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