Homeless encampments along the Joe Rodota Trail

The eastern half of the Joe Rodota trail has been taken over by the homeless. Be sure to watch the video below. This is such a difficult problem! I'm going to guess that Lynda Hopkins will have something to say about it next Sunday, Oct 27th, at our community picnic, along with taking your questions.

Seems to me, that providing housing with wrap-around services, is the only answer. That's going to be expensive and have its own problems, but otherwise this is just going to get worse.

Your thoughts?
Barry


http://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccob...4_15-56-29.png
Camp crowding Santa Rosa trail is new flashpoint over homeless enforcement
WILL SCHMITT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT October 19, 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVajMlYPCmw

A sprawling homeless camp of more than 100 tents and makeshift dwellings has overrun a public trail in west Santa Rosa, spurring a flood of complaints about safety and squalid living conditions and stoking public debate over what many local residents decry as another example of government’s failure to respond to an intractable problem.

The camp, which now spans about a quarter mile of the Joe Rodota Trail west of Stony Point Road, has swelled to at least 110 people in recent weeks amid a growing list of calls taken by Santa Rosa police. The tally now tops more than 80 reports regarding homelessness on the trail over the past few months, with incidents ranging from outstanding warrants to an assault with a deadly weapon.

Local officials acknowledge the unsanctioned camp is rife with health and safety issues, including the spread of untreated human waste, substance abuse and garbage strewn around the area.

Some residents say the settlement has become a blight on the popular public trail — a converted former rail right of way overseen by the county. The impact on nearby residents and businesses has also become increasingly clear. People in the camp area apparently have used drugs in broad daylight on multiple occasions, and one longtime camp denizen said this week that she knew of a bottle of urine tossed by a homeless person into an adjacent home’s backyard.

“This is a public safety hazard and a humanitarian crisis,” said Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, whose district includes the encampment.

‘Epicenter for lawlessness’

The camp’s growing size has prompted county park rangers to largely steer clear of the trail segment, part of an 8.5-mile path from Santa Rosa to Sebastopol that is a well-used route for bike commuters and recreational riders, joggers and walkers. Some have reported avoiding the path, not wanting to run a gantlet they perceive as potentially threatening. For its part, the county seems to agree, with plans now in motion to advise trail users to avoid the area.

The homeless settlement has become “this sort of epicenter for lawlessness, this sort of symbol for, honestly, everything that’s wrong in government,” Hopkins said in a candidates’ forum last week.

It poses in graphic terms another front in the now all-too-familiar conflict for parts of Sonoma County, the Bay Area and California where homelessness is rampant — a conflict, Hopkins said, between “the people who are falling through the cracks and a takeover of what is a public right of way and something that taxpayers invested in so they could commute and get out of their cars and get between west county and Santa Rosa.”

But local government has done little about the highly visible camp, in clear sight of drivers on Highway 12 and residents on Occidental Road.

Workers with Catholic Charities of Santa Rosa, the county’s largest private homeless service provider, and some local officials have made occasional patrols through the area. County homelessness teams are set to make their presence known on the trail starting this week.

But there is no firm timeline for enforcement action against the campers, and a court order limits what local officials can do until at least next summer.

“Ultimately, what we want to see is that folks are leaving the trail because they’re coming into services,” said Geoffrey Ross, the executive director of the Community Development Commission. “It’s going to be a several-week process.”

Trail users told to avoid area

While officials figure out what to do and how to do it, those who use the trail for recreation and travel will be asked to bypass the area, said Bert Whitaker, director of Sonoma County Regional Parks. Signs will soon be posted advising people to find alternate routes for the foreseeable future, he said.

Continues here

From Susan Collier Lamont's post on FB in response to the PD article

I'm not even sure you should bother with the article. Just read this from the Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights (a commission your dedicated Sonoma County representatives are trying to starve out of existence). If there's one thing we've learned over the years, it's that your electeds hate hearing the truth.

From Acting Chair Smith: The Commission on Human Rights has consistently been involved in and working on issues of homelessness in the county.

We toured the former Roseland encampment and provided a report and recommendations to the CDC and Supervisors. We partnered with officials working on homelessness from San Francisco to help advise on the report recommendations before submitting.

We also partnered with North Bay Donate to organize and deliver blankets, socks, hygiene kits and medical supplies to campers after the fires, as they were not able to access services, due to being homeless before the fires.

We brought in Sharon Lee, director of Seattle's Low Income Housing Institute, to present along with River King, Sonoma County Chapter Leader of the American Tiny Home Association, on tiny home villages as an innovative solution to homelessness. It makes sense to look to folks with direct experience in tiny home planning, construction, management and implementation of supportive wraparound services in the discussion. I'd like to think Santa Rosa City councilmember Julie Combs for her support of that forum.

The Junior Commission on Human Rights has consistently had homelessness committees since its inception in 2013. Our youth see this problem and they want to do something about it.

We passed a resolution expressing our concerns about the ongoing human rights violations occurring in encampments, the severe problems created by the lack of adequate sanitation, health care and security, and the responsibility of elected officials to ensure that supportive services addressed these problems.

It must also be said that previously, efforts by Homeless Action to provide essential sanitation services to the Joe Rodota Trail encampment to reduce and avoid outbreaks of Mersa and other sanitation nightmares have been blocked by officials who did not wish to sanction the encampments by allowing sanitation services to be provided. But the alternative is not sustainable, healthy or in alignment with human rights and dignity.

Over and over, we hear that shelter placements are turned down. However, evidence shows that people who turn down shelter placements are far more likely to accept a tiny home placement. Tiny homes are warm, dry, secure, provide dignity and can begin healing the painful and broken relationship that unhoused folks have with a society they feel does not care about the conditions in which they exist. Folks with PTSD, LGBTQ+ folks, folks who have been incarcerated, folks with mental health needs and others that can't tolerate a shelter situation can absolutely feel safe and secure in a tiny home.

We must create both transitional and permanent supportive housing for our unhoused neighbors and this must include tiny home projects. Imagine a situation in which the community--schools, builders, wood shop classes, faith based organizations, private individuals and anyone else who feels moved to participate in healing-- can come together and create small dwellings that have the power to truly be life changing. Imagine unhoused folks being able to help with tiny home construction, painting and set up alongside their neighbors. Imagine that each village has a community garden. Imagine beautiful, brightly painted, small villages around the county instead of corralling everyone into one big spot. Imagine people beginning to regain dignity, human rights, ownership and stewardship of their community. Imagine the safe and secure tiny home being the essential foundation needed to be able to address and treat co-morbid issues of substance abuse and mental illness.

This is a Sonoma County problem, a Bay area problem, a California state problem and a national problem. It is not going to go away. If San Francisco had a 10th of the space that Sonoma County had, there would be tiny homes. How are we allowing these tent encampments to continue, kicking the can down the road? The human rights violations are staggering. Families are in the encampments. Women are unsafe and subject to sexual assault and domestic violence. LGBTQ+ people are not safe. People who have experienced so much trauma are continually being re-traumatized by this situation and our response to it.

The commission has been told of a police officer kicking a woman sleeping under a bench, an elderly homeless woman being put out of a hospital at 1:00 am in the morning with nowhere to go, someone not being allowed to retrieve their life saving medication.

All of this is wrong.

The recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria of San Francisco, requiring local governments to provide shelters with beds and accommodations for the disabled, and requiring law enforcement to store and preserve personal items seized at encampment sweeps is an attempt to address some of the human rights violations and harm caused by existing policies.

But we need to take all of this to another level.

There has already been at least one death due to medical conditions combined with winter weather in a tent encampment, and we are heading into another fall and winter season. Life expectancy is shortened when we live outside in these conditions. Rest in Love, Armando Cooper.

The cost of a tiny home can be as little as $2500
.
We have the money, we have the space, and we certainly have the creativity and the people power to do it. We just need the will power to put human rights and human dignity before politics and profit.
I believe that we can do it. I believe that we must do it.

Let's be a shining example of what is possible in the state of California. Let's repair, rebuild, reconnect.
Recovery and transformation are always possible.

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

Seems to me, that providing housing with wrap-around services, is the only answer. That's going to be expensive and have its own problems, but otherwise this is just going to get worse.

Your thoughts?
Barry

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Yes- there's a concept in dealing with the homeless crisis that seems to be very successful- called "Housing First". The idea being that you get people homed first...and then deal with the myriad of issues that led to homelessness (addiction, domestic violence, unemployment/inder-employment, mental health etc).

This seems what Santa Rosa is doing with the Palms and the Gold Coin motels. And while I haven't followed it - Seattle had a program a few years ago that seemed very successful in the early stages housing hardcore alcoholic homeless- and actually allowing them to drink in the housing. Philadelphia, after a Federal judge ruling recently- looks to be the first place in the nation that will open a supervised injection site for opioid addicts- a concept that has proven successful in Canada and Europe.

I will say... our nation as a whole has failed miserably on actually dealing with the myriad of issues that lead to homelessness in the first place.

And...I'll say... CA has unique problems. Due to the climate, general permissiveness around many issues, and a strong social safety net... CA attracts homeless from around the nation.

And, I'll say from experience in the community... we are never going to "solve" the homelessness crisis. There is a substantial portion that simply, for many different reasons, have *NO* interest in re-intergrating into "society". Many more we have a short window to help... hope and self-worth fade fast on the streets.

And...I'll just add... most of the groups trying to support the homeless are religion based. And for many homeless- that's the last thing they want. They don't want to be preached too. And they most certainly don't want to be made to feel that beyond the many failures they know they have committed, that "turning away from god" was another one... I'd say take away the %#*^ tax exempt status of the churches...and use the money to do some good work that doesn't come with judgement and strings...

Tiny homes, fine, great idea but how long is that going to take? For something to be done now, educate yourself on what the Rainbow gathering used to be. Imminent domain some open space, set up a campground, Move in.
Trail cleared next week.

When you arrived at The Rainbow Gathering first you'd hear was welcome home

Garbage was handled by Swami Mommy and the garbage Gurus, Madam Frog ran the kitchen, everyone handled security.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Gathering

Sonoma Patients Co-op wrote:

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Yes- there's a concept in dealing with the homeless crisis that seems to be very successful- called "Housing First". The idea being that you get people homed first...and then deal with the myriad of issues that led to homelessness (addiction, domestic violence, unemployment/inder-employment, mental health etc)...

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sealwatcher wrote:

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We must create both transitional and permanent supportive housing for our unhoused neighbors and this must include tiny home projects. Imagine a situation in which the community--schools, builders, wood shop classes, faith based organizations, private individuals and anyone else who feels moved to participate in healing-- can come together and create small dwellings that have the power to truly be life changing. Imagine unhoused folks being able to help with tiny home construction, painting and set up alongside their neighbors. Imagine that each village has a community garden. Imagine beautiful, brightly painted, small villages around the county instead of corralling everyone into one big spot. Imagine people beginning to regain dignity, human rights, ownership and stewardship of their community. Imagine the safe and secure tiny home being the essential foundation needed to be able to address and treat co-morbid issues of substance abuse and mental illness.

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How about we look into the current status of what has become of all of the burned out lands throughout Northern California - all of the hundreds of thousands of acres that have been charred by the “wildfires” these past several years? There’s plenty of acreage there – tens upon tens of thousands of acres that are quite suitable for homes for the homeless as well as reforestation - in orchards.

Some of these lands are “owned” by the lumber corporations and will not show a profit for several decades, until they can be re-planted with seedlings, and those seedlings mature into marketable lumber. Perhaps the lumber corporations might be persuaded to "fire-sale" some of this land to the State of California? The dems could then take the initiative for solving the "Homeless Crisis" away from Trump.

=OR= Taking the long view, perhaps some give-a-shit lawyers (are there any left ?) can take on the Timber corporations and wrest title to the timber lands away from them on the grounds of the undeniable historical Fact that the timber companies originally acquired titles to the timber-lands through an elaborate system of Fraud.

=OR= Taking the short-term expedient, for the last item will take some time to achieve - perhaps some humanitarian organization, or some philanthropist with good intentions can be persuaded to buy back serious acreage in the burned-over regions of Northern California & Oregon from the timber-corporations which still "own" such properties.

=OR= Perhaps parcels of forty acres @ could be acquired - somehow - (by whatever means) here in Sonoma County. OR wherever such needs exist (& the need is dire everywhere in the United States at this point in time) to implement what sealwatcher wrote: "Imagine that each village has a community garden. Imagine beautiful, brightly painted, small villages around the county instead of corralling everyone into one big spot. Imagine people beginning to regain dignity, human rights, ownership and stewardship of their community."

Marvelous things have been done in bringing back & re- greening depleted & devastated regions in China, Ethiopia, and Jordan, in recent years. Thus, there is Work, for the able-bodied among the Homeless. All they need is a little direction – and a paycheck. In exchange, they will receive both a parcel of land (slightly under half an acre is enough) and a tiny home. Rammed-earth block walls with mobile dimensional milled fir ceilings made in situ is the absolute cheapest way to go.

Thad wrote:

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Tiny homes, fine, great idea but how long is that going to take. For something to be done now, educate yourself on what the Rainbow gathering used to be. Imminent domain some open space, set up a campground, Move in...

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We need to acquire a Vision with regards to what may be done in the recently hard-hit & burned-over Wastelands of Northern California. It seems that there is where we should be focusing our attention for a more permanent solution for Homelessness:

Both Kinds: -For the families of the working poor who are renters & =ALSO= -For the indigent. Yes, Occupy the Wilderness - but first ask Pharaoh if we may go off a little ways, to hold a festival

It is obvious that the Board of Supervisors in Sonoma County are not interested in doing anything towards providing tiny homes for the homeless. It is an open secret that they do not want “poor people living in rural Sonoma County” – and this includes poor yeomen, who are actually titled landowners, like myself. You may quote me on that score.

Just realize, please, that there are legal hurdles involved in making anything happen in rural Sonoma County. In the first place, the Zoning regulations would have to be entirely re-written. =AND= The Sun-Mar Excel model non-flush toilet would have to be made legal.

Sonoma County is one of only two jurisdictions in the entire western
hemisphere where the Sun-Mar Excel Model toilet is not "permitted."

= Try fighting city hall on that one =

In the wake of the shut-down of Morningstar & Wheeler's ranch in 1973, the board of supes re-wrote the zoning codes in this county to basically preclude the possibility of any future communes. Up until that time, students at Sonoma State often shared communal quarters in former chicken coups. All of that was made illegal in 1973.

