Memphis Looks to Tackle Homelessness

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - On the streets of Memphis life can be cold, it can be tiring, and if you ask anyone who calls concrete home they'll tell you it's not something you just see in a news report. It's reality.

Cliff Macon says, "Basically I stay anywhere I can."

Cliff Macon lives on the streets and takes it day by day. Shaking and moving from one spot to another trying not just to stay warm in the cold days of December, but to stay alive.

Macon says, "Because I live on the street Memphis says I'm a bad guy because I shake a guys hand and hug him and he gives me a dollar for a cup of coffee and tell me to take care of myself."

But word on the street is that Memphis police will be arresting those without homes in some sort of sweep, roundup or crack down.

Brad Watkins says, "This sweep this targeting of homeless and prosecuting of them for crimes of homelessness isn't the solution."

Brad Watkins with the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center says cards like these have been handed out to the areas homeless. They offer help, but he says the campaign is just a scare tactic.

Watkins says, "Look at the charges were talking about trespassing code violation those are comes committed by homeless people because they are homeless."

In a press conference Monday afternoon, Mayor AC Wharton and Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin denounce the claims. Godwin says the only thing the city is trying to do is help.

Director Godwin says, "The last thing we want is to see folks out on the streets that cant help it there out there try to get them help they need the assistance they need and clean up the blight at the same time."

They are helping by offering those without a home an opportunity to get help with area providers and the hospitality hub.

Godwin says, "Wednesday were going to let them know about these service providers and in seven days were going to come back if they are on private property were going to clean those areas up."

Mayor Wharton says the plan will address the cities homeless problem adding the law is the law.

Mayor Wharton says, "You can't allow homelessness to become a license to flout the law."

But for Macon, the hand of help is a welcome one but says the biggest problem the help he sees now isn't cheap.

Macon says, "We only get 3 free nights a month at the union mission and they charge the rest of them."