Midtown businesses want something done about the homeless

(8/23/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- People just hoping to enjoy a relaxing time in Houston's Midtown are often being harassed at popular bars and restaurants. It's a problem with homeless people that has business owners teaming up to get something done.

A center that offers help for people who need food or a job is also attracting crime. Now something is being done to clean-up crime in Midtown.

A nightclub owner in Midtown is fed up, frustrated by hoards of homeless loitering outside of the SEARCH center. He says the agency fails to provide adequate security to control them.

"There is a lot of criminal activity going on, a lot of prostitution, a lot of drug dealing going on in the streets," said Nassim Joseph who owns Rich's Night Club. "People's cars are getting broken into. People getting assaulted and this area appears to be a magnet for it."

SEARCH is not a shelter, but a place where the homeless can go to get hot meals and skills they need to get back on their feet. It's only open during the day, but people will often camp out all night long even though a civility ordinance says it's against the law. Business owners say the problem is that it is rarely enforced.

"I think until we get together and take actions on this, we won't see any results," explained A.J. Jamshedji of the Status Lounge.

Thursday, the owners of several area businesses met with the SEARCH's executive director in hopes of hammering out a plan to clean up the area. She told us she wants more security but can't afford it.

"Well, we've been communicating with the police," SEARCH president Thao Costis said. "We're trying to figure out ways the police can help us, you know, survey the area and make it less appealing."

Business owners hope something is done soon. While they say they support the agency's mission to help the homeless, the crowds have got to go.

"I don t know that I'll be satisfied until I see something constructive on an ongoing basis around here," Joseph said.

Concerned business owners are talking about pooling their money together and hiring private security in an effort to keep their patrons safe. The SEARCH director says they are considering implementing a wrist band program to keep track of clients and to determine who is here for legitimate reasons.

There is also talk of a Midtown town hall meeting being held in the next few weeks.

It's estimated there are 14,000 homeless people in the Houston area. Across the nation, homeless rates have been increasing at an average of 20% over the past three years. There are several organizations in town that help homeless people and they can always use donations and volunteers.

To learn more about the non-profit organization, SEARCH ,Click Here.

http://www.homeaidhouston.org/did_you_know.html

http://www.homeless-healthcare.org/education/eduquick.htm
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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