City, Volunteer Disagree Over Homeless Help

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — City officials are disagreeing with an independent volunteer on best practices to help Boise's homeless population.

KTVB-TV reports that Boise resident Jodi Peterson has been collecting tents and sleeping bags to replace tattered items in the city's largest homeless concentration, known as Cooper Court. However, city spokesman Mike Journee says this way of helping has officials worried because Cooper Court poses significant public health and safety challenges.

The area has no services or facilities for the public and there are concerns of criminal activity. He added that providing new tents and other commodities discourages people from taking advantage of the city's homeless shelters. Peterson counters that she does not provide tents to new people looking for space in Cooper Court.