Richard Bolland’s Post

📰 SAMMinistries in the News 🏠🔑 "San Antonio is on track to nearly double encampment sweeps this year" by Iris Dimmick and San Antonio Report "According to data provided by the City of San Antonio, San Antonio has already surpassed its goal to get 400 people into shelter or housing this year. Between October 2023 and March 2024, the homeless response system helped 934 individuals move from the streets to shelter or housing, the city’s new data dashboard shows. ... However, more than 1,450 people became unhoused or returned to the street for a net of 751 people who found shelter or more permanent housing." "Ultimately, San Antonio needs more shelter, housing and rehabilitation options." - Nikisha Bronson Baker, President and CEO of SAMMinistries. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ewvvz5Uk #PermanentSupportiveHousing #OvercomingHomelessness

As cities begin to clear encampments following Governor Newsom’s recent decision, it is important to recognize that this is not a comprehensive solution to Los Angeles' homelessness crisis. Homelessness in LA is a complex, multifaceted issue that demands an approach sensitive to the unique circumstances of each individual and family in need of immediate support. We created Better Angels to solve LA’s homelessness epidemic through a holistic approach that includes: Prevention, Sanitation, Services, Shelter and Housing. https://lnkd.in/gPuvhwFa

What if you were homeless? Would you feel safer going it alone or finding a group of people that can have your back? Well, that's what I see when I see the homeless encampments. I see people who have bonded over a commonality of homelessness and have created a community that watches out for each other. Just like you might have in your neighborhood today. So, when we step into their encampment, seeking to save them from where they feel safe with the community they have created, I think we need to approach helping them in a different way. I think they'd prefer to be relocated together, with as much of their belongings as possible, to a clean place they can call home even if it's a safe tent parking lot, camp ground or other spot designated by the City as authorized for outdoor camping. When we go in and throw away their life possessions that's not being compassionate or environmentally-conscious. When we break up their social connections and bring them back into a sense of isolation and deprivation, we are creating more trauma and problems for them. As San Diego City and County staff act on the CA state order to remove encampments, ensure you have a plan to relocate these individuals as a group so they can maintain their sense of community unless they are known to commit crimes or need serious medical attention. Those experiencing homelessness are human beings that have adapted to their circumstances and have found a way to survive. Help them find better housing and assistance but don't destroy their community. It's all most of them have left.

Findings from a thematic analysis of focus groups with 44 people experiencing homelessness: "Almost all of the focus group participants had sought access to the shelter on one or more occasions. All focus group participants stated they would use the shelters if they were accessible, safe, and clean. Most participants asserted that the shelter lacked enough beds, did not provide needed services, and was unsafe and unsanitary. Negative experiences at the shelter also influenced their decisions, especially disrespectful or abusive treatment by shelter staff or the perception that the shelter's policies were unreasonable. They proposed better choices, such as camping sites or tiny houses." Time and time again, we see that people don't reject shelter simply because they prefer to be unhoused. That's why encampment bans are so ineffective and inhumane; access to safe and dignified accommodations largely doesn't exist in the first place.

The U.S. Supreme Court has just issued a decision on the homelessness crisis. Here’s why this ruling is a ticking time bomb for Portland: ⚠️ Oregon is the only western state with a codified right to camping if too few shelters are available. ⚠️ If surrounding states and cities aggressively enforce new camping laws, Portland may become the city of last resort. ⚠️ We do not have enough emergency shelter beds. Our failed city leadership refuses to build enough for our current needs and has not prepared for the implications of the Grants Pass decision. It’s time to stop blaming the federal, state, and county governments for failing to act. We must clear our city of hazardous encampments, derelict cars, and unregistered, unsafe RVs, but we must do it cost-effectively and with the compassion that has always defined our community. As mayor, I’ll end unsheltered homelessness in Portland within 12 months of assuming office. Nighttime emergency shelter will provide safety, security, shelter, and sleep. Day shelters will serve as a ‘warm handoff’ designed to assess individual needs, connect individuals with resources, and permanently help our neighbors off the streets. It’s a proven blueprint developed by my nonprofit, Shelter Portland. We’ve seen the success of this strategy in other cities. If you want to bring this winning blueprint to Portland, a contribution to my campaign could make all the difference. #portland #pdx #homelessness #grantspassdecision #scotus #keithwilsonformayor

In October, Florida will become the latest state to ban homeless camping. Starting in January, any city that does not enforce the ban can be sued, by the State Attorney General or by a local business or resident. "We're gonna have clean sidewalks. We're gonna have clean parks. We're gonna have safe streets," said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, when he signed the new law in March. If there are not enough beds available in homeless shelters, the law will also let cities designate their own temporary shelter sites, something former President Trump supports and has called "relocation camps." Florida is among a handful of states that has passed tougher laws on homelessness in recent years — including Kentucky and Texas — and lawmakers in about a dozen states have debated such legislation. Most all of them are taking guidance from the lobbying arm of a conservative Texas-based think tank, which aims to upend homelessness policies that have had bipartisan support for two decades. Read Full Article: https://lnkd.in/ecMdyBBw

