Yakima Neighborhood Health’s CEO Discusses Downtown Homeless Issue [VIDEO]
Homelessness is a problem all across the country. A national report called the State of Homelessness in America 2015 says nearly 600,000 people are without permanent residences. Yakima is no exception, but the ongoing effort to help may in fact be adding to a growing concern about bad behaviors by the homeless along East Yakima Avenue.
Yakima Neighborhood Health (YNH) owns and offers services for the homeless at the old Greyhound Bus Depot at 602 E. Yakima Ave., including the pickup and delivery to overnight cold weather shelters at area churches. Neighbors to the depot property -- including the Chamber of Commerce, Red Lion Hotel -- and others have complained about homeless individuals coming onto their property acting aggressively and inappropriately. Complaints include aggressive panhandling, car prowls, threatening behavior and using doorways as toilets.
Anita Monoian is the CEO and president of Yakima Neighborhood Health with 36 years of experience in helping the homeless. She appeared Wednesday on the KIT Morning News with Dave and Lance and expressed concern and frustration at a lack of options.