(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Common Council on Tuesday night heard on first reading an ordinance that would prevent other communities from sending their homeless residents to Richmond. Here’s Richmond Mayor Ron Oler: "The idea is protecting the resources you have in your community to help the unsheltered homeless and not be subject to other communities dropping people off into a homeless situation." If state funding becomes available, Oler said that the city would move forward with constructing a 30-unit facility at an as-yet-undisclosed location for the homeless. The ordinance would stop other cities from dropping their homeless off at a facility like that. One council member immediately expressed her reservations. "I am not in favor of this as it stands right now. I think that we might even be borderline on constitutional rights," said Anne Taylor. The ordinance was referred to the law department Tuesday night for further review.




