Crime Rates are up in the Homeless Population

Police said the crime rate among the homeless population in Charleston is going up. In the past 10 days alone, Charleston Police Lt. Steve Cooper said he has seen more than 15 arrests of people who are not from Charleston who list their address as a local homeless shelter or “the streets of Charleston.” Eyewitness News reports there’s a new homeless population in Charleston as people come from other states. Of the 21 men who are living at the Charleston shelter right now, more than 75 percent aren’t from Kanawha County. Nine are from other counties, and seven are from other states. The city has taken several steps to try to combat the problem downtown, including boarding up buildings, increasing police patrols and removing benches. Charleston police, Mayor Danny Jones and city officials are all working together on the issue.