Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender has worked for the city for 35 years, first as a beat cop and then moving up the ladder to become Chief of Police. After he retired in May 2014, he ran for mayor and won the election held in June this year.
As a police officer, Allender saw a range of sociological issues, one of them homelessness, a condition that in itself encompasses a range of sociological issues.
He says homeless people live in a dangerous situation, and a society should not allow that to happen. But he also says just providing shelter and food is not enough to keep the problem from cycling.
There are no easy answers, but Allender is formulating a plan. For now, he's gathering information and waiting for completion of a city-wide study of existing services.
Mayor Allender tells SDPB's Victoria Wicks that he's hoping to have a strategy next year.
