Is a homelessness annex missing from our emergency operations plans? This summer the Denver mayor declared homelessness, a disaster, to help mitigate the cities growing influx of people suffering homelessness. Does this non-traditional approach to solving a basic human necessity (shelter) fit within EM or cross too far into social service programs? There are many factors that cause homelessness; economic, eviction, physical & mental health, substance abuse, discrimination, war, and natural disasters… Does the cause of why people are homeless, negate the need for community, state and federal leaders to provide resources and support? The Marshall Fire near Boulder, CO in late Dec 2021, destroyed over 1000 homes and left thousands homeless. The government at all levels stepped in and had shelters stood up the same night and FEMA offered housing assistance and recovery programs. Is there a path for people suffering homelessness to activate or utilize those same resources? Would it take the Winter cold or Summer heat or another pandemic to trigger such support? If homelessness by itself is not a “disaster”, are there ways to accelerate other government social service processes to act as quickly and nondiscriminatory as disaster response mechanisms? Is EM stretched too far or not enough? Interested to hear your thoughts on this. #emergencymanagement #shelters #homelessness #Maslow https://lnkd.in/gq8Z66Bd
Jacob Sargent
9mo
The average Emergency Manager has the skills needed to face any logistical challenge. This is the type of problem our ability to manage resources, integrate governmental and non-governmental agencies and build relationships could be put to good use to solve.
DEIA Advocate & Life-long Learner
9moI think our emergency operations plans are missing considerations for the unhoused and the disabled. Our plans need to be able to protect people, and they’ll fall short if we don’t consider the realities that people actually live. To answer your question about whether the cause of homelessness negates the need for resources and support and every level…the answer is NO. They’re people with basic needs, just like the rest of us. In King County (WA), racism has been declared a public health crisis. Maybe the declaration and labeling of these endemic concerns as ‘crises’ or ‘disasters’ is what’s required to get additional resources, support, and funding.