Murphy – Cherokee County and its two municipalities, Murphy and Andrews, are uniting under one voice seeking help from the state in dealing with a rising problem with homelessness.
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, Murphy Town Council and Andrews Board of Aldermen have signed off on a “Resolution Regarding the Homeless in Cherokee County.”
The resolution gives notice to the executive and legislative branches of state government that homelessness is a problem that has reached rural America and specifically Cherokee County.
“Efforts should be made to deter homeless people from relocating to Cherokee County,” according to the resolution.
In addition to local government reaching out to faith-based organizations to assistant homeless people already in the county, the resolution asks the state to prioritize, appropriate and designate resources to combat mental illness and substance abuse in rural communities that contribute to the homeless problem.
“Homelessness is an issue that has moved from being a problem only found in major metropolitan areas to a serious concern in small towns and rural areas,” according to the resolution.
It says that state and federal governments have “failed to provide significant resources to address mental illness, substance abuse and thus homelessness.”
Substance abuse and mental health issues are significant factors contributing to people becoming homeless, it said.
“North Carolina counties and municipalities are limited in their abilities to enforce vagrancy ordinances due to constitutional issues and the meager punishments that are placed on violation of any county or municipal ordinance,” according to the resolution.
Homelessness is not a crime and homeless people enjoy the same constitutional rights and privileges as those who have homes, but a growing homeless population has put a strain on local services and increased crimes ranging from trespassing to homicide.
“The residents of Cherokee County, the Town of Andrews and the Town of Murphy deserve to feel safe in their homes and places of business,” the resolution said.
Representatives from Cherokee County, Murphy, Andrews and local law enforcement met on July 26 at Murphy Town Hall to plan for joint efforts to address homeless issues. The resolution was drafted from that meeting.
Homelessness, drug abuse and mental illness have become common topics of discussion among local elected boards faced with growing frustration among citizens wanting something done about it.
“There is a growing belief, supported by increasing evidence, that homeless people are being transported to Cherokee County in part due to a homeless shelter being located in Murphy,” according to the resolution.
The Hurlburt Johnson Friendship House is a homeless shelter at 73 Blumenthal St. It will only serve people who have a photo identification, pass a drug screen, and pass a background check. It does not accept sex offenders. Clients must help with chores and follow house rules.
Homeless people who arrive in Cherokee County only to find that they don’t meet homeless shelter criteria are left wandering the streets and living in woods and beneath bridges and wherever else they can find shelter.
During recent ride-alongs with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Murphy Police Department, the Cherokee Scout observed that nearly all activity by law enforcement was related directly or indirectly to homelessness, drug abuse and mental health issues.
A homeless man who had been witness behaving erratically in Murphy was charged in the machete slaying of a homeless woman in late June.