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<br />~8~ <br /> <br />THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1986 <br /> <br />City Manager Brown also reported that, pursuant to a petition received in <br /> <br />January of 1986 from various citizens residing on Clarke Road and adjacent <br /> <br />streets, resurfacing of Clarke Road was recently completed. <br /> <br />Pursuant to inquiry made by Vice-Mayor Williams at Council's July 22nd meeting, <br /> <br />a study of the homeless in Martinsville was recently made by J. Michael Grubbs, <br /> <br />Assistant to the City Manager, with the findings thereon presented in Mr. <br /> <br />Grubbs' report to City Manager Brown (under date of September 3, 1986), for <br /> <br />which report (described by City Manager Brown as being well-prepared and <br /> <br />thorough) Mr. Grubbs was commended, both by Council and City Manager Brown. <br /> <br />Mr. Grubbs' conclusions in the report, in part, were as follows: <br /> <br />Despite the absence of confirming evidence one way or the other, it <br />would be foolish to categorically state that there are no homeless <br />people in Martinsville, even if only on a temporary basis. With the <br />availability of help from numerous sources, anyone who goes without <br />shelter, food, or clothing for more than a few days does so for a <br />good reason--because he does not want help or prefers that <br />existence. <br /> <br />In the absence of formal funding or a centralized program to deal <br />with homelessness, it appears that our community resources are doing <br />an admirable job in serving people who seek help. It is felt that <br />the present set-up is able to provide an adequate service at less <br />cost, by helping families with their rent or providing temporary <br />housing in motels rather than attempting to staff and maintain a <br />costly shelter. Ironically, there is speculation that the presence <br />of such shelters in some cities may encourage transients to stay on <br />rather than move on to another location. <br /> <br />The City should continue to do what it can to prevent homelessness. <br />This might include providing additional emergency relief money for <br />Social Services, continuing to support the efforts of the Chapter 10 <br />Board and its agencies in providing group homes and shelters for <br />special populations, doing what it can to retain and develop housing <br />in the City for low-income families, and publicizing the avail- <br />ability of community resources. <br /> <br />Concurring with Councilman Groden's comments, Council referred to City Manager <br /> <br />Brown, in consultation with the City's financial advisor(s), Mr. Groden's <br /> <br />suggestion that study and consideration, because of current market conditions, <br />