Violence Up Among Homeless
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Updated: 11:57 PM Mar 1, 2010
Violence Up Among Homeless
In the last four months, there has been a significant increase in violence among the homeless -- and the cold weather may be to blame. One man has died from the violence.
Posted: 11:02 PM Mar 1, 2010
Reporter: Hanna Francis
Email Address: hanna.francis@wsaz.com
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- When it's cold outside, the Huntington City Mission fills up quickly.

West Virginia state law says when temperatures hit 35 degrees or below, missions let anyone in. The Huntington City Mission has raised their standards to 40 degrees.

This mission to keep people warm, though, may be fueling fights.

Huntington Police Detective John Williams says in the last four months, there has been a significant increase in violence among the homeless. He partially blames the increase in violence on the cold weather -- and that law to let anyone in.

Typically, the mission will ban those people with violent histories.

"You get a bunch of different personalities that would not normally be let in," Williams said. "With the onset of the cold weather, there's been an increase in assaults."

Pastor Pete Davidson works at the Huntington City Mission. He said that he thinks these violent outbreaks are just a result of mean people.

"I have seen several homeless people come here to eat -- I'll notice their faces are all beat up and I'll ask them what happened. They'll say, 'Oh, so and so jumped me,' " Davidson said.

Detective Williams said on Jan. 6, a man named Tony Medley was involved in a fight behind the City Mission. He was punched and fell down. When he fell, his head hit the concrete. Police say he was unresponsive when they got on scene just minutes later -- he was taken to the hospital and died of his injuries on Jan. 8.

Williams said police are often helpless in prosecuting those who act out, because often times the victims just want to forget about the violence.

"They don't want anything to do with it," Williams said. "They just want to go on, they accept it as a part of life."

"The reason they won't file a report is they might not have faith in the system," Davidson said.

Davidson said even if they don't have a faith in the system, there is a faith in something bigger.

"If we could get everyone praying for the oppression of meanness to leave I think that would be the very best thing," he said.

Both Davidson and Williams say they hope with warmer temperatures come warmer hearts.

The City Mission has hired a security guard to come in during those cold nights when more people will be in the building.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 5, 2010 at 09:52 AM

How sad, once again a debate over religion overshadows the need for changes at the Huntington City Mission. Despite prayers, "real" people are getting hurt and killed there. Why is it that the excuse people usually use for not actually "doing" something is that they are praying for change. Perhaps God wants us to actually try to change it ourselves instead of just paying him lip service. No security to speak of, no training for staff, and no segregation of violent individuals. Well at least we pay these people minimum wage for a job well done. At what point does the community, board of directors and administration at the Huntington City Mission realize that a person working in this kind of environment deserves a better wage than a telemarketer. My apologies to any telemarketers out there reading this, if it is any consolation you actually make more anyway!!!
Posted by: Kyle on Mar 4, 2010 at 04:06 PM

If you want to help someone don't sit around and "pray" for them. Get up and volunteer or donate food/clothes to the shelters. A lot of these people could become productive members of society if they got that one "chance."
Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 3, 2010 at 03:34 PM

@ Skeptical Mocking the word of God is serious business and you will answer for it one day.
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