Though not necessarily a factor in every homeless person’s life,
alcohol often is a big part of the equation.
Morgan Hill – Though not necessarily a factor in every homeless person’s life, alcohol often is a big part of the equation.
“The majority of police contacts with homeless people in the city involve alcohol,” said Morgan Hill police Cmdr. David Swing. “There may be other reasons the person is being contacted, we may have received calls because of concern for the person’s safety or because the homeless person is bothering patrons in a coffee shop, for example, but there is usually alcohol or drugs or both involved in some way.”
In Morgan Hill last year, there were 42 people with addresses listed as “transient” arrested by MHPD officers. A person who is transient may not necessarily be homeless, Swing said.
“When I think of the homeless, I think of someone who has to sleep on the street or in their car; some of these people who may not have an address do have a warm place to sleep,” he added.
The reasons for arrests of those listed as transient were varied. They included drunk in public and under the influence of a controlled substance but also charges of forgery, parole violation, driving on a suspended or revoked license, even attempted murder.
Recently, Swing said, there was a fight among several homeless men in Galvan Park. Officers found three 40-ounce bottles of beer with the men.
“I do think, unfortunately, there is an association with homelessness and alcohol,” he said.
Many of Morgan Hill’s homeless are well known by police, including several who, besides drinking heavily, are also addicted to methamphetamine. Those are the ones who often commit other crimes to support their habit, Swing said.
Dina Campeau, chair of the South County Collaborative, told the Gilroy Dispatch that many homeless people use alcohol as an escape of sorts.
“Alcohol can be a way of self-medicating,” she explained. “If they have voices or other impulses, they get high or drunk to blot those out. That’s very rarely taken into account with public intoxication issues.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