The Supreme Court's decision is a setback for compassion and humanity. Criminalizing homelessness is not a solution; it only exacerbates the crisis that has deepened under Mayor Todd Gloria's failed leadership. Under Mayor Gloria, San Diego has witnessed a 45% increase in homelessness. His decisions, including the mismanagement of over $200 million on ineffective strategies, have failed to address the root causes of homelessness. This administration has wasted taxpayer money without using metrics of success to evaluate the effectiveness of their plans. My plan focuses on investing in permanent supportive and affordable housing. We need a comprehensive strategy that provides long-term stability and support for homeless individuals to rebuild their lives. I will provide detailed reports on our progress, ensuring that resources are effectively utilized. Through community engagement and stakeholder collaboration, we will develop strategies that address homelessness while upholding our values of compassion and justice. Together, we will continue to fight for a city where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. Let us stand united in creating a safer and more compassionate San Diego. https://lnkd.in/extyqDhk

❄Remember 'SWEP' this winter ❄ The SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) and winter provision toolkit is designed to support Local Authorities to provide SWEP responses in order to prevent deaths of people sleeping rough during the winter. It also contains guidance for organisations who are setting up winter provision, including suggested accommodation models. SWEP is an emergency response and relies on people going above and beyond their usual roles, or using options that are only affordable in the short term (e.g. B&B/hotels). It creates pressure on other services, which means other people may receive lower quality of support, increasing their risk of street homelessness. For these reasons it should only be used as a short term measure. Every area should work to establish year-round routes for people to access accommodation in order to prevent rough sleeping. This could be extended shelter provision or, preferably, access to supported housing or independent accommodation that can end a person’s homelessness for good. Some people don’t want to stay in communal shelters and may choose to stay on the streets until a longer term option is offered, such as moving directly into a flat. There are also people who might be barred from accessing standard provision, e.g. because they have no recourse to public funds. For this reason, there is a need to maintain SWEP responses even if there is also extended winter provision or year-round shelters. What are the rules for accessing SWEP❓ Each provision has its own rules, often shaped by the type of provision and the availability of skilled support workers. The purpose of SWEP is to house everyone, so there shouldn’t be any restrictions on eligibility. Where SWEP is communal and someone is at higher risk (either to or from others), the local authority should be flexible about alternative options e.g. spot purchasing a B&B room instead. #swep #supportedhosuing #supportedliving #tacklinghomlessness #helpingothers #winter #cold

Encampment Downtown Brampton Update. Brampton Encampments: Seeking Real Solutions Beyond Shelters As agreed, upon on July 10th council meeting, encampments are not the solution to homelessness in Brampton. Regeneration's Ted Brown also emphasized that shelters are not the answer. So, what is the solution? I recommend every Brampton citizen watch the council video discussing the encampment problem. Pay particular attention to what is not being said, the implications, and the suggestions being made. Video time stamp 1:46 For the full article and video link. https://lnkd.in/dGBCbXjC Addressing homelessness in Brampton requires more than temporary fixes like encampments or shelters. It demands a comprehensive, multifaceted approach that tackles the root causes and provides sustainable, long-term solutions. By investing in affordable housing, supportive services, preventative measures, and community integration, we can create a Brampton where everyone can live in dignity and security. As a Nomination Candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada in Brampton Centre, I will follow this issue closely and advocate for meaningful change.

"California is home to roughly one-third of the nation’s population of homeless people... Under Newsom’s new direction, state agencies — including state parks and the department of transportation — are required to prioritize clearing encampments that pose safety risks, such as those along waterways. Officials should give “reasonable” advance notice to homeless people, offer to connect them to local services and help store their belongings for at least 60 days. Local cities and counties are urged to adopt similar protocols." Excerpt NBC San Diego News So let's think this through. Let's say we take down the majority of the tent encampments this month across San Diego County. Does the city and area service providers have a coordinated plan to relocate thousands of people into some form of shelter? Has the City or County called an emergency meeting with all the homeless housing experts to come up with a unified plan? Is anyone really going to take this new push from the CA governor seriously? Will this order finally wake us up to the humanitarian disaster in our region? No, it won't. Here's my suggested plan - Let's get our U.S. Navy & Marine Corps senior planners, our City, county and homeless housing and services providers all in one place for a COA meeting which I can help facilitate. COA stands for a Course of Action. We lay out the facts, the assumptions, the constraints and the risks at hand just like a problem set we are trying to solve. We then strategize together on the best path forward to quickly offer the people losing their tent villages a BETTER place to sleep. We come up with three COAs, choose the best one (will never be perfect) and create a realistic plan. We all have to be on the same page and follow one clear set of goals and objectives to help these individuals, some with little children, perishing on our streets. Let's do this. Let's come together and work as a unified team. This isn't hard to do if you just stop focusing on your own desires and shift your eyes to the over 8,000 people suffering every night to try and feel safe, feel wanted, feel anything but depression and chaos. And for the people who don't want help, who don't want to move into offered housing/shelter? - If they are mentally ill or unstable due to substance abuse, we need emergency detox centers ASAP and we need to staff them traveling medical teams that respond during a natural disasters. We need them here for a period of time. This is paramount to reducing SD regional homelessness. - For those who aren't mentally unstable but just refuse help, we need to offer them a place to go. Nothing glamorous and not a place that gives them freebies like food and water. If they refuse our help then they have to fend for themselves. Just a place to camp that doesn't interfere with daily business life in our big and little cities across the region and doesn't disturb our schools and visiting tourists. Let them pay a camping fee to live there. #sandiego