The homeless problem has grown over the years. Along with it civil disobedience. When the good intentions of the city of Eugene result in civil disobedience then tolerances have become tools for the disobedient to feel they can escalate there bad behavior. As Thomas Locke proclaimed "Without a coercieve power to enforce the law there is no law." Thus the disobedient will continue to escalate their bad behavior and the tax paying law-abiding citizens lose a safe and inviting city center.

The answer is difficult. It has been said "Give a man a fish today and he will be hungry tomorrow. Teach a man to fish and he will feed himself for life." The problem with this saying is that it relies on the person to take the knowledge and help offered and utilize it to create a positive end result for themselves.

How do we accomplish a result that many of these people reject?  The goal should be safety for us all first. The solution will come through a discipline of  options for the disobedient.