MANSFIELD — Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero said Thursday morning an apparent visible rise in homeless residents in downtown Mansfield is prompting him to see how the county can help.
Vero said commissioners have been contacted by multiple business owners and residents “inquiring what we can do.”
Speaking during the commissioners’ public meeting, Vero said the contacts with county leaders have been made “out of concern, not complaint.”
The county commissioner said he is also aware it’s primarily a City of Mansfield issue, but would like to work with city officials on the issue.
“We are partners, but we can’t bury our heads in the sand. Our county building is in downtown Mansfield,” Vero said.
“You can’t walk in and around downtown and not see it. I am always mindful of not trying to interject myself and the county government into the city. But we have reached a point where enough people are asking about it that I feel we need to see what we can do,” Vero said.
Vero said he would start by contacting Joe Trolian, executive director of Richland County Mental Health & Recovery Services, and Sharlene Neumann, executive director of Richland County Job & Family Services.
The commissioner said there are a myriad of reasons involved in the homelessness issue, including mental health, and added he didn’t know what form county government assistance might take.
“I am reaching out to some of our (county) people this morning to see if they can assist and get people the help they need and to begin to take a look at the issues,” Vero said.
“It’s a community-wide problem and we are trying to be cautious how we approach it to give the city the opportunity to address it,” he said.
Vero said he would contact city officials once he gained ideas from the county administrators.
“It’s a very difficult issue,” he said.
Commissioner Darrell Banks said, “We have homeless people who need our help. But this comes down to the city. They have to do something. It’s their city.”