They should not be camping on the Joe Rodota Trail. The trail, similar to Courthouse Sq, or Golden Gate Park, is a public commons area. When people camp there, with all the negative associations, they deprive the much greater majority of people, of the right to enjoy a clean area of nature... that belongs to the public.

A lot of the energies around the homeless is to get them to move elsewhere..."Don't set your tent up on my street!" This is a reasonable desire. When a municipality is welcoming to the homeless, more will move there. It's human nature. This figures into the response of public officials, as so it should.

It's unrealistic for the Judge from San Francisco to say that to get the homeless to move, you have to offer them alternative housing. There is not alternative housing for them available. That reality invalidates that order.

The cost of a Tiny House far exceeds $2500. Maybe that's the materials & labor to build one. The 12 or 15 Tiny Houses that Sonoma Co built for vets, cost $115k +/- each. Costs besides the materials & labor are utility hookup costs & fees, land costs, foundations, etc.

The increasing numbers of the homeless is an expression of the breakdown of our society, and fracturing of government resources. I support a national effort to build housing, fund treatment programs, and provide jobs like during the Depression.

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

The eastern half of the Joe Rodota trail has been taken over by the homeless. Be sure to watch the video below. This is such a difficult problem! I'm going to guess that Lynda Hopkins will have something to say about it next Sunday, Oct 27th, at our community picnic, along with taking your questions.

Seems to me, that providing housing with wrap-around services, is the only answer. That's going to be expensive and have its own problems, but otherwise this is just going to get worse.

Your thoughts?
Barry

http://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccob...4_15-56-29.png
Camp crowding Santa Rosa trail is new flashpoint over homeless enforcement
WILL SCHMITT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT October 19, 2019

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Posted in reply to the post by tommy:

They should not be camping on the Joe Rodota Trail. ...

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it's equally unrealistic for anyone to say that they just have to move, period. You can say "I don't like this situation" but it's pointless to propose a partial solution - "just move them". What's the rest? I agree, camping on public right-of-way is unacceptable, for the homeless or, for that matter, for boy scouts or European tourists. There needs to be a place for people to go, and it's equally unrealistic to put up barriers that the people you're trying to move can't/won't be able to deal with.

This does seem like a problem that falls right in the bailiwick of the city and county government, and I don't understand how they can keep punting it away. There does need to be a short-term solution, it's not going to be solved by individuals or charitable organizations or least of all by the people who are currently homeless. This does seem like dereliction of duty by public officials; refusing to take action because all proposed actions are opposed by someone or another is like taking your hands off the steering wheel because you can't agree on which offramp to take.

tommy wrote:

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The cost of a Tiny House far exceeds $2500. Maybe that's the materials & labor to build one. The 12 or 15 Tiny Houses that Sonoma Co built for vets, cost $115k +/- each. Costs besides the materials & labor are utility hookup costs & fees, land costs, foundations, etc.

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Actually, Tom, the cost of building a Tiny House - two stories, 9x12, with a sleeping loft - can be far less than $2500. If the tiny house is built in the country, in the burned out wilderness, out of materials on hand {Earth & Wood} and the walls are made of rammed-earth blocks, and the rafters and roof are made of fir milled with an alaskan or mobile-dimensional mill from the still-standing, but charred trunks of the burned firs & pines.

=AND= If the Homeless themselves{those who are willing and able to work} and the Homesteaders on larger parcels of 4.444 acres up the road, are the ones working on the construction. As I wrote above:

"Marvelous things have been done in bringing back & re- greeninghttps://www.waccobb.net/forums/images/youtube.png depleted & devastated regions in China, Ethiopia, and Jordan, in recent years. Thus, there is Work, for the able-bodied among the Homeless. All they need is a little direction – and a paycheck. In exchange, they will receive both a parcel of land (slightly under half an acre is enough) and a tiny home. Rammed-earth block walls with mobile dimensional milled fir ceilings made in situ is the absolute cheapest way to go."

= Click on the links Rammed-earth = & = mobile dimensional to get my drift =


What I am saying is that every settlement needs to be equipped with this equipment.

NY Times article on homelessness:

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/...logo152x23.gif
As Homelessness Surges in California, So Does a Backlash
Tent encampments across California are testing residents’ tolerance and compassion as street conditions deteriorate.

This is not a realistic solution to the problem of the homeless.

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Posted in reply to the post by Mayacaman:

tommy wrote:

Actually, Tom, the cost of building a Tiny House - two stories, 9x12, with a sleeping loft - can be far less than $2500. If the tiny house is built in the country, in the burned out wilderness, out of materials on hand {Earth & Wood} and the walls are made of rammed-earth blocks, and the rafters and roof are made of fir milled with an alaskan or mobile-dimensional mill from the still-standing, but charred trunks of the burned firs & pines.

=AND= If the Homeless themselves{those who are willing and able to work} and the Homesteaders on larger parcels of 4.444 acres up the road, are the ones working on the construction. As I wrote above:

"Marvelous things have been done in bringing back & re- greeninghttps://www.waccobb.net/forums/images/youtube.png depleted & devastated regions in China, Ethiopia, and Jordan, in recent years. Thus, there is Work, for the able-bodied among the Homeless. All they need is a little direction – and a paycheck. In exchange, they will receive both a parcel of land (slightly under half an acre is enough) and a tiny home. Rammed-earth block walls with mobile dimensional milled fir ceilings made in situ is the absolute cheapest way to go."

= Click on the links Rammed-earth = & = mobile dimensional to get my drift =


What I am saying is that every settlement needs to be equipped with this equipment.

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Good idea. Homeless folks need community too!

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Posted in reply to the post by tommy:

...The cost of a Tiny House far exceeds $2500. Maybe that's the materials & labor to build one. The 12 or 15 Tiny Houses that Sonoma Co built for vets, cost $115k +/- each. Costs besides the materials & labor are utility hookup costs & fees, land costs, foundations, etc.

The increasing numbers of the homeless is an expression of the breakdown of our society, and fracturing of government resources. I support a national effort to build housing, fund treatment programs, and provide jobs like during the Depression.

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Tiny homes are one solution to the homeless problem.

See: Green Matters: Can Tiny Homes Solve Homelessness?

tommy wrote:

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The cost of a Tiny House far exceeds $2500. Maybe that's the materials & labor to build one. The 12 or 15 Tiny Houses that Sonoma Co built for vets, cost $115k +/- each. Costs besides the materials & labor are utility hookup costs & fees, land costs, foundations, etc.

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Then I wrote:

Quote:

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Actually, Tom, the cost of building a Tiny House - two stories, 9x12, with a sleeping loft - can be far less than $2500. If the tiny house is built in the country, in the burned out wilderness, out of materials on hand {Earth & Wood} and the walls are made of rammed-earth blocks, and the rafters and roof are made of fir milled with an alaskan or mobile-dimensional mill from the still-standing, but charred trunks of the burned firs & pines.

=AND= If the Homeless themselves{those who are willing and able to work} and the Homesteaders on larger parcels of 4.444 acres up the road, are the ones working on the construction. As I wrote above:

"Marvelous things have been done in bringing back & re- greeninghttps://www.waccobb.net/forums/images/youtube.pnghttps://www.waccobb.net/forums/images/youtube.png depleted & devastated regions in China, Ethiopia, and Jordan, in recent years. Thus, there is Work, for the able-bodied among the Homeless. All they need is a little direction – and a paycheck. In exchange, they will receive both a parcel of land (slightly under half an acre is enough) and a tiny home. Rammed-earth block walls with mobile dimensional milled fir ceilings made in situ is the absolute cheapest way to go."

= Click on the links Rammed-earth = & = mobile dimensional to get my drift =

What I am saying is that every settlement needs to be equipped with this equipment.

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Then tommy wrote:

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This is not a realistic solution to the problem of the homeless.

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Actually I am correct, Tommy, & I am a builder. The solution to Homelessness is a Home - a private room with a loft on close to half an acre of terra firma. - Not some rickshaw that can be pushed along the highways & bi-ways, & not some voucher to stay in some motel for an indeterminate, but temporary period of time.

The solution for Homelessness is a Home. =AND= There are hundreds of thousands of acres of burned-over lands throughout the Pacific Northwest where people who are currently without homes may land. -And have a "real home." - a permanent one.

And yes, it would be far cheaper to build them on-site from the raw materials at hand, than to purchase commercial building materials from Home Depot or Friedman's to build them, hence my suggestions.

In the unincorporated areas of Mendocino & Humboldt Counties, tiny houses would not need sewer hook-ups, since they could use out-houses. Single units in the deep country would not need more volts of electricity than a used solar panel can generate.

Yes, what I am suggesting should be considered as the long-term Goal. And, No, it will not be easy to make it happen. But where there is a will, there is a a way.

One more component of the problem: Sometimes the cops will tell homeless people that, if they'll leave where they're camping, they'll get a shelter bed--and then there turn pout not to be any.

I've had a change of heart regarding the camps on the Joe Rodota Trail. I went to a Homeless Action! meeting on Monday. Homeless Action! is a coalition of homeless people, and their allies, that meet weekly to offer help and solutions to the homeless.

I learned there are several churches in Santa Rosa, that allow "safe parking" in their parking lots for the homeless. I learned that they have County/State funding of $450k, due to expire in Jan 2020, to establish a homeless center in Sonoma County, but have had difficulty finding a location for it.

Regarding the camp on the Joe Rodota trail, I learned that homeless representatives have been in contact with a nearby church to provide a Porta Potty. They've been trying to get trash / recycling pickup from Recology. Residents of the camp continuously pick up trash, and encourage campers to keep their camp clean. There was a man at the meeting from the adjoining apt/condo complex, who has created a dialog to promote the safety of people and property, in the complex and the camp.

I'm now remembering the slowed down video on Wacco, that showed 4 or 5 people shooting up drugs in the camp. I now view that video as alarmist, unprincipled, reactionary, and designed to inflame the public against the camp. I'm not condoning drug use. But it's unconscionable to make a video of instances of drug use, and not show other sides, of good and decent people who live in the camps, and the struggles all of them have had in securing housing.

When I actually met homeless people in the meeting, I realized that

1. they're human, and deserve compassion,
2. they've often ended up homeless due to an incident like losing a job, having an accident, losing housing, etc and
3. they deserve my heart and caring, as I could very well be in their shoes.

It's one thing to donate to charities that help people in places like Haiti or India or the Tenderloin... and have an elitist attitude toward people camped along a trail in our own neighborhood.

Being housed, it's easy, yet supremely selfish, to sit in my cushy house, and criticize those without housing.

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

The eastern half of the Joe Rodota trail has been taken over by the homeless. Be sure to watch the video below. This is such a difficult problem! I'm going to guess that Lynda Hopkins will have something to say about it next Sunday, Oct 27th, at our community picnic, along with taking your questions.

Seems to me, that providing housing with wrap-around services, is the only answer. That's going to be expensive and have its own problems, but otherwise this is just going to get worse.

Your thoughts?
Barry


http://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccob...4_15-56-29.png
Camp crowding Santa Rosa trail is new flashpoint over homeless enforcement
WILL SCHMITT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT October 19, 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVajMlYPCmw

A sprawling homeless camp of more than 100 tents and makeshift dwellings has overrun a public trail in west Santa Rosa, spurring a flood of complaints about safety and squalid living conditions and stoking public debate over what many local residents decry as another example of government’s failure to respond to an intractable problem.

The camp, which now spans about a quarter mile of the Joe Rodota Trail west of Stony Point Road, has swelled to at least 110 people in recent weeks amid a growing list of calls taken by Santa Rosa police. The tally now tops more than 80 reports regarding homelessness on the trail over the past few months, with incidents ranging from outstanding warrants to an assault with a deadly weapon.

Local officials acknowledge the unsanctioned camp is rife with health and safety issues, including the spread of untreated human waste, substance abuse and garbage strewn around the area.

Some residents say the settlement has become a blight on the popular public trail — a converted former rail right of way overseen by the county. The impact on nearby residents and businesses has also become increasingly clear. People in the camp area apparently have used drugs in broad daylight on multiple occasions, and one longtime camp denizen said this week that she knew of a bottle of urine tossed by a homeless person into an adjacent home’s backyard.

“This is a public safety hazard and a humanitarian crisis,” said Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, whose district includes the encampment.

‘Epicenter for lawlessness’

The camp’s growing size has prompted county park rangers to largely steer clear of the trail segment, part of an 8.5-mile path from Santa Rosa to Sebastopol that is a well-used route for bike commuters and recreational riders, joggers and walkers. Some have reported avoiding the path, not wanting to run a gantlet they perceive as potentially threatening. For its part, the county seems to agree, with plans now in motion to advise trail users to avoid the area.

The homeless settlement has become “this sort of epicenter for lawlessness, this sort of symbol for, honestly, everything that’s wrong in government,” Hopkins said in a candidates’ forum last week.

It poses in graphic terms another front in the now all-too-familiar conflict for parts of Sonoma County, the Bay Area and California where homelessness is rampant — a conflict, Hopkins said, between “the people who are falling through the cracks and a takeover of what is a public right of way and something that taxpayers invested in so they could commute and get out of their cars and get between west county and Santa Rosa.”

But local government has done little about the highly visible camp, in clear sight of drivers on Highway 12 and residents on Occidental Road.

Workers with Catholic Charities of Santa Rosa, the county’s largest private homeless service provider, and some local officials have made occasional patrols through the area. County homelessness teams are set to make their presence known on the trail starting this week.

But there is no firm timeline for enforcement action against the campers, and a court order limits what local officials can do until at least next summer.

“Ultimately, what we want to see is that folks are leaving the trail because they’re coming into services,” said Geoffrey Ross, the executive director of the Community Development Commission. “It’s going to be a several-week process.”

Trail users told to avoid area

While officials figure out what to do and how to do it, those who use the trail for recreation and travel will be asked to bypass the area, said Bert Whitaker, director of Sonoma County Regional Parks. Signs will soon be posted advising people to find alternate routes for the foreseeable future, he said.

Continues here

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Posted in reply to the post by tommy:

I've had a change of heart regarding the camps on the Joe Rodota Trail. ...

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Thanks for your involvement in this issue and your post.

So given "your change of heart", then what??

to All about the Trail folks.

Please read and sign to support the bike coalition petition to create change for the better for All.
Juna

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Dear Leadership Council:

https://www.waccobb.net/forums/wacco...2_19-27-56.png

The Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition is concerned about the growing homeless encampment on the Joe
Rodota Trail, which has resulted in Regional Parks posting signage directing cyclists to detour due
to safety issues.

