Homelessness dominates public comment at Pottstown council meeting

POTTSTOWN — Issues surrounding the unhoused and homelessness in the borough dominated public discussion at the most recent borough council meeting on Jan. 15.

Eleven members of the public spoke and all but one of them addressed the issue in one fashion or another with a broad range of viewpoints.

The issue has been on the minds of speakers at council meetings ever since the borough attempted to sweep out unhouse people camped on borough property along the Schuylkill River Trail.

“Montgomery county is the second richest county in Pennsylvania and Chester County, just across the river, is the richest. Pottstown is the second poorest town in Montgomery County. We have 2.8 percent of the population and almost 60 percent of the county’s public housing and the second highest number of section eight vouchers,” said Todd Bainbridge.

“Montgomery County has been using Pottstown as its backyard dumping ground for the less fortunate for decades and along with that comes the endless social services and non-profits to support them and that’s all partly why we have a large homeless population here,” he said. “Pottstown has shouldered its fair share for decades and we should not be expected, or forced, to take on any more. There are countless other wealthier communities that have zero public housing, zero vouchers and maybe they should be asked to build a shelter or two.”

Brandy Sheriff, who works with the homeless population, said “we wouldn’t have as many (unhoused) of we had ample shelter for the amount that we do have.”

Deb Spence, a Pottstown School Board member who recently opened a realty office on South Hanover Street across the street from where Jeremiah Hawkins, who was homeless, was shot to death in November, said taxes, crime and the homeless population are making it more difficult to open and operate a small business in town.

Jen Green chided council for changing the public comment rules this year only allowing residents and taxpayers to speak at meetings, saying it is an attempt to silence those who aid unhoused people in Pottstown and often criticize the borough’s actions toward them, but do not live here. “How dare this body silence those who are providing food, shelter, clothing and hotel stays for the homeless in our community but don’t live here,” she said. “They volunteer in our borough and it gives them the same rights as you or I to speak up at a meeting.”

Business owner Sheila Dugan said her family, with five children, came very close to being homeless themselves at one point “and none gave us three free meals a day, free clothes, free tents etc. I worked every job I could.” She said she has sympathy for the unhouse, and her business gave out 1,500 free breakfasts during the COVID-19 epidemic, “but I also want equity.”

Phil Vontor said he has helped clean up homeless camp sites and has spoken with some of the people who stay there, including one “who comes from Berwick, but he came here to Pottstown because he heard we take care of people. I feel compassion for the homeless and I think we should take care of homeless people from our town, not become a destination because of hand-outs.”

Added Vontor, “I believe the groups doing this have big hearts, but they do not necessarily understand the consequences this is bringing to our community.”

He offered these anecdotes: “I have a friend, who went to the Splitting Edge ax-throwing and he had a great time, but when he came out he was propositioned for money. He won’t be coming back. I have a friend who went to see a show at Steel River and loved it. But she walked the wrong way coming out of the theater and ended up on the 300 block of High Street. She did not feel comfortable. She won’t be coming back to Pottstown.”

“Social media is full of people outside our town picking on our town because they say we’re not helping the homeless,” said Jamie Sanchez, who herself was unhoused at one time. “We’re not denying we have a problem. We need county help.”

Montgomery County formed a 46-member homeless task force in spring of 2023, which ended in November. It has yet to issue a report or provide any insights or solutions to the growing problem.

Marlene Armato said when its cold, when it rains, when it snows, her thoughts turn to those living outside. “I ask myself, what if I had no place to go?” Pottstown needs a permanent shelter for those with no place to go,” she said.

Providing free food and clothing “is feeding this toxic environment. What they’re doing is not sustainable,” said Darlene Bainbridge. “I know this problem exists. I don’t think it’s Pottstown’s job to fix it. Why is this burden on us? There is no shortage of people who want to help, and we need that, but in the bigger picture, I don’t feel Pottstown is the place that can support or sustain another shelter.”

Doug Slick reiterated that drug abuse and mental health issues are not so often the cause of homelessness as the after affects. The more common cause, he said, “is the high cost of housing.”

“I hate to see our town divided and torn up and fighting like this,” said Tammy Vontor. “I feel bad for the businesses that have invested so much in our town and they don’t know if they want to stay,” she said. “We need to work on this together. I have lost my Pottstown Pride,” she said.

Her sentiments were echoed by Councilwoman Lisa Vanni, who said “I don’t think we should be going after each other. This is not the Pottstown I fell in love with. This is not the Pottstown where I felt comfortable going into town and talking to everybody. It’s become very contentious and angry. We can all be as mad as we want about the homeless situation, but fighting about it makes the problem worse,” she said.

“If we don’t stop and come up with some solutions and work together, the problem is going to continue to get worse,” Vanni said. “I hope we can find some middle ground and work together. People need some kind of shelter or permanent housing and stability before anyone can get back on their feet.”

“A lot of people are one paycheck away from being homeless,” said Councilman Joe Kirkland. “From the outside, they look fine. They have a far, but they can be in foreclosure and lose their home so quickly.”