ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – Increasing numbers of homeless people have been spending time around the Rockingham County offices in downtown Harrisonburg, according to County Administrator Stephen King. 

The issue came up during Wednesday afternoon’s County Board of Supervisor meeting. King told the Board that he and other county staff have noticed folks sleeping on the sidewalk outside of the property, which he didn’t consider a problem.

However, signs of other activities, such as using the bathroom in areas around the outside of the building, have been a problem, according to King. He pointed out, though, that any time he has woken up anyone sleeping in the walkways at the county  offices when arriving early in the morning, they’re interactions have always been pleasant.

“All of them are very cooperative, they’re not resistant, they’re very apologetic in some cases,” King said. “But still, if you’re coming in here a little early, that can make some people uncomfortable.”

King said people have also used outlets around the outside of the county offices to charge personal electronic devices, and all have been deactivated to discourage loitering in those areas. Beyond that, he had no suggestion for solutions at the moment.

During the discussion, county staff theorized that many of the homeless people sleeping on the property came from Our Community Place (OCP), nearby, which gives them a place to stay during the day, but not at night. Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson chimed in, saying that his office is looking into the issue.

“We’re in the process of following up with [OCP], because they’re going to be the ones most familiar with whatever different levels of the issue might be,” Hutcheson said. “Now, whether it comes back to the board to say, if they want to do that ‘no trespass’ step or not, that’s one we’ll let you know. “But we definitely do want to start by finding out from OCP what they have and haven’t done, and I think once we do that, we’ll find out maybe the direction to go.”

King pointed out that county staff anticipate more homeless people to be around the area once The Navigation Center – the city’s low-barrier homeless shelter that is slated to open later this year – as others have flocked to Harrisonburg in the past given the City’s reputation for helping those on the margins. He added that while he fully supports the shelter, some solutions and ground rules will be necessary in the near future.

“I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, I’m just saying that can make some more people come to the area,” King said. “So, we’re trying to balance being good neighbors, but we don’t want our employees feeling uncomfortable.”