Waynesville homeless task force floundering

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS EDITOR

Waynesville’s homeless task force, now rocked by resignations and dissention, failed to meet a deadline to present recommendations to the board of aldermen and now appears adrift and rudderless without a consensus or a clear direction forward.

“We joined this Task Force to help the homeless population in Waynesville, but as it appears to me this has now ‘gone south,’ if you will,” wrote task force member Dale Burris in a Sept. 4 email to task force members. “My time is up, so I will now go back to work and help people here in Haywood County that had a home and the force of nature took it away.”

Back in July, the task force issued a set of recommendations after 18 months of interviewing nearly 400 stakeholders to include businesspeople, law enforcement officials and behavioral health providers, among others.

An Aug. 5 meeting to gather community input was canceled due to COVID-19 exposure of one of the task force members, but feedback was gathered through an online survey and an in-person drop-in presentation on Aug. 26.

When the task force met on Sept. 5 to consider the feedback to the task force’s recommendations, survey data and member feedback showed there was anything but consensus on the recommendations.

One task force member speaking on background said that there was “resounding opposition” from the public and much of the task force to certain elements of the plan.

Indeed, one of the recommendations — a series of options on increasing shelter capacity — was voted down and won’t appear in the final recommendations, whenever those do arrive.

In addition to Burris’ apparent resignation, another task force member, Nate Cartwright, resigned during the meeting, and Mountain Projects Executive Director Patsy Davis followed suit a day later.

“I have given all I can, and I did not feel like it was productive,” Davis told The Smoky Mountain News Sept. 7. “I wish the task force much success, but I felt like my energy could be better used in other ways in the community. Had I felt I could have made a difference moving forward, I would have continued to serve, but I didn’t feel that I could.”

Davis is a prominent figure in the local nonprofit ecosystem, serving as the executive director of social services agency Mountain Projects for 31 years. She’s also been active on similar boards dealing with homelessness, drug abuse and especially affordable housing.

Waynesville Alderman Anthony Sutton, who serves on the task force, said he didn’t attend the meeting because he felt that voting on the recommendations would be a conflict of interest, since he’d eventually have to entertain the recommendations as an alderman.

Sutton did say he felt it was OK to serve on the board and help steer it but has been cautious about inserting his opinions into the mix. He also pushed for the task force to be more adherent to Robert’s Rules of Order.

The Sept. 2 meeting was supposed to be the final meeting of the task force, but since recommendations weren’t approved for presentation to town aldermen, there will be at least one more.

Task force members voted to extend their service by 45 days, as Chair Dr. Amy Murphy-Nugen now attempts to find something the task force can agree on and send to aldermen for deliberation.

The delay will likely push town consideration of recommendations to late October, almost two years after a forum hosted by SMN revealed homelessness to be a major campaign issue for Waynesville’s elected representatives.

Waynesville’s Board of Aldermen considers the formation of the homeless task force in

December, 2019. Cory Vaillancourt photo

5 Core Benefits of Community

· SUSANNA SHETLEY ·

Community is essential to the human experience. We are social beings with an innate yearning to connect with and support one another. The recent floods in Western North Carolina reminded us what it means to be part of a true community. The minute the

waters receded, folks of all ages and walks of life showed up to offer a genuine smile and a helping hand. When considering community as a concept, studies show it offers a number of benefits.

INFLUENCE

Being part of a tribe can be empowering. With empowerment comes confidence, and confidence leads to influence. You can have positive influence over others when you trust in the community backing you. Similarly, you can be

influenced positively from other people in your community. Much of our behavior comes from the influence of others, so ensure you’re surrounding yourself with strong communities.

KNOWLEDGE/RESOURCES

CONNECTION/ENGAGEMENT

Think about how many friends and relationships you have from your various communities. Whether it’s work, family, school, a club, sport or other circle, the important people in our lives come from our networks. These support groups allow us to engage with others and for them to engage with us. Authentic relationships make life more meangingful and enjoyable.

SUPPORT

Giving and receiving support during life’s ups and downs is paramount to survival. Whether it’s a good change like a new job or a big move or a very stressful situation like a death in a family or a house fire, the support we receive from others gets us through it. Likewise, it feels good to support other people when they are experiencing significant life changes.

We listen to people we trust. A lot of what we know comes from the brains of community members. We offer one another advice, tips, suggestions, ideas and inspiration. Further, people in a community share tangible resources to make life more fulfilling and interesting. Whether you’re borrowing a kayak for a weekend adventure or a few bucks so you can try a new microbrew, other people are the best resources we have.

PASSION

One of the most rewarding things about a community is collectively embracing a passion. Often times, members are likeminded and share hobbies. Topics may include yoga, running, wine, trivia, writing, music or movies. It doesn’t really matter; it’s just fun to have a group of people who get rallied as much as you do when it comes to certain interests.

At the end of the day, community is everything. Humans are not meant to live in an isolated world. If you’re grateful for one thing today, let it be the communities in your life and the positive energy they offer you.

Graphic Designer Jessica Murray (from left), SMN News Editor Jessi Stone, Staff Writer Hannah McLeod, Digital Media Specialist Susanna Shetley and Amanda Singletary (not pictured)

Rumble is a weekly e-newsletter created by women, for women and about women. It is published by The Smoky Mountain News and delivered to your inbox each Thursday. The goal is to offer readers a beautifully curated email that will inspire and motivate women to live their best lives. By hearing the challenges and successes of other women, we hope you will find an opportunity to live, love, learn and grow in your own unique way.

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