periods, this can cause severe damage to businesses in any industry.

Another way that extended periods of loitering can hurt businesses is through less-than-friendly interactions between those camping outside and customers or staff In some cases, these individuals may solicit others for donations through aggressive panhandling tactics, which can escalate into an unpleasant confrontation between both parties involved When this occurs, the possibility of danger for either party involved rises, which reflects poorly on the business in question and puts them at risk of liability for any ensuing damages in such confrontations Hence, it’s best to avoid these situations altogether In addition to this, another way that businesses can be found liable for damages to local homeless populations is by leaving potentially dangerous items unsecured. This can include ladders, dumpsters, and any other item that can lead to bodily harm for others when left unmonitored. Additionally, when loiterers can gain access to the inside of a dumpster or climb on top of the building, businesses can be at risk of liability charges when things go wrong.

Lastly, another way businesses can suffer from extended loitering is through disrespect to the building itself through unsanitary and indecent means When loiterers in the area treat the building as their bathroom, the sight and smell of the aftermath can be enough to drive customers away from the site, and staff members are left cleaning up after the perpetrators

One thing remains clear: for any of these concerns to become a thing of the past, retailers' methods to relocate unhoused loiterers need to change Over the years, it’s become apparent that when staff members try to take matters into their own hands or when authorities are brought into the picture, it becomes a no-win scenario for anyone when people in need are met with harsh words and, in extreme cases, violence.

While traditional passive methods of addressing these concerns can be easy to fall back on, a proactive approach is necessary to prevent a recurring issue from manifesting entirely. If retailers, security service providers, or anyone else seeking a solution relating to loitering on business properties are to move forward, a 24/7 solution capable of directly addressing policy violators is the best way to prevent the incidents that occur on a near day-to-day basis

The other challenge with traditional methods is that ownership of the solution tends to fall back on employees, putting them at risk and potentially making them feel unsafe at work. Using a proactive strategy can enhance workplace safety, build employee confidence, and enhance company culture all of which drive better customer and employee experience

In a situation where loitering is becoming a problem for a business, a proactive video monitoring solution is a beneficial option to consider, as it removes the factors that put people at risk of confrontation When loitering is detected, they can be firm yet politely directed to find somewhere else to take shelter without unnecessary hands-on intervention from a police officer or security guard that may put them in danger All interventions that take place through a PVM system are conducted remotely through a live audio warning This is a key difference from standard remote video monitoring systems that send recorded, non-personalized messages.

While passive methods of addressing these concerns can be easy to fall back on, a proactive approach is necessary to prevent a recurring issue from manifesting entirely.

When it comes to finding a solution to incidents involving homelessness, it’s imperative that retailers invest in a solution that isn’t reactive but proactive This is due to the fact that most reactive solutions are outdated and don’t do anything to keep any parties involved out of harm's way, which only a round-the-clock solution that relies on live interventions can do consistently

While traditional passive methods of addressing these concerns can be easy to fall back on, a proactive approach is necessary to prevent a recurring issue from manifesting entirely If retailers, security service providers, or anyone else seeking a solution relating to homeless loitering on business properties are to move forward, a 24/7 solution capable of directly addressing policy violators is the best way to prevent the heartbreaking incidents that occur on a near day-to-day basis.

This article originally appeared in the December 2023 edition of Retail Touchpoints. For more information on how your retail organization can leverage intelligent video monitoring, contact us at netwatchusa com