Isn’t it a little ironic that a proposed group to deal with the issue of homelessness in Rome would have the acronym RICH?

The Rome/Floyd Interagency Council on Homelessness (RICH) is the working title for the follow-up action to a yearlong study of the issue by a multi-jurisdictional task force.

“It’s easy to call the city manager’s office and say you’ve got to do something about it (homelessness), but what do you do about it,” asked City Manager John Bennett.

The city’s Community Development committee agreed to call members of the homeless task force back together to determine who would take the lead in implementing action items proposed in a 32-page report written by consultant Jane Massey.

Bekki Fox, a community development specialist for the city of Rome told the committee that the homeless issue “Is something that can be addressed and funded with Community Development Block grant funds.” Bennett told the panel that the issue is something that cane be better handled by a non-government agency. “We’ve got a lot of splinter groups bumping their heads, we need some organization,” said Commissioner Milton Slack.

In other business, Fox won approval from the committee for condemnation of two parcels along the proposed Kingfisher Trail which will sit astride the Etowah River from South broad Street to the Silver Creek Trail. The bid package for a bridge that will span Silver Creek as part of that trail could be put out by the city as early as next week.

Click here to read a Rome-Floyd plan to fight homelessness.