City Candidates' Solutions on Homeless

It appears homelessness is on the decline in the Capital City. This according to a recent homeless count conducted by two local committees. This year officials found 303 homeless people. That number dropped by about 80 from last year. Many homeless people tend to congregate downtown. And those running for alderman want to do something to lessen homelessness in their ward. All the candidates for ward five alderman agree that homelessness is a big problem in their ward. But each of them has a different solution on how to fix the problem. Former county board member Sam Cahnman, former fire chief Bob Bartnick and incumbent Alderman Joe Bartolomucci are all in the ring. Homelessness is the matter at hand. And Cahnmans got a plan to bring in money to help solve the problem. Cahnman says, "I plan to introduce an ordinance into the Springfield City Council that would allow CWLP (City, Water, Light and Power) customers to voluntarily round up to the next dollar when they send their money in to pay their bill." He says that money could be used to help expand services available to the homeless or build a new shelter. Meanwhile, his opponents Bartolomucci and Bartnick say theyd rely on some kind of homelessness committee that would determine how to solve the homeless problem. Bartnick says, "Its going to take the efforts of three different entities. Youre going to have to have the mental health workers involved, the police there and youre also going to have to have the social service agencies." Bartolomucci wasnt available to go on camera, but says he still wants to ban the homeless from sleeping outside the public library. And he wants to ban them from being inside the library so its a safer environment for kids. The citys primary election is next Tuesday.