Parking Problems Persist, and Homeless Youth Resist - Commentary by Anthony Carace

BURLINGTON, VT - Every city has its own problems, though such issues cross boundaries and demographics. Burlington is no different from the rest. Predicaments ranging from limited housing to educational crises to domestic violence and bullying in schools all play a role in the development and betterment of the community, though that doesn’t make citizens any less annoyed by their presence. While there is always room for improvement, the possibility of complete alleviation of an issue is highly unrealistic.

Take the public parking situation, for instance. Burlington is one of the most walk-able cities this side of Boston, yet people continue to drive their cars to and from work, school, or the downtown area. Certain folks must drive from surrounding communities, and though CCTA offers buses from towns such as Winooski and Williston, there is nothing like the convenience of one’s own automobile. Unfortunately, there are far more cars than Burlington itself can possibly house; for that matter, there is a limit to residents’ tolerance of those who attempt to park in front of their houses. As for college students, most are forced to pay a fee or a fine if they choose to park in Champlain or UVM lots.

Fines and fees may anger drivers, but they are necessary evils in the battle against car-citizen conflict. Burlington Parking Enforcement has numerous information and website postings about parking regulations and policies, but it is up to the drivers themselves to access this information and deal accordingly. People can certainly park anywhere they’d like, but many factors play into whether or not one is punished for driving into town. It’s best to be aware of zoning restrictions (certain streets are privileged to residents only), where parking garages/lots are located, and the hassles that come with disobeying the rules. Much blame is passed onto those with authority, but drivers need to keep their eyes open to the hassles that come with parking their own way.

Parking problems are a mere inconvenience, however, compared with the horrors of drug abuse and homelessness, especially when young people are involved. Outreach programs such as Spectrum Youth and Family Services try to curb the issue with their Drop-In Center, but a vast array of kids and other young people are forced to call the streets their home. The Drop-In Center acts as a temporary housing site for homeless and at-risk youth; the only problem is that there are limited hours one can stop by and take advantage of Spectrum’s services.

While it is a nonprofit organization, Spectrum is still a business, and it has to close at a certain time. What, then, is the best course of action when facing an issue that literally ruins lives? The answer is that there is no best course of action. Programs and organizations do what they can to keep young people and the general public informed about homeless and at-risk youth, but this problem becomes difficult to pin down when kids disappear altogether. This is not to say that there is a high rate of youth death, but that even though kids may not have an actual home, they do have places to hide out. Worse, many are afraid to discuss their problems and seek help. Spectrum cannot impose its will on those who don’t want to face their problems, but perhaps more can be done to reach out to kids. What those steps include remains a mystery and, for some, a misery.