While we seek to restore the trail to its intended purpose as a safe, car-free transportation
corridor, we also have compassion for the homeless and don’t want to inflict further misery on
people who are already suffering. The homeless people currently living there need a place to go.

In the last few years, camps have been cleared, people have been scattered, and new camps emerge
elsewhere. We need a different approach. We support the use of public land to create a sanctioned
camping area with sanitation facilities, where these people can move and various agencies can bring
services to help them. In the interim, it seems reasonable to locate some porta-potties and trash
cans near the trail to mitigate the hygiene and pollution issues.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Eris Weaver, Executive Director

Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition
[email protected] [email protected]> • 707-545-0153

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

Thanks for your involvement in this issue and your post.

So given "your change of heart", then what??

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Good words, tommy

Yes the Homeless are human, and many of them went to college and once held decent jobs. That is a fact. "There but for fortune, go you, or I" - as the song said. I am a witness. To all who are concerned about the day-to day nutritional needs of the Homeless who abound in Sonoma county these days, I would have you know that there are things that can be done to feed hungry people, locally.

One of the places where you may find an abundant supply of free food, after twelve o'clock, Monday through Saturday, is in the backyard of the Redwood Gospel Mission. The Mission has the trucks & the contacts to pick up the food from All of the local Supermarkets. - But so much Food goes to waste every day behind the Mission. It is truly a tragedy, given the current level of Hunger in this, our County.

If folks would like to help organize a Food Conveyor-Belt from the Mission to the Joe Rodota Trail (& other sites where homeless congregate) notify me. I'd be glad to make it a team effort.

At present, I am doing this alone, as I can find time. I do not have the time to do this every day. It would be nice if we could Organize a team to do this on a daily -or every other day- basis.

Hi,

Anyone desiring to help feed our hungry, contact [email protected]
The trail folks are on their list of recipients as well as many shelters.

Juna

Which Redwood Gospel Mission, where?

Dustyg, Good Question !

The Redwood Gospel Mission is located at Sixth & Wilson, just across the Street from the Arlene Francis Center; a block north from A'Roma Roasters & Old Railroad Square. (101 6th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95401)

We need to Organize, & communicate about our statement of purpose. =OR= Bloc with the already functional Sonoma food runners, as Juna has suggested... [email protected]

Tommy,

Glad you're grateful for your cushy home - and, I trust, for your couple dozen rentals.

A RADICAL IDEA: how about making a few of them available at less than market rate to those of us without a home right now. That would be walking the talk.

I myself would sure welcome a place to live. I'm about to take off for abroad for a while, where it costs far less to live, and to take a break from having been looking for months and not finding housing around Sebastopol.

Best, Jude

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Posted in reply to the post by tommy:

I've had a change of heart regarding the camps on the Joe Rodota Trail....

Being housed, it's easy, yet supremely selfish, to sit in my cushy house, and criticize those without housing.

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Kudos on your wide-angle POV and understanding of this Gordian Knot of a problem! Regarding the inflammatory video showing "campers" shooting up what are assumed to be drugs:

• In addition to providing housing (not "shelters" or "centers" which sound good but fix nothing), we need to provide safe injection sites and needle exchange;
• It is quite possible the substance being injected on the video is insulin, not recreational or black-market drugs.

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Posted in reply to the post by tommy:

...I'm now remembering the slowed down video on Wacco, that showed 4 or 5 people shooting up drugs in the camp. I now view that video as alarmist, unprincipled, reactionary, and designed to inflame the public against the camp. I'm not condoning drug use. But it's unconscionable to make a video of instances of drug use, and not show other sides, of good and decent people who live in the camps, and the struggles all of them have had in securing housing.

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I have written to 5th District Supervisor Lynda Hopkins twice in the past 6 weeks, requesting her involvement and resources to secure public toilets and trash cans within the homeless encampment alongside Highway 12. As yet, unfortunately, there has been no response from her office.

In reading numerous experiences and encounters of and from those walking, biking, and living along this now hideously neglected stretch of county (and newly City of Santa Rosa annexed) public trail - along with descriptions of those whose circumstances require living there in tents and cardboard boxes . . . is a mess of neglect to behold. The result of this demise is to reveal the breakdown of necessary resources in order to run interference and to re-place resources. Rather than take alarming and reactionary videos of those with addictions, please request (and vote) for policies, services, enforcement and above all, those decision makers who pay and enact attention.

Please do not rely upon the well meaning, yet minimally resourced food banks, churches for showers, overcrowded and minimally supervised drug and crime infested temporary "beds", clothing drop-offs, cold nights, and lack of attention. Instead, please demand from those who we have elected (city and county) that they step up and convert the empty spaces into safe places for those who deserve to sleep at night without fear of being robbed, attacked, and/or denied hygiene, counseling, needle exchange and above all, the message that there are options because this matters.

No one wants to suffer. Nobody wants to feel less than.
The disparity is obvious and will continue until there's intervention.
Ask those who make decisions to take care of necessary business. Isn't that why they got involved? Or not.

At the Homeless Action! meeting, what's needed is a place to house about 30 people, in 12 tiny houses and 12 RVs. Homeless Action has received $450 k (mostly for proposed management) from the City & State sponsored "Leadership Council". It'd be a temporary village, on wheels, with a common kitchen and bathrooms. There'd be case managers and others keeping peace and health standards. The property size is 1/8 acre or more. The agreement would be for a minimum of 18 months, with a desired 5 year term.

Please contact Adrienne Lauby from Homeless Action! or myself, if you know of any possible places.

Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

Thanks for your involvement in this issue and your post.

So given "your change of heart", then what??

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tommy, you wrote:

Quote:

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At the Homeless Action! meeting, what's needed is a place to house about 30 people, in 12 tiny houses and 12 RVs. Homeless Action has received $450 k (mostly for proposed management) from the City & State sponsored "Leadership Council". It'd be a temporary village, on wheels, with a common kitchen and bathrooms. There'd be case managers and others keeping peace and health standards. The property size is 1-2 acres. The agreement would be for a minimum of 18 months, with a desired 5 year term.

Please contact Adrienne Lauby from Homeless Action! or myself, if you know of any possible places.

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But you also wrote:

Quote:

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I learned that they have County/State funding of $450k, due to expire in Jan 2020, to establish a homeless center in Sonoma County, but have had difficulty finding a location for it.

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So, if a place is not found in the next six weeks will the money evaporate? Nice of the State & County to dangle a carrot that like when they know very well it is next to nigh impossible to find a place. Again, the nimbys will prevail as they have in this regard in this county for the last thirty years of this illusive Quest for a small pasture where the Homeless may safely - & legally set up their tents or park their RVs.

We need to see this window of six weeks time as a Crisis - Just as the Situation of Homelessness in California has reached Crisis level.

Let us know, tommy, where (and at what hour) the group, "Homeless Action" meets on Monday Nights. It should be attended as it if were a Town Hall Meeting - at least until the matter of finding a venue for the grant money can be settled...

=ALSO= please let us know how to contact Adrienne Lauby...

Jude: No need to be rude to Tommy. Many of us have lived here for a long time, have no rentals (let alone a couple of dozen) and are barely able to stay here ourselves.

Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by Jude Iam:

Tommy,

Glad you're grateful for your cushy home - and, I trust, for your couple dozen rentals.

A RADICAL IDEA: how about making a few of them available at less than market rate to those of us without a home right now. That would be walking the talk....

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Dusty,

I don't follow your reasoning ("Many of us have lived here for a long time, have no rentals (let alone a couple of dozen) and are barely able to stay here ourselves" - right: if you had rentals, you WOULD be able to stay.)

At any rate, there's a distinction between rude and forthright and I'd like to be on the forthright side.

When one is in the position of being able to actually help a situation that one is going on about, I believe that doing something OR quitting talking is usually referred to as "Put up or shut up" - that's expressed more rudely.

How many houses / rentals does one person need? When hundreds and thousands of folks are without ANY home.

How much income can even be used by ONE person? Just how much rent comes in monthly from 21 units in Sonoma County? Annually?

Taken up a degree, Bernie says that billionaires should be illegal. I agree. Too radical? Not for the 99.999%.

Jude

Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by Dustyg:

Jude: No need to be rude to Tommy. Many of us have lived here for a long time, have no rentals (let alone a couple of dozen) and are barely able to stay here ourselves.

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Homeless Action! meets every Monday morning at 9:30 -11:00 at the Methodist Church, 1551 Montgomery Dr, Santa Rosa. They meet in a room with an exterior door to the front sidewalk, on the east side of the complex.

Adrienne's email is [email protected]

Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by Mayacaman:

...Let us know, tommy, where (and at what hour) the group, "Homeless Action" meets on Monday Nights. It should be attended as it if were a Town Hall Meeting - at least until the matter of finding a venue for the grant money can be settled...

=ALSO= please let us know how to contact Adrienne Lauby...

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Thanks for the information about how the general public can step in and contribute in their capacity. I started getting involved while the fire shut down most of all local businesses etc....and brought food cooked in my tiny RV home. Now I am more motivated to help because I realized that while some people are working on more permanent solutions, I can help with the organizing of the distribution of much needed supplies.

This is the list of what is urgently needed hopefully before the rain:

Tarps or plastic sheeting that can be grommeted and used to keep dry.
Tents for people sleeping on crates without cover
Hand sanitizers, wet ones or body wipes
Men jackets
Blankets
Garbage cans with wheels
Hand warmers
Storage bins with tops (Rodent proof)

These items can be deposited and distributed by Reyvon Hill (trail resident and organizer) near entrance by Goodwill store. Cell: 707-757-4567 [email protected] Please contact her to find out how you can help even if all you can do is a load of laundry or whatever...

I am providing her with chargeable battery packs for her and other residents cell phones for open communication.

To get informed: Homeless Action meeting every Monday (9:30 -11) Methodist Church 1551 Montgomery Dr, Santa Rosa McMullen Room Coordinator Adrienne Lauby [email protected]

Local meetings at the trail by entrance: Sundays 11 AM and Wednesdays 6 PM.

Next Board of Supervisor Meeting: Mon 11/18 at 8:30 (575 Administration Drive, SR, room 102A

I can organize donation pick up, please text me at 707-334-3490

Thanks for your input Barbara, this is what I just wrote on the Homeless encampment along the Joe Rodota Trail thread........I was at their meeting last Wednesday at 6pm and I met some pretty amazing people who want to help and make a difference, from food prep to whatever. The porto potty issue is in the works. Adrienne from Homeless Action is working on it. Mountain Fresh Spring water located in Cotati I believe just donated 100 5GL water containers which are brought 5 at the time on site. They are committed to sanitize and reuse these containers to provide needed potable water to the residents. Sanitation is a big issue and the trail residents are being rallied to keep trail clean and safe for the general public use. This is what I wrote on the post:

“Thanks for the information about how the general public can step in and contribute in their capacity. I started getting involved while the fire shut down most of all local businesses etc....and brought food cooked in my tiny RV home. Now I am more motivated to help because I realized that while some people are working on more permanent solutions, I can help with the organizing of the distribution of much needed supplies.

A new Facebook page has been started last Sunday by Rochelle called “Sonoma County Acts of Kindness”.

This is the list of what is urgently needed hopefully before the rain:

Tarps or plastic sheeting that can be grommeted and used to keep dry.
Tents for people sleeping on crates without cover
Hand sanitizers, wet ones or body wipes
Men jackets
Blankets
Garbage cans with wheels
Hand warmers
Storage bins with tops (Rodent proof)

These items can be deposited and distributed by Reyvon Hill (trail resident and organizer) near entrance by Goodwill store. Cell: 707-757-4567[email protected] Please contact her to find out how you can help even if all you can do is a load of laundry or whatever...

I am providing her with chargeable battery packs for her and other residents cell phones for open communication.

To get informed: Homeless Action meeting every Monday (9:30 -11) Methodist Church 1551 Montgomery Dr, Santa Rosa McMullen Room Coordinator Adrienne Lauby [email protected]

Local meetings at the trail by entrance: Sundays 11 AM and Wednesdays 6 PM.

Next Board of Supervisor Meeting: Mon 11/18 at 8:30 (575 Administration Drive, SR, room 102A

I can organize donation pick up, please text me at 707-334-3490.”

Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by Barbara Harris:

I have written to 5th District Supervisor Lynda Hopkins twice in the past 6 weeks, requesting her involvement and resources to secure public toilets and trash cans within the homeless encampment alongside Highway 12. As yet, unfortunately, there has been no response from her office. ...

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Thanks Marie!! Yes if anyone would like to join our group to help come together and organize help with no judgment or negativity please feel free! It really has become such a great group of compassionate people!

Facebook Group: Sonoma County Acts of Kindness - Click to join!

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Posted in reply to the post by DivineLightBeing:

Thanks for your input Barbara, ...

A new Facebook page has been started last Sunday by Rochelle called “Sonoma County Acts of Kindness”.

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There is a large property along I believe, Ludwig road that has a chain-link fence around it. does anyone know who owns it? Someone told me once that the Feds were going to put an airport there or something like that, but it is a large, flat area with this security fence around it. I do not know anything more about it other than it seems curious to have such a fence around such a large area where there is nothing but a field and a couple of trees.

I also noted for two recent cold nights, smoke from campfires from under those tinder dry trees...

Hi! They also have meetings at the trail. There’s one this Sunday at 11 am. A rep from the homeless action group will be there. Adrienne cannot make it that day but someone will be there and I will be live streaming it on My fb page Rochelle Roberts and on our group page. Please keep in mind if you want to join our group it for folks that want to help with no judgment or negativity. I found we needed a safe place to do so because some people get very angry about people helping them. Here’s the link if anyone would like it
https://www.facebook.com/groups/4055...480/?ref=share Thanks!

Thank you for your thoughtful response and support.
The list of items that are needed is very helpful and can be easily circulated in asking for specific assistance.
As are the resources on-site as well as within the community.

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Posted in reply to the post by DivineLightBeing:

Thanks for your input Barbara, this is what I just wrote on the Homeless encampment along the Joe Rodota Trail thread..........

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Posted in reply to the post by pamelaL:

There is a large property along I believe, Ludwig road that has a chain-link fence around it. does anyone know who owns it? ...

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I remember being told it is an old National Guard airfield.

