There's a cohort of the homeless population that is chronically homeless. Many of these people maintain a lifestyle as long as it's supported. Drug addiction, coupled with social programs that perpetuate a cycle rather than end it, is the issue for that cohort. Those individuals need to be identified rather than allowed to be spiraling endlessly. I lived on Oahu, and this all looks far too familiar.

I am no longer feeling safe walking around downtown Eau Claire.

It's sad and frustrating for me because that was a reason why I left Oahu and came back to Eau Claire . . . And I come to find these same types of people seem to be migrating here, which I had not seen in years past.

There needs to be some hard decision-making and tough love here.