Pictures of a homeless camp at Waldron Park tell just part of the story.
Flour Bluff resident Shirley Thornton lives that story every day.
"When you go to the park, you do not want to have to deal with whatever is left over from someone living an outdoor life in the park," she said.
Thornton lives a few miles away and walks to the park regularly.
She's seen the problems caused by the rising numbers of homeless residents in her community.
"We have people who are drug addicted, and those are the kinds of things that tear a community down, that take away from feeling safe," she said.
For Thornton, recapturing that feeling of safety began yesterday when she and other Flour Bluff residents met with city leaders, the city's homeless liaisons, and homeless organizations to discuss a plan of action.
The first step is a survey of the homeless community, to find out what their needs are.
With that information, groups such as Mission 911 know what sort of help to provide.
It is becoming a real concern in the Flour Bluff area,” said District 4 council member Greg Smith. “So whatever we can do to help them get out of their situation, we need to do it."
Solving the Flour Bluff homeless problem won't be a walk in the park, but yesterday's meeting is seen as a step in the right direction.
"We have a very active community and cares about what happened out here,” Thornton said. “And because of that, we are able to make some changes."
Councilwoman Paulette Guajardo also recommended that more signs be put up stating the park rules and hours.
She also suggested reconsidering when parks close.
If the homeless outreach program is successful in Flour Bluff, Guajardo hopes to use a similar program in other areas of Corpus Christi.