I remember there being some old army barracks out there off of Wright Rd.
The entire area closed off with barbed wire fence.....maybe there was once, or meant to be, a small airport there.
Also a bomb shelter.
Cold War era stuff.
Probably asbestos and lead laden.
If the feds would only use vacant lands like this to build housing for our homeless !
Not saying to put them in the toxic barracks though.
And let's get these people therapy and drug treatment, already !

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Posted in reply to the post by pamelaL:

There is a large property along I believe, Ludwig road that has a chain-link fence around it. does anyone know who owns it?

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yes, there was an airport there and if I remember it was an old army post.

Is the area you're talking about 3840 Finley Avenue? If so, Barracks 33 is privately owned by Julian Billote. who renovated the building and is renting out several art studio spaces there. I don't know if he owns the rest of the property. The barracks across the way from him has also been renovated and is being used by artists.

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Posted in reply to the post by DivineLightBeing:

Thanks for your input Barbara, this is what I just wrote on the Homeless encampment along the Joe Rodota Trail thread...........

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This all sounds wonderful, any suggestions for the substance abuse component? Approximately %95 of the homeless people I've encountered have meth and alcohol related issues. Often enough they are receiving an income from the government (SSI, Social Security) however are choosing to use the money to buy drugs...I'm not kidding. They're not interested in renting a room or getting treatment.

Yes, it's upsetting how drugs can hijack a person's entire being.
It breaks my heart !
How to subvert the power of these substances ?????

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Posted in reply to the post by Meinvelt:

This all sounds wonderful, any suggestions for the substance abuse component? ....

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I believe you're right about Finley Ave. I remember looking into living there in the 90s and decided no. OK, so then what's on Ludvig (the street someone else indicated) ? Perhaps more of the same.

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Posted in reply to the post by Cynthia Poten:

Is the area you're talking about 3840 Finley Avenue? If so, Barracks 33 is privately owned by Julian Billote. who renovated the building and is renting out several art studio spaces there. I don't know if he owns the rest of the property. The barracks across the way from him has also been renovated and is being used by artists.

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Vocational Academy with a campground and a Nightclub, no kidding, A very loose woven makers space that develops a community garage club. Simple as that.

Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by Stiles:

Yes, it's upsetting how drugs can hijack a person's entire being.
It breaks my heart !
How to subvert the power of these substances ?????

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The "Finley" property has several bldgs w/different owners. One owner has a property which has a radio station, I think, which was made available for a homeless encampment. The state made almost $.5 mil. for the creation of a camp, I think, with the goal of allowing the bike path, and other homeless, shelter for the winter, at least.

The property owner, kbbk( I think) reneged on their offer, I don't know why. This leaves 7weeks to find a replacement site or the available money goes away

The grant to find, create and monitor the "campsite " was given to the Homeless Action! group. They are actively looking for a replacement.

Adrienne Lauby is a co-founder. [email protected]. If that email is wrong, I'll provide another one that works, maybe another Wacco-ite can provide additional contact info for the group

Radio Station was, for years, KBBF....probably still is...

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Posted in reply to the post by patnicholson:

...The property owner, kbbk( I think) reneged on their offer, I don't know why. ...

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I have known some substance abusers in the past, most of them are no longer alive. In my experience, no one else can help them until they decide to do it themselves. Giving them money or anything they can sell, will only enable their bad habits. They will steal from their own family and friends. Sorry to say that, but it’s the truth. They will not stop until they are forced to.

Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by Stiles:

Yes, it's upsetting how drugs can hijack a person's entire being.
It breaks my heart !
How to subvert the power of these substances ?????

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I live a marginal lifestyle(below tax rate income worker /artist) and have all my life
I am homeless (homefree)but have many good friends who happily house me .Lucky I am ,blessed ,and a bit crazy.

I care deeply for the home-free situation please keep in mind for many years there were more home free people world wide than those with houses .and in a way the MOST homeless people are renters ,homeless and moneyless!

That being said .I just want to take a calming effect on the rhetoric here.
I saw the camp,so I got on my bike in my bike dude duds with helmet and all and took about an hour to amble along ,do a little pick up of trash,and meet homeless folks along the trail
Everyone was nice and polite, courteous and respectful .
It was not too messy . and I enjoyed a beautiful day (the smoke was a bit thick second day of the fire ) no one had evacuated from that area .
Most of Roseland was business as usual.
I think too much money has been spent on studies ,etc and not enough on actually caring for people.

TINY HOUSES should be distinguished from TINY SHELTERS .Tiny houses as we know them Locally are on WHEELS requiring a strong and fairly expensive trailer as foundation .requiring a relationship with DMV ,and LAND to hook up on and are as illegal as any other house trailer in Sonoma county accept on agricultural zoned land with real septic hook up . all this adds up$.

a tiny shelter can be part of a complex of same must be insignificantly small 10 by 12? and being considered temporary can possibly slip under building code restrictions or city or county can make exceptions
unfortunately this is where you run into huge politics "not in MY back yard "syndrome . and landowners protecting property rights . An ugly mess. In santa rosa the ONY place acceptable for a person with no home in on the side walk ,WITHOUT a tent (not blocking the sidewalk) in the bushes no no no , in a car no no no and you can get dead . on a mattress NO.
there are approximately 20 to 30 LARGE business buildings on Santa Rosa Ave alone that have been sitting EMPTY for 15 years .some have realty signs on them I have called those realtors they NEVER return the call.
what are these TAX write-offs? equipped with porta potties and running water they could home the homeless in about 1 week
In Spain there is a rule if you own a building and do not use it someone else can just move in and use it as long as the keep it in as good or better condition than they find it !

a simple LAW like that could revolutionise this near Ghost town atmosphere on S. Santa Rosa ave .

there are a bunch of HUGE emptys in the industrial park area in s, Roseland. ?? why what are they for?gaint new expensive cement monoliths . Ghost town.

what kind of humans are we anyway?how does this make sense .what gives PRIVATE property owners so much power over the stewardship of these un-commens and why?
count up the EMPTY dairy barns on wineries in Sonoma and Mendocino county! hundreds (wineries buy old dairy farms ,wineries do not NEED these old buildings ,so they sit there unused ,NO you cant use or rent them that's a LIABILITY ! my favorite word! the ability to LIE to whoever you want if you can afford it!
see the problem with us home-less folks is summed up neatly in repuglican rhetoric ,we are LOSERS!

So I donate tents sleeping bags clothing luggage carts wagons food toiletries etc to the centers ...

there needs to be a publicly sanctioned village with composting waste system COB STRAWBALE tiny shelters with tin roofs (fire proof )
(Tarps and tents wear out in one or two seasons and distribute plastic pollution) supplied with recology green grey and blue cans . Can we do that? needs to be close enough to a post office and a 7-11 .

I know one homeless guy Named Mark who manages an extra large and LEGAL shopping cart full of TOOLS ,he cleans and tidys and gardens wherever he goes ,and will come and do your yard if you live close to Roseland !! just contact me and I'll let him know ,(no charge,but if you want to give him a sandwich of a few bucks he'll bless you ,and I guarantee ,his blessing are real and genuine .)

solar charging stations would be a popular gift!

Nico

Interesting, you didn't come across any meth addicts? At least 95% of the homeless I've encountered are meth fans. Perhaps we have two different realities.

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Posted in reply to the post by nicofrog:

I live a marginal lifestyle...

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I have taken care of a 55 yrs old who was gang raped at 12 yrs old for 8 yrs in my own home because she was “walking on walls” in a psychiatric facility. These people have live through trauma you would not believe. It is time to stop labeling them and treating them like animals or less than because they hurt inside. FYI, even if my client’s father was able to pay for the boarding care and she went to so many counseling meetings etc.... basically all she had to fall back on is prescribed drugs (psych drugs that turned her into a zombie).... that doesn’t stop the self hate and the “addiction personality” or desire to numb the pain with anything she could put her hand on. What these people need FIRST AND FOREMOST is a SAFE place where they can live and cope to the best of their ability. Healing deep sited trauma is not done over night and usually not successfully addressed by the system who wants quick fixes. I believe in the power of the Tribe, a well supported one, in order to release what needs to be transmuted.

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Posted in reply to the post by Meinvelt:

This all sounds wonderful, any suggestions for the substance abuse component? ... They're not interested in renting a room or getting treatment.

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This FB page has grown from 300 to 750 in about less than 10 days I believe. Lots of people want to be involved and feel totally outraged. Let’s milk that to find a workable solution. Homeless Action (check Gregory Fearon www.sonomavillages.org) had the hope to use the old KBBF radio station location to build lots of tiny homes with the allocated $450,000 possible fund if proposal approved. Well I think there is a $100,000 litigation connected to KBBF making this site not usable—a huge step back for Homeless Action as I understand it. Now they have less than 2 months to come up with another location otherwise these funds may disappear.

Who has either the funds to unlock this deadlock or has the land that can be used for the purpose of providing a safe place for these homeless people to take their power back and rebuild their lives?????
This is the question!

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Posted in reply to the post by Barbara Harris:

Thank you for your thoughtful response and support.
The list of items that are needed is very helpful and can be easily circulated in asking for specific assistance.
As are the resources on-site as well as within the community.

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This is a brilliant post and thank you for sharing. You are speaking Truth to Power! It is time to face the truth and tell it like it is. I would love to hear more about this kind of input because so far I have been blown away by how much common sense and wisdom some of these “homeless people” have.

Marianne Williamson who is running for President said at the Democratic convention: “We need to change the bottom line in this country from an economic bottom line to a humanitarian bottom line. It is time for us to stand for humanitarian values. You just don’t improve your economy to improve the state of humanity, you improve THE STATE OF HUMANITY and that will boost your economy!”

For sure, that is a fact! I just spend several hours in meetings from the Homeless action meeting on Monday at 9:30am and I sat in the Iain de Jong power point presentation at 2pm (Urgent and Emergency Community engagement - 627, 1st) where all the various organizations were represented. None of what you are sharing right here has been spoken about unfortunately. But what was shared is how much more expensive it is in the long run to deal with un-housed individuals who have no chance to get back on their feet and the dead end question, do we allocate funds for the long halt or for the short term emergency situation. (Politics)... because there are not enough funds to deal with both....

So my bottom line is this: are we going to continue putting our heads in the sand and deny the obvious truth here that we worship money over people in this country? In my country of origin (France) every municipality has a field dedicated to host one part of our society that is nomadic “the gypsies”. This field is used for their RV’s and provides bathrooms, water and whatever minimum is needed for their stay that can last from a few weeks to a few months. We do not have homeless people sleeping on the side of the street. If a property get vacated by someone who dies and doesn’t have heirs to go to, these properties are managed by the mayor and used for people who need it and can’t afford rent. It is usually a temporary situation but we do take care of individual needs and usually when people are given a brake for a few months or so, they can rebuild their lives and get back on track where they can take care of themselves.

Yes that doesn’t solve the emotional/mental/co-dependency issues associated with drugs but let’s face addiction for a second or two. Who is not? Collectively, we are addicted to ignorance and bigotry.... How do we treat and think about people who are different from us, from the color other skin to their beliefs or lifestyle or whatever. This country is considered the wealthiest of the world and look how you treat your people for God sake! Who has the money is making the decisions. If our elected representative are told “we don’t want homeless people in our neighborhoods” every effort is going to be shortcut and lead to nowhere.

So grass root organizations and unselfish people who want to make a difference ultimately will. It happened near Seattle where the homelessness was very prevalent there. I heard of a wealthy individual who bought a large hotel that was for sale and the land surrounding it. It was donated to the homeless who created a whole functional community there with the help of various organizations. People planted commune gardens and orchards... it became a hub for people to take a break and heal and live and die there in dignity. So many of this example are happening here and there. Why not in our community!

The system will not do it.... the monies that are dedicated to homelessness is not being used for what it is meant to because of so many dead locks and greed.... it is heart breaking. But you and me and anyone who believes we have the power, through unity, cooperation, good will, putting our heads and our hearts together can make all the difference.

How come Jillian and Rochelle Roberts (the milleniums) in less than a week built a community of 750 people through their Facebook page “Sonoma County Acts of Kindness” and are collecting and distributing tons of supplies and goods that people need so desperately. I heard of a 70 yrs old woman on the trail that didn’t have a blanket to sleep with.... she was collecting sweaters to hope to make one. Since my last post on WaccoBB which I wrote less than 2 weeks ago, I saw a huge difference on the trail. Someone stepped in and provided tarps, plastic sheets to protect residents belonging and flash lights etc... people are organizing food distribution.

However the distribution of water was stopped because the 5 gallon bottles didn’t come with distribution stands and therefore sanitation issues where brought up.... next the porto potty is also a political issue and needs to be accepted by authorities or they are removed almost as soon as they are put in.

Horse manure has been spread along the trail to discourage more tents being put up there.
Threats of a “sweep” in order to evacuate everyone on the trail even if they have no place to go is in the works. This is like pouring fuel ON the fire. These people are already traumatized to the max. How can they reclaim their power if they have to deal with such survival challenges? Come on people, time to stand up and SPEAK YOUR TRUTH TO POWER!

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Posted in reply to the post by nicofrog:

I live a marginal lifestyle(below tax rate income worker /artist) and have all my life
I am homeless (homefree)but have many good friends who happily house me .Lucky I am ,blessed ,and a bit crazy....

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There is an article in today’s SF Chronicle about new homeless housing and addiction treatment center on Treasure Island, where there aren’t neighbors to object. Looks like an ideal situation! I recommend reading it.

95% of the people you've "encountered" have meth and alcohol related issues. This number isn't a statistic by itself. How many people did you "encounter"? How many males/females, ages, and other vital aspects of a research type interview. What questions did you ask? Or maybe it wasn't actually research, but just showing up to show some compassion? To uncover some unapparent truths that you could share with those of us who don't know about these 95%? I'd really like to know how many people you "encountered" and for how long the encounter lasted. Did you see and smell visual signs of meth and alcohol related issues?

I think there's a high percentage of alcohol related issues in nearly 95% of the population that thrives on drinking substantial amounts of the "fine wine" this county produces. Those issues can be easily hidden behind closed doors in expensive homes. They may not do "meth", but might choose cocaine, a more acceptable drug in those circles. I've been in two homes of professionals where cocaine was available for all party attendees. In one home, there was actually a pyramid of cocaine, I'm guessing about 8" high. One of the party givers was a bank manager; the other was merely a professional gangster. Ah, but they weren't homeless drug addicts; they had homes, and expensive ones. That does make a difference doesn't it?

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Posted in reply to the post by Meinvelt:

This all sounds wonderful, any suggestions for the substance abuse component? Approximately %95 of the homeless people I've encountered have meth and alcohol related issues. ...

