San Antonio City Council representatives for districts 8 and 9 will hold separate town halls Nov. 9 and 14, respectively, addressing homelessness and other public safety-related issues.

What you need to know

District 9 council member John Courage will present a forum focused on homelessness 6-7:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, 14700 San Pedro Ave.

According to an email blast from Courage’s office, Courage and other speakers from organizations such as Haven for Hope, Corazon Ministries and the city’s human services department will discuss strategies that they are employing to reduce homelessness.

District 8 council member Manny Pelaez will have a forum 6-7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at University United Methodist Church, 5084 DeZavala Road.

According to a statement from Pelaez’s office, District 8 constituents are invited to pose questions and suggest solutions on topics such as homelessness, car break-ins and code violations to city staff and San Antonio Police Department representatives.

What they’re saying

Pelaez recently requested the city develop a public engagement portion of its expanding anti-homelessness initiatives in order to help educate residents about what he called a complex, nuanced issue. City officials said they have a goal of abating 700 homeless encampments citywide and are introducing other outreach programs.

“Residents are afraid and angry about homeless encampments. But the public doesn’t know what the city is doing about them,” Pelaez told Community Impact. “It’s my job to provide [constituents] with facts and knowledge.”