Mayor Mike Moncrief and the City have taken the lead in addressing chronic homelessness, one of the most challenging issues facing the Near Southside and other areas within the city's "High Impact Zone".
The Mayor's Advisory Commission on Homelessness, chaired by Reverend Brooks Harrington and staffed by Homeless Coordinator Otis Thornton, prepared "Directions Home," a 10-year plan to eliminate chronic homelessness.
The City Council adopted the plan in June 2008. The plan's vision is to make homelessness rare, short-term and non-recurring by the year 2018.
A primary recommendation is to increase the supply of permanent supportive housing with on-site services that help people stabilize their lives, including health care, psychiatric care, job training and social skills training. The plan also includes recommendations to reduce impacts on neighborhoods and businesses.