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I work in a hospital, lab results tell all.....

Hi everyone. This weekend we plan a clean up on the trail and to help them get their tents off the ground with pallets to protect their belongings until they can be moved. Lots of rain next week. Any suggestions on Organizations that could help or donated supplies such as gloves, masks, rakes, protective gear? We have been putting in a lot of work down there and some help with this would be amazing. If you’d like to join our group on Facebook or reach out on here..we would love the help

The solutions exist and so do the funds.It is just a question of priorities, transparency.and forcing the hand to act. Proper attempts at actual viable solutions especially with large facilities that already exist could be better utilized for people in need. It is all a question of the priorities of the actual decision makers for Sonoma County. Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) still sits empty in the town of Eldridge while it's future development plans may be in process. How shameful that in a wealthy area like Sonoma County where there are over $3,000 homeless people who are laying on sidewalks, living in doorways, tents or wherever they can be, how they.are not being offered helped in a realistic way. SDC is it's own town and can house and help many people with proper management. SDC can be set up to provide services of all kinds in one local area for a large number of people and there is plenty of room for expansion if needed. I wonder why no one ever mentions SDC or questions why it is not being used as a site for our large homeless population?

Nico, Thank you for sharing your rational wisdom and experience. As always, you help us see things from a more compassionate place, in our consumeristic jugmental world. Keep talking; some of us are listening....:wink2:

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Posted in reply to the post by nicofrog:

I live a marginal lifestyle(below tax rate income worker /artist) and have all my life
I am homeless (homefree)...

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Could/Would you provide some details of the lab results tests, and the statistics so we can all be well informed about those people who had those lab tests? Or if that takes too much time, how about a link so we can find the results you refer to?

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Posted in reply to the post by Meinvelt:

I work in a hospital, lab results tell all.....

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Sorry! How do I make a Hot link?

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Posted in reply to the post by Shandi:

Facebook site needs to be a hot link, please.

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Don't have the time. That said, I was being generous with my 95% "guestimate" regarding the homeless who come for assist....more like 98%. Not responding anymore thanks.

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Posted in reply to the post by Stargazer:

SDC can be set up to provide services of all kinds in one local area for a large number of people and there is plenty of room for expansion if needed. I wonder why no one ever mentions SDC or questions why it is not being used as a site for our large homeless population?

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I'm sure there are a zillion reasons why it's not.. but that's the nature of 'reasons' -- you can always make a case for something and against something. I think the use of existing empty facilities, reasonably near town (who believes that people want to be relocated to the boonies?) seems to be the best of a bunch of bad options. It seems like the need to provide some kind of solution should overcome the objections to any specific site.

Meinvelt, are those lab test results you mentioned from a wide section of the total homeless population or primarily from the emergency room labs?

If the latter, it clearly indicates bias and your opinion is just that, an opinion and is not evidence-based enough to be of any value to solving or even knowing the totality of the homelessness issue/s regarding meth or much anything else directly related to homelessness in Sonoma County or anywhere else.

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Posted in reply to the post by Meinvelt:

I work in a hospital, lab results tell all.....

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Certainly; without more factual information than you have given so far in this thread.
The part of your statement, IE: "lab results tell all", is a generalization.

In your postings on this thread, you have implied that there is a large percentage of 'Meth' use among the vast majority, (of homeless people) and therefore, large percent of homeless people are currently meth users, ("fans").
[Citation] "At least 95% of the homeless I've encountered are meth fans"

Is that what you meant; [that] large percent of homeless people at large in Sonoma County and/or California, or anywhere else for that matter, are currently meth users?:hmmm:

I suppose one can split-hairs on the words "fans" and "users" but... :sarcasm: ...?

Hotspring, & All...

Many of those who are currently homeless in America today are users or abusers of drugs of some sort. That's the testimony of street people themselves who were interviewed in the Documentary, "Seattle is Dying" produced by the television station KOMO in Seattle. There is a drug epidemic in America at this time and many of the Homeless are into opioids & methadrine. That is a sad fact.

It was not always so. Back in the early 1990's many of the homeless in San Francisco were working poor who simply could not come up with first & last months rent +plus+ the cleaning deposit. I think that overall, the main thing that has led to the current epidemic of drug abuse is depression, and despair. It is a function also of the death wish. People want out. Drugs are a way of slowing killing oneself, without pulling the trigger or jumping off the bridge.

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"At least 95% of the homeless I've encountered are meth fans"

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Oh ya, that's a perfect place for them......with all the RADIATION on Treasure Island !!
What a great science experiment !

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Posted in reply to the post by BEE KIND:

There is an article in today’s SF Chronicle about new homeless housing and addiction treatment center on Treasure Island, where there aren’t neighbors to object. Looks like an ideal situation! I recommend reading it.

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Stargazer wrote:

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... Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) still sits empty in the town of Eldridge while it's future development plans may be in process. .... SDC can be set up to provide services of all kinds in one local area for a large number of people and there is plenty of room for expansion if needed. I wonder why no one ever mentions SDC or questions why it is not being used as a site for our large homeless population?

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I think that this is a wonderful idea. It should be fully explored and pursued.

That may very well be true of stats in the hospital where you work. I just don't know. However, FWIW, I do take your word on what you say your experience has been in your workplace.

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Posted in reply to the post by Meinvelt:

Don't have the time. That said, I was being generous with my 95% "guestimate" regarding the homeless who come for assist....more like 98%. Not responding anymore thanks.

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To say "Many" is one thing. To say 95%, (and inferring that 95% is low-balling), is almost like saying, all of...
...Just saying.

It is not like I/we don't know that homelessness for "many" is at least in part be because of drug, alcohol abuse and addiction.

That being said, there are many systemic societal causes that have recently exacerbated homelessness than just 'the homeless' peoples drug and alcohol use in and of it self.

It also has allot to do with what society values. In particular, the me vs. them attitude that has so much permeated American society politic, which is one thing that I believe is a major causative factor contributing to the why there is so much of too-little-too-late action/s from our representatives as far as adequately making the initial investments of time, space and money that are all needed to work in concert to succeed with ending the increasing homelessness crisis in most places where it exists.

As far as I can tell, the homelessness crisis is exemplified in Sonoma County, (not only Sonoma County by itself, but it is quite prevalent none the less), [is] the NIMBY-ism which is most certainly a humongous hurtle to get over, which, in the long-run, may show to be next to impossible to get past.

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Posted in reply to the post by Mayacaman:

Hotspring, & All...

Many of those who are currently homeless in America today are users or abusers of drugs of some sort. That's the testimony of street people themselves who were interviewed in the Documentary, "Seattle is Dying" produced by the television station KOMO in Seattle. There is a drug epidemic in America at this time and many of the Homeless are into opioids & methadrine. That is a sad fact.

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Also, IMO, a homeless person wanting 'out' of a desperate and seemingly hopeless situation, such as, where the drug and alcohol use is noticed by others. Just consider that homelessness is oftentimes symptomatic of other issues. Consider the actions of the homeless person who is in constant stress is not so much having a "death-wish" either conscious or subconscious, but rather a desperate act out of of despair.

Just because a percentage of homeless people may or do have a very real "death wish" is not a reason to condemn those who are homeless that do not whom are in extreme psychological distress whereas, drug and alcohol use etc. undeniably does exist but is more symptomatic of psychological distress than an actual desired permanent condition on their part.

There are homeless people who are desperate, that need societal help and they are not getting enough of it, in large part because of the generalizations such as 95%+ are meth-heads or opioid addicted needle users, etc.. Also, a general lack of reasonable empathy from those that 'have' which I think needs to be addressed with more outreach to the 'haves' with accurate information instead of being loaded with bias generalizations.

:hmmm: Also, I wonder how many 'invisible' homeless there are who do not fit into the common generalizations that get overlooked.

I’m sorry I’m insulted by the use of the term Meth Fans to start with. I’d like to know if this 95% is a census you actually took or is this just your impression of who homeless must be? What a heartless response to the post of someone who took the time to walk and talk amongst the people there and check out what’s going on himself, contribute some very important details and some practical suggestions.

I too see these empty commercial buildings sit empty for years on end and wonder the same. But if the movement to be of service and to truly help those that do not have the means, then let’s provide housing for people regardless of what they are a fan of. When we get the providing of safe shelters buttoned up then I suggest tackling other needs of those most likely to be the occupants. Until then you’re either putting the cart before the horse or already discriminating.

There are existing programs and professionals in that arena so no “suggestions “ to deal with the addiction issue are not needed. You turn to those organizations for support that are professionally equipped and trained. He didn’t go there looking for meth addicts, he went there looking for people, the people that could use some support. We should all try to live in a sense of community.

If I have 3 and you have none well of course I can share. And if you have nothing to offer of possession or goods then we all have what this person who posted has and that is time - time to talk to someone time to know more about those less fortunate sleeping and surviving out there tonite.

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Posted in reply to the post by Meinvelt:

Interesting, you didn't come across any meth addicts? At least 95% of the homeless I've encountered are meth fans. Perhaps we have two different realities.

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Hotspring 44 wrote:

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“…there are many systemic societal causes that have recently exacerbated homelessness than just 'the homeless' peoples drug and alcohol use in and of it self.

It also has a lot to do with what society values. In particular, the me vs. them attitude that has so much permeated American society politic, which is one thing that I believe is a major causative factor contributing to the why there is so much of too-little-too-late action/s from our representatives as far as adequately making the initial investments of time, space and money that are all needed to work in concert to succeed with ending the increasing homelessness crisis in most places where it exists.

As far as I can tell, the homelessness crisis is exemplified in Sonoma County, (not only Sonoma County by itself, but it is quite prevalent none the less), [is] the NIMBY-ism which is most certainly a humongous hurtle to get over, which, in the long-run, may show to be next to impossible to get past.

There are homeless people who are desperate, that need societal help and they are not getting enough of it, in large part because of the generalizations such as 95%+ are meth-heads or opioid addicted needle users, etc.. Also, a general lack of reasonable empathy from those that 'have' which I think needs to be addressed with more outreach to the 'haves' with accurate information instead of being loaded with bias generalizations.

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All true, Hotspring 44. The “death wish” I spoke of does not connote blame or onus on those who are homeless. It is only a bi-product of the despair that has overwhelmed many who have been up against it so long that they see no way out.

I agree with you one hundred percent, that “It also has a lot to do with what society values…” In fact I would say that it has everything to do with what society values.

“Society” ought to value “People.” – Even if they are considered the “dregs” of Society. No one should be homeless in America. No one. No one should be without food or clothing, or shelter. – No matter how lost or undone they are. It is a national shame that this has come to be; and it is up to us, who are among the “haves” to try to fix it.

That is the reason why I propose the re-institution of the Homestead Act = So that folks who are now without permanent shelter may be endowed with a home, in a planned community.

This is a copy of my personal response to DivineLightBeing:

Thank you for writing from your personal experience. We have too many "general jugements" from those who've never taken the time to reach out in compassion.

I also was a "care-giver" for a Bipolar young 22 year old man who was nearly homeless if not for my compassion. At our first "encounter" I just shared half of my sandwich, while I listened "deeply" to him. After a few minutes, he removed his headphones that blared music so he could separate from the pain in his body and soul. I looked into his eyes the entire time he spoke, without interrupting him. It was like being under a rushing waterfall of raging, yet mournful emotions, but I stayed the course. (My own brother was Bipolar from birth, and killed himself at 39.)

This young man, who's name was Richie, stopped talking, and only said one thing to me: "You're REALLY LISTENING!" I simply responded "Yes, I am"

For the next 25 years, I assisted him in many ways with food, clothing, shoes,housing, transportation to appointments and the ER. I also help him obtain Cannibus, which worked better than any of his psych drugs that he took faithfully, in spite of the stomach pains, nausea, and extreme weight gain. Cannabis calmed him, and allowed him a bit of joy in his tragic existance. He tried unsuccessfully to kill himself five times.

He died two years ago, with congestive heart failure, asthma, and diabetes. He had died on the surgeon's table several years before, and was resusitated. He was mad at not being allowed to die, and also at not seeing "heaven" or "god" as promised by so many.

I have many heartfelt letters from him, over the years, showing gratitude to me. They could fill a book, if I ever took the time to create it.

He was the most compassionate person I've ever known. It seemed that everything I gave him in the way of shoes, clothes, blankets, coats and other items were always passed on to someone who was "homeless".
He said "Sandy, if you saw what I see everyday, you would do the same." I knew he was telling the truth.

Many times he would invite a homeless person in to his dingy motel room, to shelter them from the cold and rain. Some of them stole from him while he was passed out from the 7 various medications he was on. He'd get angry, but soon forgive them, and allow them shelter once again.

I wrote a poem to honor him, and although I haven't posted it in the poetry section, I'd like to share it here:


The Champ Has Left the Ring
In Honor of Richie Mora 1970-2017

You fought as if your life depended on it, and in many ways it did.

We watched as you took blow after blow, some even self-delivered, while bringing your hidden strength to retaliate and defend yourself from this massive, unstoppable opponent.

At times we thought the battle was over, but you pulled yourself up, and through some unseen power, re-engaged with a weakened effort, in this fight that you knew you couldn’t win.

Your breath came in gasps, your heart was struggling to beat, walking was painful, and yet you wouldn’t give up until they restrained you, as the end was near.

You will be missed by many whose lives you touched with your compassionate heart. With not much yourself, you gave all that you had.

Your tears were shed not only for yourself, but for all who suffered from hunger, cold and abuse.

Be free from the suffering you endured for so long.

Let your spirit fly on wings of our love, into the eternity that awaits all of us.

RIP May 2017
Richard John Mora Jr.
:heart:

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Posted in reply to the post by DivineLightBeing:

I have taken care of a 55 yrs old who was gang raped at 12 yrs old for 8 yrs in my own home because she was “walking on walls” in a psychiatric facility. ...

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Thank you Mark, for sharing your compassion and wisdom with us. We need more like you~

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Posted in reply to the post by Mayacaman:

...“Society” ought to value “People.” – Even if they are considered the “dregs” of Society. No one should be homeless in America. No one. No one should be without food or clothing, or shelter. – No matter how lost or undone they are. It is a national shame that this has come to be; and it is up to us, who are among the “haves” to try to fix it....

