Assignment task:
Homelessness was a significant concern in Bellingham, WA, and many sectors have pledged to help eliminate it. An opportunity for building an apartment complex in the downtown area was presented to the county council for approval. This project would not only offer to house those chronically homeless in the same building but also offices providing social and other services to those living there, and the community would be co-located. Tax dollars from a similar project would be used to support this project; however, two council members opposed it as this project would harm businesses nearby. Some business owners said that homeless people around their businesses would decrease their revenues. The project was stopped despite evidence of at least one similar project working successfully on the other side of town.
Who is right? Would you consider this an ethical dilemma? You are the health Department director; how could you engage partners, the government, and the community to continue this project?