UPDATE: Homeless Campsite Permit Extended In Madison
Updated: Sunday, February 17, 2013 -- 6:49 a.m.
The camping permit for the Occupy Madison homeless group has been extended.
The permit out at Token Creek Park would have expired Saturday.
But on Friday several of the campers agreed to an offer from Dane County officials allowing them to stay an extra month, until March 17.
Under the agreement the homeless campers won't be able to return to Token Creek park next winter. After the March 17th move-out date, the county plans to cut the taxpayer-funded electricity to the homeless site. They will also remove the portable restrooms and stop transportation which currently brings campers to Madison shelters five days a week.
Right now it's not clear where all of the Token Creek campers will end up.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 -- 11:00 p.m.
Later this month, campers using Token Creek Park as a place to stay may be kicked out. It's after a 90-day permit issued by the county is set to expire. If not extended, shuttle services will also be canceled.
For the past eleven weeks, Monday through Friday, Porchlight has been paid nearly $4,000 by the county using tax dollars for the service. Every morning it takes campers from Token Creek Park to a Downtown Madison shelter. The county has been offering the free shuttle since campers moved from East Washington Avenue to Token Creek Park in November.
Many campers fear they will be kicked out. However, some county board members are drafting a resolution to let them stay. The proposal is expected to be mentioned at Thursday's county board meeting. Leaving the future of Token Creek Park and it's campers up in the air.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.-
by Sarah Location: Madison on Feb 18, 2013 at 11:52 AMBeing at that Park is only like a band aid, for a serious problem. How long is the city expected to foot the bill for this. Make this a Priority to help the Homeless. I feel that the City has gone above and bejond with trying to help. But this can not go on indefinitely. Something permanent is needed. I feel that there are countless places that have been helping those in need, so let them put themselves on a list if that is what is needed. Why not try and have whoever stay with a Family Member. But with these hard times that all of us are going through, this back and forth has to stop. I do not want Madison to be a Magnet for the Homeless, because that is what it seems to be turning in to. I understand that some of who might be reading this might think that i have no Idea what i am talking about and that i am cold, i can say that i have been homeless twice, but i worked extra hard then each time to pick myself up again, i did not rely on others to continuously take care of me. Besides all that, why do we constantly take car eof other countries, take care of people that hate us, but yet we can not take care of our own people.[ Report Abuse ]
-
by bristol Location: WI on Feb 18, 2013 at 08:09 AMThere is really no reason for anyone to be homeless in the USA. We send money to other countries and forget about our own. Wages are so low, if people have a job, and rent is high and it is hard to find places to live. Homeless people should go to Hawaii. No cold weather there. I think it is beyond belief that the US would let people live like this.[ Report Abuse ]
Gray Television, Inc. - Copyright © 2002-2013
Designed by Gray Digital Media