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I would guess that a more or less equivalent percentage of the general population are users or abusers of drugs. Each social level has its own particular drugs; some come by way of doctor's prescription, some from the liquor store and some are illegally distributed. Everyone is seeking some form of escape from unedited reality, why should the homeless be any different? Sure they spend some of the little money that comes to them on drugs; if the same amount will fill your stomach but leave you miserable, or get you high which will make you forget you are hungry, the choice is not so irrational. This is not about drugs or about mental illness (if being crazy did not make you homeless, being homeless will surely drive you crazy).

The homeless span a huge variety of individual stories, and there is only one single thing they all have in common; they do not have homes. This is about resource allocation in our society that operates to load resources on those who already have more than they can even use and deny resources to those who have nothing. This is about the fact that there are eight times as many empty houses in this country than there are homeless people. This is about nobody should get seconds until everyone has had firsts. This is about land and shelter held for speculation by absentee landlords. This is about the fact that we have positive feedback loops at both ends of the social scale: the richer you are the easier it is to get richer still, and the lower you sink the harder it is to climb out.

The bottom line is that these people are not "them" they are us. Unless you are a member of the ownership class you are only a run of bad luck away from homelessness. Some may have a larger cushion, but we have seen many times how assets can suddenly lose their entire value through no fault of their owner. I suspect that the unconscious realization of this may underlie much of the hostility people display towards the homeless.

Here is my suggestion for housing the homeless.

First, calculate the total cost of fully housing everyone. Second, calculate the total assessed value of all secondary housing in the country. Secondary housing is any housing that is not somebody’s primary residence. It includes second homes, empty houses, and vacation rentals. Third, calculate the percentage of assessed valuation that will meet the housing costs and impose an annual federal property tax at that percentage rate.

No doubt an actual implementation would have to be somewhat more complex, but it seems to me eminently fair that the owners of secondary housing should bear the cost of housing the homeless. If there were no such concept as secondary housing, and all housing was available for occupancy, we would be able to house everyone with no difficulty. What prevents people from living in houses is not the unavailability of houses, or even the actual costs of housing them, but rather the price of housing. This is determined by the market as a whole; if more income can be derived from houses by turning them into short term vacation rentals, there will be fewer primary housing units available, and therefore the price will rise. The same argument applies to all kinds of secondary housing. Therefore the exorbitant price of primary housing is a direct result of the existence of the secondary housing market, so it is only fair that that those who benefit from that market (either financially or by being able to enjoy multiple homes) should pay for those who are priced out of the market altogether by these activities.

This post is already far longer than I intended and there are other aspects that need to be covered, such as whether shelter (and other necessities) should be a basic human right, but that will have to wait for another post. I cover this entire area in some depth at www.patrickbrinton.com.

Patrick Brinton

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Posted in reply to the post by Mayacaman:

I think that this is a wonderful idea. It should be fully explored and pursued.

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Regarding Sonoma Development Center , The state spent $2.1 million last year for an outside study that found the property was in need of nearly $115 million in infrastructure repairs to meet modern codes. A majority of its buildings were obsolete and would also require millions of dollars in seismic upgrades.

There was a deadline of Oct 4, 2019 asking for 13 residents to join a planning team to reimagine Sonoma Developmental Center's future. Here’s the PD article.

BlueBayou wrote:

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Regarding Sonoma Development Center...

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Duly noted, BlueBayou

However, there is nothing in that piece from the Press Democrat that precludes the State and the County from taking the current homeless crisis by the horns, and declaring a state of Emergency, whereby those who are out in the cold, with Winter hard on its way, will have shelter.

I am certain that almost all of the homeless who are camped along the Joe Rodota Trail as well as many other nooks & crannies throughout the North Bay would rather have the pleasure of dry quarters at the SDC - even if the buildings at the SDC are in need of earth-quake retrofitting. They could sign waivers to agree not to sue in the event of an earthquake.

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Posted in reply to the post by Mayacaman:

Duly noted, BlueBayou

However, there is nothing in that piece from the Press Democrat that precludes the State and the County from taking the current homeless crisis by the horns, and declaring a state of Emergency, whereby those who are out in the cold, with Winter hard on its way, will have shelter. ....

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Thank you for your response. I was only offering the information as something I remembered running across not long ago. I too am homeless and maybe a neighbor of your soon. For the record, I am not a “meth fan” or have a substance abuse issue as the generalization is made by some. Maybe if I was I would have more options.

Instead I am the worst demographic for help. The services, shelters anywhere there is an intake process I don’t meet the “of imminent danger” criteria to even get on a waitlist services are so impacted. Not my words so please don’t reply with hate mail, I was told in response to being more eligible and if an urgent need that I am not “a Hispanic single mother, a veteran, disabled, a senior, a drug addict, a recently recovered addict, or recently paroled “. Instead I’m a single white 56 year old law abiding female. I had been successfully self-employed for 20 years.

A series of events including health, economy and yes, the fires of 2017 created the perfect storm for me. I’m here to tell you it’s possible to think you are different or it can’t happen to you, but we are all just an unforeseen event or unthought of circumstance from it happening. Once the avalanche starts it’s relentless. No job or place to live and you’ve gone through what money available. It then becomes like this hamster wheel everyday. You run and work at things as fast as you can and you literally get no where.

Most days you are just trying to make sure you can get through to the next. This includes the basic daily necessities and it all takes soooo much longer from this side. What may have taken 20 min to do before with ease of resources like to shower, blow dry your hair, FIND a place to charge a phone , takes 3 hours. Sorry if the blow dryer comment seems self indulgent in this situation but like I tell the dog each day, appearances are everything. It’s true. Partly the reason I’ve even barely made it out here is because I don’t “look the part”.

And yes I have a dog and I’d never consider giving her up. She been with me 15 years and they all of this with me. It does make things more challenging. How do you go on an interview with no place for your dog or work for the day. Hanging out in a public place for warmth or rest is a challenge with a dog. There needs to be day services to help with that. Shelters won’t take a dog and most rentals either.

I’ve lived here my whole life. I’ve been a career volunteer in my community. Just 2 years ago my son and I spent nearly the whole winter doing our “Soup and socks” route downtown handing out dry socks and homemade soup to those in need. Just something we thought we could help by doing. Ironically we never had leftovers at Thanksgiving because our family tradition was to make sandwich and bag them up and hit downtown on Thanksgiving night and this year I’ll be looking for someone who may be offering just that type of kindness.

I have no family in a position to help or in the area to stay with. Once you get out here it’s nearly impossible to get back in the fast lane, heck even proceed with caution. Can’t get a job without a place to stay and function from and can’t get a place without a job. I will say the loneliness and the quiet in numbing. It’s hard to stay motivated. But what kindness I’ve been shown, what comfort I’ve received, what little dignity I have left has come from the “homeless “ community that is not sitting in judgement because they stand in your shoes. Yes, where it starts is a home and a place to be for more than a moment or even 30 days. From there everything else is possible.

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Posted in reply to the post by BlueBayou:

Thank you for your response. I was only offering the information as something I remembered running across not long ago. I too am homeless and maybe a neighbor of your soon....

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Thank you for sharing your story, BlueBayou. It is true, "There but for fortune go you, or I..."
None of us has anything we have not received. That's biblical. -And none of us are that far from the street. -Or- from losing every thing that we think we have. We live in a very fragile economic bubble - all of us. And no one should have to bear any onus or blame for these realities, for the simple reason that the System is not working for the People.

While not my normal news source there was a good article in the Christian Science Monitor on the successes Houston has had in recent years dealing with the homeless crisis.

Patrick,
I appreciate your analysis around secondary homes, and your idea to tax the owners to bear the cost of housing the homeless.

However, I do not believe this is realistic. It'd be difficult to approve, and complex to administer. While I followed your logic in finding secondary homes as the cause of homelessness, the truth is that secondary homes is one of a handful of causes of homelessness. Other causes are reductions in social services, fragmenting of our social web, fewer good jobs, and the myriad factors leading to an increase in the cost of housing... to name a few.

I think the best solution is for unused govt land to be made available to the homeless. My understanding is that Homeless Action! has contacted the local govts many times, for permission to use unused land for housing the homeless, but they have been rebuffed. I can only think the cause is the stigma around the homeless.

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Posted in reply to the post by pbrinton:

...Here is my suggestion for housing the homeless.

First, calculate the total cost of fully housing everyone. Second, calculate the total assessed value of all secondary housing in the country. Secondary housing is any housing that is not somebody’s primary residence. It includes second homes, empty houses, and vacation rentals. Third, calculate the percentage of assessed valuation that will meet the housing costs and impose an annual federal property tax at that percentage rate.

No doubt an actual implementation would have to be somewhat more complex,...

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Posted in reply to the post by tommy:

...However, I do not believe this is realistic. It'd be difficult to approve, and complex to administer. While I followed your logic in finding secondary homes as the cause of homelessness, the truth is that secondary homes is one of a handful of causes of homelessness.

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that's true, but there are other reasons to focus attention on secondary homes. Sure, it's a traditional american-dream kind of thing, to have a cabin on the lake or a house in wine country, depending on your class/background. That makes it very difficult to touch as a political issue. In the same way as people worry about taxing the wealthy because they imagine becoming wealthy themselves, they see themselves as affected when you propose regulating/taxing secondary homes.

But in both cases, times are changing. Things like AirB&B and gentrification (or the rural & ex-urban equivalent) are showing people the costs to their own neighborhoods. The percentage of housing stock lost is significant, and the upward price-pressure when houses go to people who usually earn more than their neighbors who work locally can make is very destructive. Not everyone is forced out of their homes, but only those who cash out the increased values can avoid being hurt. So it may be difficult to approve and complex to administer, but it's good public policy.

To be clear, I did not intend to give the impression that I believed secondary homes were the sole cause of homelessness, but they are a strong contributory cause. I agree that passing such a law would be challenging, but if something is the proper path it is worth at least fighting for. Other seemingly hopeless causes have succeeded over time I disagree about the difficulty of implementation, though. I believe that all states levy property taxes, and houses are hard to conceal, and all ownership is registered. All that remains is to establish the primary or secondary status of each dwelling. This is not an insuperable task.

The problem with unused government land is that you cannot just create viable communities anywhere you choose. Homelessness is actually a misnomer: what we are talking about is shelterlessness. What you are suggesting sounds like forced resettlement and separation from the community at large. If this unused land were truly able to support a community (in terms of natural resources such as water) it would not be unused! Unless of course you are referring to land that is already within communities. Homeless people are full fledged members of our communities; they often have strong ties within the community, and living space could and should be made available to them.

Patrick Brinton

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Posted in reply to the post by tommy:

Patrick,
I appreciate your analysis around secondary homes, and your idea to tax the owners to bear the cost of housing the homeless.

However, I do not believe this is realistic. It'd be difficult to approve, and complex to administer. While I followed your logic in finding secondary homes as the cause of homelessness, the truth is that secondary homes is one of a handful of causes of homelessness. Other causes are reductions in social services, fragmenting of our social web, fewer good jobs, and the myriad factors leading to an increase in the cost of housing... to name a few.

I think the best solution is for unused govt land to be made available to the homeless. My understanding is that Homeless Action! has contacted the local govts many times, for permission to use unused land for housing the homeless, but they have been rebuffed. I can only think the cause is the stigma around the homeless.

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I haven't read everyone's posts, so forgive me it this is repetitious. I ride my bike through this section of the trail every week, usually more than once a week. I have never had a problem, no harassment, no danger, no threats, no scary incidents. People have said "hello," people have commented on me feeding the feral cats there, one guy offered to help me deal with a recent dead raccoon. NO PROBLEMS.

Most of the people appear to be in their early twenties and are heavily in to bicycles. There are guitars, recorded music from some source, dogs. I haven't seen any children. I saw a woman shaving her legs! Brave woman! If you have children in their 20's you might see some of their former class mates or friends among the campers. I hope the city or county soon provide a legal, safe, camp ground with sanitary services.

Mostly, calm down. Remember how hysterical people were about the hippies when rent was cheaper so drop outs could live indoors?

Barrie

The Rochelle in the article below is the "RochelleR" who has been posting on this thread.
Thanks for your good work, Rochelle (and sister Jillian!) :waccosun:

Barry

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Sebastopol sisters reach out to the homeless along the Joe Rodota Trail
By Laura Hagar Rush, Sonoma West Editor, [email protected] Nov 20, 2019

Like a lot of people who live in west county, sisters Rochelle and Jillian Roberts drive past the homeless encampment along the Joe Rodota Trail and Highway 12 on a regular basis.

“I go running at Howarth Park all the time,” Rochelle said. “So I drive past it, and in the back of your head, you always think, like, what’s going on there? How can we help? But then you’re way too nervous to do anything.”

For Rochelle, that’s as far as it went until the Kincade Fire happened. The two sisters and their extended family of nine ended up temporarily homeless during the evacuation. They stayed in a friend’s already over-crowded home, then got a large cabin at a KOA campground, which cost more than they expected.

It gave Rochelle an inkling of what it might feel like to be homeless on a more permanent basis.

“It sparked me,” she said. “Last Sunday I was driving by to go take a run, and I just looked over, and I’m like, I need to do something. We need to do something.”

Rochelle talked to her sister Jillian and her friend Heather, who used to be homeless and is a recovering addict.

“So we were like, ‘Let’s just get some pizza’ for them,” Rochelle said.

They bought 10 Costco pizzas and some bottled water.

“Then we loaded up the kids wagon, and we just went down there,” Rochelle said. “And, yes, we were a little nervous.”

“But when we got down there, everybody was so nice,” Jillian said. “Our mother always taught us that it doesn't matter if it's a bum on the street or a CEO, you always treat everybody the same. Everybody gets treated equally.”

They pulled their wagon down the trail, offering slices of pizza to anyone who wanted some. They walked the whole length of the trail, chatting with people they met.

Driving home that day, they talked about what more they could do.

“We don’t have a lot of money,” Jillian said — certainly, not enough to make a difference in the lives of the hundreds of homeless people who line the trail.

Both sisters work for their father’s trucking company, Rio Dog Trucking. Rochelle lives in a trailer on her parent’s property because, after she lost her four-bedroom rental home to the Tubbs Fire (her landlords lost their house in the fire and so had to move into their rental), she couldn’t find a place to live that she could afford.

The sisters decided that what they could do — in addition to making a weekly Wednesday food run to the encampment — is gather donations from people and distribute them among the homeless the same way they distributed the pizza.

Last week, they started a Facebook group called Sonoma County Acts of Kindness and were shocked to discover that within three days the group had 300 members eager to donate all sorts of things — clothing, food, tarps, tents. When they put out a call for adult diapers for some of the elderly people they met along the trail and for menstrual products for the women, they were overwhelmed by the response.

