by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian
Pastor Gilbert Limones of Casa El Shaddai addressed the Uvalde City Council during the public comments portion of the meeting asking for the City’s help in addressing the needs of the homeless people whom many whom are living in the margins of town.
“We want to be a church that makes a difference in our city. The way that we can do this is by coming to ya’ll and saying you have a church that is willing to help you out in situations that are going on. And one of the biggest things we are having right now is the actual issue with the homeless people. We’ve been feeding them,” Limones said.
“We’re trying to see what we can do to get them off the street,” Limones said. He went on to say it’s a growing issue.
“We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus,” he said. He also mentioned that his church wants to open a homeless shelter.
The Uvalde Hesperian learned about the homeless camps along the banks of the Leona River south of Uvalde Memorial Park several weeks ago and saw a couple of homeless camps. The property just south of Memorial Park is owned by the Uvalde Hospital Authority and further down along the Leona river bed, the property is owned by several individuals according to an online Uvalde County Appraisal District Survey.
While there are some who claim that the homeless are undocumented migrants and transients who are passing through the Uvalde area. Limones told the Uvalde Hesperian that the homeless he and his church have encountered are in fact locals, who have fallen into hard times.
City and County officials that the Uvalde Hesperian have spoken to previously have said they are aware of the homeless camps.
It is unclear how many homeless camps are located along the Leona River but unconfirmed reports have indicated the numerous homeless tents may exist along the Leona River bed for more than a mile south of Uvalde Memorial Park.
Due to the isolated area along the Leona River Bed south of Memorial Park, the Uvalde Hesperian was told that the area may be unsafe to visit by one City official.
At a City Council meeting held in 2022. a manager of Mr. Gatti’s Pizza spoke to the Uvalde City Council asking for help concerning a nearby homeless camp and one of the restaurant’s employees felt unsafe when taking trash to the dumpster behind the restaurant. https://uvaldehesperian.com/2022/10/12/uvalde-city-council-mr-gattis-pizza-asked-city-council-for-help-with-crime-and-homeless-camping-near-new-restaurant/
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