Continues here

Tommy wrote:

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…the truth is that secondary homes is one of a handful of causes of homelessness. Other causes are reductions in social services, fragmenting of our social web, fewer good jobs, and the myriad factors leading to an increase in the cost of housing... to name a few.

I think the best solution is for unused govt land to be made available to the homeless. My understanding is that Homeless Action! has contacted the local govts many times, for permission to use unused land for housing the homeless, but they have been rebuffed. I can only think the cause is the stigma around the homeless…

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Quite so, Tommy. There are many factors that have led to this present situation, in which we witness the hemorrhaging of the social fabric. And I agree with you that government land should be made available to solve the problem. That is why I advocate the re-institution of the Homestead Act, with amendments.

Eight nuclear families should be able to share forty acres, and a maximum of sixty-four homeless adults should be able to share forty acres. Everyone would be required to build their own house (with the help of the community at large, working as a team) and if they can stick with it, and get along on the social level, after two years, the land & house should be theirs.

Patrick Brinton wrote:

Quote:

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The problem with unused government land is that you cannot just create viable communities anywhere you choose. Homelessness is actually a misnomer: what we are talking about is shelterlessness. What you are suggesting sounds like forced resettlement and separation from the community at large. If this unused land were truly able to support a community (in terms of natural resources such as water) it would not be unused!

Unless of course you are referring to land that is already within communities. Homeless people are full fledged members of our communities; they often have strong ties within the community, and living space could and should be made available to them.

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Patrick, while you are quite right that “…You cannot just create viable communities anywhere you chose,” I disagree with your declaration “If this unused land were truly able to support a community (in terms of natural resources such as water) it would not be unused!”

Consider this: the Bureau of Land Management is sitting on over two hundred and forty-five million [245,000,000] acres. I would safely wager that over twenty million of those acres are quite suitable for the sort of development that I have suggested over on the other thread. And Patrick, I am referring to BLM (& other government) lands that are outside of currently established communities.

The water is actually also there, underground, at the depth of the old Devonian Sea – which is sandstone. You just have to drill deep enough to tap into it. It has been done - even out on the desert in Saudi Arabia, and the Sahara.

As far as this statement : “Homeless people are full fledged members of our communities; they often have strong ties within the community, and living space could and should be made available to them,” I totally agree with you. To build a Homestead and a viable community on the terrain of timbered over & burned over former wilderness in the near wilds of the Pacific Northwest is certainly not for everyone.

But I have run the Homestead Idea by Adrienne Lauby of Homeless Action, and Reyvon Hill, who is the wheel at the Joe Rodota Trail encampment, and they think that the idea definitely has traction & is workable for a number of people who are currently homeless. I am sure, for many of the young and able-bodied twenty-something element among them, it would be a hit. Indeed, it would be a sort of secular salvation.

What percentage of the Homeless could take to the hills and endure the rigors of Homesteading for a period of two years? I do not know. Certainly there must also be a solution for those who wish to remain within the perimeter of already established communities, and for those who cannot fend for themselves or endure the rigors of Homesteading in the near-wilderness.

There’s a very good article by the Los Angeles Times. It addresses creating housing solutions much like the contributions here for consideration. I wonder though, “if you build it , will they come ?” This article describes how other states already have legislation in place that says you cannot make it illegal to sleep outdoors basically if you have not built enough temporary shelter to accommodate all in need. More temporary housing or shelters are needed and then transitional housing all with wrap around services. You can’t just pluck people out of these encampments for example and drop them into permanent housing. It’s a culture shock if you’ve been out here awhile. You have to retrain your way of life. You’ll still need money, so a job, most likely some medical attention and some life coaching, those wrap around services. Perhaps you’re all considering that when describing the homesteading etc.

I say we need to address the availability of enough immediate space in shelters and next transitional housing. Those are real in need solutions that support the success of these communities we keep talking about building. We are still so many years away from that happening what about the people out there right now. See I know we are capable of providing the immediate shelter needs of thousands overnight. We’ve demonstrated in well “Sonoma Strong “. People immediately dig into their pockets and closets to give to those are in need. So we do live in a compassionate connected community. We just need to educate them about who is in need. I agree it’s not everyone has a right to a home, it everyone has a right to successfully getting a healthy life of independence and choice back.

I took in two kids in their 20s drenched in a downpour of rain huddled under a wet blanket while walking home last year from the mall. I set up my detached garage for them for 1 night. Hours later I found one of them asleep under the covered patio of my backyard. I asked him why and he said, he couldn’t see anything around him. He didn’t feel safe between the 4 walls because he didnt want to not have the time to protect himself if someone snuck up on him. It felt safer for him to sleep outside where he could look as far as my curb and sidewalk and know he’d see what was coming and he felt to confined with no way out in my garage “bnb”. He was not on drugs or suffering from mental illness. Maybe some would say PTSD but it how you acclimate to your environment over time.

Going back to the article of The LA times it mentions “Gov. Gavin Newsom’s January executive order identified 1,390 vacant state parcels suitable for development, and that’s a good starting point. We will also need to find ways to reduce the opportunity for endless legal challenges from those who don’t want shelters placed near them. As well as the right to shelter must be paired with the obligation to use it. Living on the streets should not be considered a civil right. And once people are sheltered, they need to receive treatment and support that can help them remain housed”.

When Sonoma County recently took everyone off their housing waitlist and announced you would have to apply under the new lottery method to be waitlisted. 26,000 applied between the application dates of July 1- Jul 31, 31, 2019. Then it closed It promised to take 500 of those applications lottery style. First anyone that met the priority criteria were automatically placed on the list first and bypassing the “luck of the draw”. You were assigned a point for each priority criteria met. These included Seniors, Disabled, Veterans, Families with Children and you had to already be a resident of Sonoma County. You didn’t need to be one under the previous method of waitlisting. There was no lottery draw, all 500 waitlist spots were filled by those qualified under the priority criteria. Of those 500 it will take 1-2 years to have permanent housing become available. A new waitlist in case you were curious , wont even be available for enrollment again until July of 2022.

I went to the voahev that says “apply for section 8 housing here”. It takes you no where with no alternative options to help you. I wonder just how many of those living on Joe Rodota Trail applies or even new they could. That’s the other components is being connected and able to navigate through the system. I’d like to think im
generally capable of keeping networked and am at least aware of what’s available to me but it
tsjes a ton of time and focus.

There are are so many components to helping wipe out this epidemic and I support people are working in the community living and homesteading idea. I just need to know someone else is working on where can I go tonite and next week. I’m not sure we will all make it long enough to have the benefit of your hard work unless we declare this a state of emergency and take action in the same Sonoma Strong amazing way.

My apologies for typos when you only can compose from a tiny phone screen.

The article link:

LA Times: Op-Ed - Building more permanent housing alone won't solve homelessness in California

Homeless Action! has access to a $450K grant, most of which is for social services - counselors etc. They'd hoped to use the land next to KBBF, but this fell thru. Adrienne told me the minimum space they need is 1/8th of an acre, for 10 tiny houses, and 10 RVs. It'd be for 18 mo to 2 years. They'd set up a kitchen and shower room/bathroom. They've tried to get local government land to use, but been rebuffed.

This is not perfect, but it would be a positive step forward, especially for the 20 people in tiny houses and RVs. It echos the comment made earlier about space in European cities designed for homeless people. Consider the migrants from Syria and Afghanistan in Greece - they live in tent cities in and outside of Athens. It's not a perfect solution, but it is a solution!

BlueBayou wrote:

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"...I say we need to address the availability of enough immediate space in shelters and next transitional housing. Those are real in need solutions that support the success of these communities we keep talking about building. We are still so many years away from that happening what about the people out there right now. See I know we are capable of providing the immediate shelter needs of thousands overnight. We’ve demonstrated in well “Sonoma Strong “. People immediately dig into their pockets and closets to give to those are in need. So we do live in a compassionate connected community. We just need to educate them about who is in need..."

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There are long-term solutions and short term necessities. Right now, Winter is coming. It is getting colder - by night and by day. Those who are out of doors would do better inside, we should all agree. Let us hope that the State and the County dig into their pockets and show us All that they, also, are as compassionate as the "compassionate connected community" at large. They may need a little prodding, however.

As long as the Sonoma Developmental Center remains empty, the State and the County should devote the space to housing the Homeless. To not do so is a Crime against Humanity.

I started this entry thinking I could synthesize some conclusions from the materials I have listed below. But the subject is too complicated for me - particularly considering the unavailability of relatively low cost housing in Sonoma County, and so I think my contribution will be limited to listing some resources that may be helpful for those interested in the subject.

First is this article from the Christian Science Monitor on Houston's success in reducing homelessness. The secret seems, from the article, to be FIRST PRIORITY: housing - with coordinated support services and a tracking system.

A precis (of sorts) :
"Houston, which has emerged as a national leader in tackling homelessness. The Bayou City has decreased its homeless population by 54% since 2011, by one measure, as well as effectively eliminated homelessness among veterans. ... A few short-term goals were targeted – then achieved. One hundred homeless veterans were housed in 100 days.

The next step was creating more permanent housing units linked to support services. Since 2011, the city has developed more than 4,300 such housing units, and housed 17,000 people, with 84% of them maintaining that place of living, according to Mr. Nichols.

Perhaps the most important shift since 2011 is improved organization. In the past, siloed nonprofits would focus on running a shelter, serving food, or providing clothing. Organizations and officials are now in constant communication, including regularly updating a database called the Homeless Management Information System. The HMIS lets the organizations know where an individual has been, as well as the services they have and haven’t received. It has helped the city individualize how it aids people experiencing homelessness, and prioritize the most vulnerable.

"Houston also aggressively pursued a “housing-first” approach – essentially getting homeless individuals and families permanent housing first, then helping them find stability by addressing whatever other issues they might have. Alternatives to that approach require people to meet conditions, such as sobriety or employment, first before they can “earn” housing.

"Numerous studies have backed the effectiveness of a housing-first approach since cities began adopting it in the 1990s. One 2015 study found that over a 24-month period, people who participated in housing-first programs in four Canadian cities had stable housing 63% to 77% of the time, compared with 24% to 32% for people who received more traditional care.

"There is also a cost argument for housing first. Chronic homelessness costs the public $30,000 to $50,000 per person per year, compared with $20,000 per person for supportive housing, according to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Second, here are some sources that characterize the homeless populations in nearby California areas:
Alameda County 2019

San Francisco 2017

Santa Clara County 2019

San Mateo County

Last, I will enter a thought about available employment opportunities and the homeless population. It seems to me when the Sonoma County unemployment rate (yes, a very imperfect measure but a good indicator of changes over time and where-are-we-now) is at 2.3% (California 3.7%), and the Graton Day Hire Center people can earn $18/hr for leaf raking and $25/hr for digging, the income generation opportunities are here and the problem is helping the homeless become less dysfunctional. As J. R. Richard, a former Houston homeless man said, "You can’t help nobody that doesn’t want to help themselves,” he says. “If you want to get out of homelessness you can get out the homeless, but it’s in you to get out of homelessness.”

Excellent piece. Thank you!!!!

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Posted in reply to the post by luke32:

I started this entry thinking I could synthesize some conclusions from the materials I have listed below. But the subject is too complicated for me ..

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[This is Lynda Hopkins' post from Thanksgiving posted on Facebook - Barry :waccosun:]

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This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for a warm, dry house; a roof over our heads; a cheerful kitchen to cook in; running water; and a flushing toilet. On Thanksgiving I think it’s worth remembering that we have more than 2,000 homeless residents in our County and nearly 200 camped on the Joe Rodota Trail.

I know this is tremendously controversial and I know that there are many people in our community who disagree with placing port-a-potties (donated by the community, not paid for by government) along the Joe Rodota Trail. But I am also grateful that today, on Thanksgiving, people will not be urinating and defecating along the trail but rather in basic sanitation facilities that protect public health and afford a small amount of dignity to those encamped along the trail.

I want to be very clear: my goal is very much to NOT have anyone camped along the Joe Rodota Trail. My goal is to have the trail free and clear for runners and cyclists. And I want to achieve that goal as quickly as possible. But for legal as well as ethical reasons, we must pursue that goal in a humane way, by attempting to offer each and every person camped there an alternative place to go.

A few things to know about homelessness and the Joe Rodota Trail:

• The County has been working extremely hard to identify and address gaps in our current system of care and staff plans to present options to the Board of Supervisors before the end of the year.

• Homelessness does not have a ‘one-size fits all’ solution and it doesn’t occur overnight. There is no “snap your finger” solution — but I’m always open to any suggestions and ideas.

• The County continues to actively work with local providers to increase outreach and services for those living along the Joe Rodota Trail. Our efforts focus on helping people obtain housing and services, as well as ensuring that all agencies remain informed and involved.

• The JRT encampment continues to change, as homelessness is not a static event for most people. Often, it takes time to build trust. It’s not uncommon for people to enter the system of care and leave it several times before they are permanently housed.

• Having said that, sweeps, noticing and enforcement are not the end goals. These tactics are merely a temporary Band-Aid on a deeper societal issue. The goal is always to permanently house people in a way that meets their needs. In order to solve the issues along the trail, we must help the people living there.

• As of November 27, 2019, County staff estimates approximately 160 people are living along the trail. On November 26, portable toilets and handwashing stations were installed to support public health. This does not mean we are turning the trail into a permanent encampment; just that we are addressing an urgent need as we move forward with solutions in order to return the trail to its linear park status.

• Regional Parks' mission is to provide public access to safe, clean parks and trails. The Community Development Commission is dedicated to creating homes for all in thriving and inclusive neighborhoods. We are committed to working collaboratively with the City of Santa Rosa to address the Joe Rodota Trail encampment and homelessness within our shared jurisdiction.

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I don't have a heck of a high opinion of the Board of Supes in general; if they give
an eructation in a high wind about the poor, why didn't they rein in Shirlee Zane
before she got rid of the Chanate property?

However, I recently attended a Board meeting, about doing a hatchet job on IOLERO (Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach, the last word of which was originally intended to be Oversight.) Lynda Hopkins is the only supervisor who dared to point out to those ranting about the Board caving to "special interest groups" that the special interest group represented by the speakers from the audience was the population of Sonoma County.

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Posted in reply to the post by Farmer Lynda:

...A few things to know about homelessness and the Joe Rodota Trail:...

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This was posted on the County of Sonoma Community Development Commission (CDC) Page. I cannot find anywhere an estimate of how many people are being served for each award or application. I also do not find anything results oriented.

I guess I was looking for something to show that what these programs do with the money they’ve requested have had significant enough impact to make them eligible to continue getting approval or make requests. What is the criteria for award?

Interestingly enough under the Ineligible category, it was not based on the not meeting mandatory professional or a minimum type of quality assurance of some sort. The ineligible award requests were all of technical aspects, pages not being numbered correctly in application, a field left blank. Most were just one agency. Maybe they need support with the application process but have a worthy need? Are we only setting funding aside for these providers to work within their own criteria and projects ?

Does the County have its own projects or are we just relying on the fact these organizations are in our community. I’m not sure and I am asking. If that is what is happening, i worry it’s an illusion. Not to say these organizations don’t do good work, but when a Joe Rodota Trail encampment forms who is earmarked to take that on , before it gets worse. Are we getting the best return on every dollar allocated and how is that checked ? If the County does not have its own committee working on identified projects contributing to resolving the homelessness issue why not? It would then become obvious why the encampment on Joe Rodota Trail is just percolating for disaster. What is it going to take before we actually get 160 people habitable living accommodations? It’s growing faster than we can keep up I know that.

In yesterday’s Press Democrat it reported the millions of dollars the state awarded the county for use towards expenses and recovery from the Kincaid Fire. That does not included any funding for personal property loss or to foot the bill for debris removal on personal property. You and your insurance company are on the hook for that.

This was awarded quickly and swiftly so immediate action can be taken to begin recovery as it was deemed a state of emergency. Why are not the lives of those out there tonite in 35 degree weather deemed a state of emergency too?

Below is a summary of the requests made for for the 2019-2020 Consolidated Notice of Funding Availability for Homeless Services Funding to The CDC.


Summary of Homeless Services Requests

49 Applications deemed eligible

Category	Amount Requested
Coordinated Entry Access Points	$365,000
Emergency Shelter	$1,693,770
Fair Housing Related Services	$260,100
Homelessness Prevention & Diversion	$868,009
Other Homeless Services	$1,455,779
Permanent Supportive Housing	$2,830,144
Rapid Re-Housing	$2,446,237
Street Outreach	$1,019,439
Winter Shelter	$446,558
Subtotal Services	$11,385,036

23 Applications deemed eligible

Category	Amount Requested
Permanent Supportive Housing – Construction/Rehab	$9,363,976
Permanent Supportive Housing - Acquisition	$7,250,000
Emergency Shelter Rehabilitation	$93,699
City Capital Development Projects	$4,703,698
Subtotal Capital Development	$21,411,373

Eligible Homeless Services Submissions

Coordinated Entry Access Points: $365,000

• Catholic Charities - Coordinated Entry
• Interfaith Shelter Network - Sonoma Valley Access Point

Emergency Shelter: $1,693,770

• Catholic Charities: Sam Jones Hall
• Committee on the Shelterless (COTS): Mary Isaak Center Emergency Shelter
• Community Action Partnership: Sloan Women's Emergency Shelter
• Catholic Charities: Family Support Center
• YWCA: Confidential Safe House and Services
• Social Advocates for Youth: Dream Center Emergency Shelter
• Progress Foundation: Peer Respite

Homelessness Prevention & Diversion: $868,009

• Catholic Charities: Homeless Prevention/Diversion
• Committee on the Shelterless (COTS): COTS Prevention Diversion Program
• Community Action Partnership: HCA Family Fund
• Social Advocates for Youth: TAY Homelessness Prevention
• SHARE - Sonoma County: Sonoma County Home Share Program
• SHARE - Sonoma County: Sonoma Valley Home Share Program

Other Homeless Services: $1,455,779

• Catholic Charities: Mental Health Integration Pilot
• Goodwill Industries of the Redwood Empire: Mental Health Homeless Services Peer Navigators
• Russian Riverkeeper: Clean Camp & Education
• St. Vincent de Paul Sonoma County: Sonoma County Homeless Court
• West County Community Services: Meeting Their Needs - Leveraging High Acuity Case Management
• The Living Room/Homeless Action!: West College Ave. Tent Village
• The Living Room/Homeless Action!: Sister Scene Safe Parking & Tent Camping

Permanent Supportive Housing - $2,830,144

• Catholic Charities: PSH - Alternative for Unsheltered Community (for Service-Resistant Population)
• Catholic Charities: Palms Inn (Services)
• Community Support Network: CSN PSH - Housing First (Stony Point Common)
• Community Support Network: Sanctuary House PSH Program
• Committee on the Shelterless (COTS): Vida Nueva Permanent Supportive Housing
• Reach for Home: Permanent Supportive Housing
• The Living Room: The Living Room - Road to Home
• The Living Room/Homeless Action!: Fair Homes - 2005 Linwood

Rapid-Rehousing - $2,446,237

• Catholic Charities: Rapid Re-Housing
• Committee on the Shelterless: COTS Rapid Re-Housing
• InterFaith Shelter Network: Housing First - Sonoma Valley
• InterFaith Shelter Network: Family Rapid Re-Housing
• Reach for Home: Short Term Subsidy (RRH)
• Sonoma County Housing Authority: Housing Navigation & Stabilization
• Social Advocates for Youth: Rapid Re-Housing
• West County Community Services: West County Rapid Rehousing +
• TLC Child & Family Services: THP - Plus Expansion

Street Outreach - $1,019,439

• Abode Sonoma County: The Care Van
• Catholic Charities: Homeless Service Center
• Catholic Charities: HOST
• Reach for Home: Outreach
• Social Advocates for Youth: Street Outreach

Winter Shelter - $446,558

• Sonoma Overnight Support: SOS Winter Shelter
• Committee on the Shelterless (COTS): COTS Winter Shelter
• Catholic Charities: Winter Shelter Expansion
• Social Advocates for Youth: TAY Winter Shelter Expansion
• West County Community Services: West County Winter Shelter

Back to Top

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Commentary: When helping isn’t helpful
By Mary Carouba

The homeless crisis on the Joe Rodota Trail has galvanized many in our community, and compassionate individuals are taking various actions in an effort to help. As one who once lived in that world and who has worked professionally with drug addiction and homelessness over the past 30 years, I have concerns about this grassroots community response.

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Though there are many causes of homelessness — mental health issues, addiction to alcohol and other drugs, the numerous fires since 2017, immigration inequities and more — meth is the driving force behind the crisis on the Joe Rodota Trail, and we need to respond accordingly. Meth is driving some of the most dangerous activity on the trail. It is contributing disproportionately to conflicts with neighbors and poses the greatest danger to those trying to help.

There are many homeless individuals and groups who live peacefully in Sonoma County, and who are accepted by their communities in a sometimes uneasy but generally “Let’s co-exist peacefully” kind of a way. That is not the story of the Joe Rodota Trail.

Compassionate individuals are doing laundry for those on the trail, giving them rides and even bringing them into their homes; this approach concerns me greatly. A problem like this requires a concerted and consistent multi-agency approach, and individuals who are wading in the middle of this situation are putting themselves at risk. I’m not arguing that we shouldn’t help when we see a community need; I am simply advocating that we do it in a way that serves the people we’re trying to help and doesn’t enable them to continue hurting themselves.

Many of the people on the trail would not be homeless if not for their addiction. And when you give an addict money, rides, pallets, etc., you may be enabling them to continue using, extending the length of time they will use. The absolute best thing that can happen for an addict is to hit bottom. If you’re dealing with an active addict, every piece of help you provide potentially delays that process.

Drug addiction is like a fever; you need to starve it, not feed it. Every penny given, every piece of clothing washed, every ride given, can unwittingly support drug addiction, theft and hopelessness, all of which increase the underlying problems that caring individuals are so earnestly trying to address.

Few of the addicts on the trail are self-supporting, which means many of them resort to illegal activities such as theft, etc., to maintain their addiction. There is a large bicycle chop shop on the trail, with hundreds of stolen bike parts — an illegal operation taking place in broad daylight. There are also robust drug sales taking place on the trail daily. I’ve dealt with the end results of drug addiction of all kinds: methamphetamine is by far the worst and most dangerous drug I’ve ever encountered and is the most resistant to treatment because of the changes to brain chemistry. When I worked with Child Protective Services, it was clear that some of the greatest damage done to children was perpetrated by meth addicts. It is a cruel, vicious drug that often causes permanent brain damage. So please be careful about what it is you’re supporting when you step in the middle of people’s lives with your good intentions.

Most of the people on the trail have had tough lives, and some of them began using drugs to survive those challenges. I deeply understand and relate to this in the most personal of ways. They, like me, are richly deserving of a better life, but a better life will never be available to them as long as they are addicted to drugs.

Please consider partnering with severely underfunded and understaffed community agencies that have resources, information and a familiarity with this population before you step into the middle of a powerful network of drug-addicted individuals. Drug addiction, alcoholism, barely funded mental health resources and homelessness are all serious problems in search of real solutions and require a serious community response. Doing laundry, providing rides and giving money may make the giver feel good, and it does provide some temporary relief for people who are living with so little, but it does little to solve the underlying problems.

It doesn’t work to give away a blanket but then say, “Not in my neighborhood” when a shelter is proposed. It doesn’t work to give an a homeless individual $10, then vote against a bill that would address the situation in a serious way, but which would slightly raise your taxes. There are real solutions, but they require some sacrifice on the part of the community, and until now, the community has responded to that need with a resounding, “Meh.”

There seems to be an attitude on the part of those helping that, “No one is doing anything, so we need to take action,” yet there are extraordinary groups that have been pounding away at this problem and its many underlying causes for years with little community support, a dearth of funding and few volunteers. They have been attempting to tackle the complex underlying issues of mental health and addiction with little support from the community, yet they continue to stagger along. If you want to help, please find a group like that and partner with them.

There are many good people living on that trail who are down on their luck, caught in traps not of their own making and facing all kinds of life challenges. They’re not out to do anyone any harm. They’re also not the reason I’m asking people to be very cautious.

In the end, all those on the trail who need help deserve a serious and sustained community response that will address the underlying causes that have brought us to this desperate point. In the meantime, when your compassion compels you to do something, anything, and you jump in and begin taking action, unless you are intimately familiar with this population, you run the risk of harming those you are trying to help by enabling their addiction, and you potentially expose yourself and your family to great danger. Please just think twice.

Mary Carouba is the co-author of the critically acclaimed book, Women at Ground Zero, TED Talk presenter, award-winning Moth storyteller and a former investigative social worker for Sonoma County Child Protective Services.

This problem isn't going to go away at any cost the county is going to be able to reckon with. If we build housing for the homeless, the cost is going to be prohibitive (remember the $133K tiny houses for vets?) and the working poor are going to wonder why nobody worries about their precarious situation. We're in deep doodoo. At least the portapotties are a stopgap for the doodoo, they we know they are going to be vandalized or stolen. I'm grateful to Lynda Hopkins for being thoughtful, honest, smart, and not in the job for questionable reasons. We are lucky to have a supe of her caliber and commitment.

If you live on Joe Rodota Trail and wanted to get off the trail and into one of the posted 184 Winter Shelter beds available.....assuming traveling to a different Sonoma County City is problematic, Santa Rosa only has 40 beds of the 184 listed for Single Adults. At best we can only serve 1/4 of those living on the Trail and that’s if others currently homeless hidden elsewhere in Santa Rosa don’t apply. Those 40 beds all come from Redwood Gospel Mission. Without sounding cynical or unappreciative, I am not sure I can apply the “something better than nothing “ here. I’d be embarrassed to announce that as a Committee when the heart of your announcement states, “ helping to protect people from the years’ harshest winter” This comes from The County of Sonoma’s Committee -Home Sonoma County.

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Posted in reply to the post by Mayacaman:

There are long-term solutions and short term necessities. Right now, Winter is coming. It is getting colder - by night and by day. Those who are out of doors would do better inside, we should all agree....

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Address gaps and present options before the end of the year, that's the plan. Besides setting up temporary facilities for camping along the main bike trail to Rosa.

Lynda Hopkins does not know how many homeless people there are. Most homeless people I know don't take part in the count. One problem with setting up the bike trails as camping is that it limits trail potential. And Santa Rosa declined to settle with homeless action, they want the poor to move west. Usually what the city's and county do as winter comes on is provide more shelter, so people can be warm and dry in the coldest months. The new plan seems to be letting the most vulnerable, many suffering from mental and drug problems, freeze to death.

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Posted in reply to the post by Farmer Lynda:

...A few things to know about homelessness and the Joe Rodota Trail...

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Mary, you say that you "lived in that world". Would you share some of your personal story of living homeless, where this was, and if you were addicted to Meth. Did you have a child or children during this time? How did you uplift yourself from the streets? What agency was instrumental? You may explain this in a book or Ted Talk, but I'm curious if you could comment briefly here, on your experience.

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Posted in reply to the post by Mary C:

http://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccob...4_17-48-38.png
Commentary: When helping isn’t helpful
By Mary Carouba

The homeless crisis on the Joe Rodota Trail has galvanized many in our community, and compassionate individuals are taking various actions in an effort to help. As one who once lived in that world and who has worked professionally with drug addiction and homelessness over the past 30 years, I have concerns about this grassroots community response.....

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Shandi and others,
Here is a link to a YouTube video that will answer some of the questions that are in the quote-box below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=19&v=gOjbQfN0NdI&feature=emb_logo

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Posted in reply to the post by Shandi:

Mary, you say that you "lived in that world". Would you share some of your personal story of living homeless, where this was, and if you were addicted to Meth. Did you have a child or children during this time? How did you uplift yourself from the streets? What agency was instrumental? You may explain this in a book or Ted Talk, but I'm curious if you could comment briefly here, on your experience.

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rossmen wrote:

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"...Santa Rosa declined to settle with homeless action, they want the poor to move west. Usually what the city's and county do as winter comes on is provide more shelter, so people can be warm and dry in the coldest months. The new plan seems to be letting the most vulnerable, many suffering from mental and drug problems, freeze to death..."

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Let us hope that is not the "new plan." Yet, Ross, you may be on to something. Back at the time of World War One, "gone west" meant to have died. Tucker Carlson and other talking heads on Fox News can pontificate about "ideology" - presumably a democrat party "Ideology" that brought this Crisis of Homelessness on - but it seems that the bottom line ideology is Social Darwinism & Survival of the fittest. -And that seems to be very much a bi-partisan ideology.