new PDX homelessness resolutions, & Weds 2pm hearing: time for Alt Shelter Network to step up?
What shall I say? I'm signed up early in the list to testiify at the City Council public hearing tomorrow afternoon, about the 5 new housing/homelessness resolutions released by Mayor Wheeler on Friday. For the resolutions, and video of this and Friday press conference (pictured below), see https://www.portland.gov/council/agenda/2022/10/21, Weds 2pm meeting, items 899-903.
What might be useful, in the 2 minutes I have? Perhaps: offer and position Alternative Shelter Network as credible, constructive, useful resource to help research, compare, discuss, & disseminate good responses?
I'd like to be able to state some simple, clear pointer like URL "alternativeshelter.net" and make Council members, staff, and publics feel they should note this down, it is something helpful and relevant, and they ought to go there and e.g. bookmark it / sign up for notifications / join mailing list.
From precedent, I'd predict that public comments will be polarized and mostly non-constructive: either condemning the City's ideas for campuses and enforcement, or reiterating the harms of unsanctioned camping. Ideally, a public comment would stand out from this, promote later constructive engagement with Council members & other leaders, and express openness to different ideas/proposals.
Suggestions welcome.
thanks, Tim
Bcc: Shelter Now core team members.
On Oct 25, 2022, at 6:34 PM, Tim McCormick <tmccormick@...> wrote:
What shall I say? I'm signed up early in the list to testiify at the City Council public hearing tomorrow afternoon, about the 5 new housing/homelessness resolutions released by Mayor Wheeler on Friday. For the resolutions, and video of this and Friday press conference (pictured below), see https://www.portland.gov/council/agenda/2022/10/21, Weds 2pm meeting, items 899-903.What might be useful, in the 2 minutes I have? Perhaps: offer and position Alternative Shelter Network as credible, constructive, useful resource to help research, compare, discuss, & disseminate good responses?I'd like to be able to state some simple, clear pointer like URL "alternativeshelter.net" and make Council members, staff, and publics feel they should note this down, it is something helpful and relevant, and they ought to go there and e.g. bookmark it / sign up for notifications / join mailing list.From precedent, I'd predict that public comments will be polarized and mostly non-constructive: either condemning the City's ideas for campuses and enforcement, or reiterating the harms of unsanctioned camping. Ideally, a public comment would stand out from this, promote later constructive engagement with Council members & other leaders, and express openness to different ideas/proposals.Suggestions welcome.thanks, Tim
Bcc: Shelter Now core team members.
What shall I say? I'm signed up early in the list to testiify at the City Council public hearing tomorrow afternoon, about the 5 new housing/homelessness resolutions released by Mayor Wheeler on Friday. For the resolutions, and video of this and Friday press conference (pictured below), see https://www.portland.gov/council/agenda/2022/10/21, Weds 2pm meeting, items 899-903.
What might be useful, in the 2 minutes I have? Perhaps: offer and position Alternative Shelter Network as credible, constructive, useful resource to help research, compare, discuss, & disseminate good responses?
I'd like to be able to state some simple, clear pointer like URL "alternativeshelter.net" and make Council members, staff, and publics feel they should note this down, it is something helpful and relevant, and they ought to go there and e.g. bookmark it / sign up for notifications / join mailing list.
From precedent, I'd predict that public comments will be polarized and mostly non-constructive: either condemning the City's ideas for campuses and enforcement, or reiterating the harms of unsanctioned camping. Ideally, a public comment would stand out from this, promote later constructive engagement with Council members & other leaders, and express openness to different ideas/proposals.
Suggestions welcome.
thanks, Tim
Bcc: Shelter Now core team members.
What shall I say? I'm signed up early in the list to testiify at the City Council public hearing tomorrow afternoon, about the 5 new housing/homelessness resolutions released by Mayor Wheeler on Friday. For the resolutions, and video of this and Friday press conference (pictured below), see https://www.portland.gov/council/agenda/2022/10/21, Weds 2pm meeting, items 899-903.
What might be useful, in the 2 minutes I have? Perhaps: offer and position Alternative Shelter Network as credible, constructive, useful resource to help research, compare, discuss, & disseminate good responses?
I'd like to be able to state some simple, clear pointer like URL "alternativeshelter.net" and make Council members, staff, and publics feel they should note this down, it is something helpful and relevant, and they ought to go there and e.g. bookmark it / sign up for notifications / join mailing list.
From precedent, I'd predict that public comments will be polarized and mostly non-constructive: either condemning the City's ideas for campuses and enforcement, or reiterating the harms of unsanctioned camping. Ideally, a public comment would stand out from this, promote later constructive engagement with Council members & other leaders, and express openness to different ideas/proposals.
Suggestions welcome.
thanks, Tim
Bcc: Shelter Now core team members.
On Oct 25, 2022, at 9:16 PM, Andrew Olshin <Andrew.Olshin@...> wrote:
I was planning to sign up then found out how many folks did - and decided my time would be better spent working on the new village we are developing. So, here’s what I was gonna say:Our community is at a crucial juncture in the huge public health crisis called homelessness. Our comprehensive multi-health system response to COVID was impressive - it was led by Dr’s who treated the disease and its variants aggressively. Legacy, Providence, Kaiser, the VA, Zoomcare and OHSU were all involved. The challenges most of the folks who are visible on our streets struggle with involve substance abuse and mental health. Today we are interviewing 2 people for Multnomah County Chair = the job of leading our community out of the homeless pandemic. Should we hire a software project manager or a Dr ?With Regard to the Proposed Large CampsPractically and operationally, 125 people in an outdoor space is mind boggling. 500 is scary.Without a serious effort to provide a sustained array of health services at the proposed large camps, they will be a disaster.However, I believe the large, low barrier sites could function as an entry points to a coordinated alternative shelter continuum,We must help people get to the safer and healthier spaces that they feel comfortable in with support to meet their basic needs (hygiene, trash collection, laundry, showers).We need to increase the number of smaller villages sited on faith owned property and managed by a nonprofit staffed to help people help themselves live a healthier lifestyle. So far, I’ve been so impressed with the work being done by Agape Village @ Powell & 92nd AND Beacon Village @ NE 76th and Glisan and see hope rising at the new Parkrose Community Village operated by WeShine.Thanks,Andy OlshinOn Oct 25, 2022, at 6:34 PM, Tim McCormick <tmccormick@...> wrote:What shall I say? I'm signed up early in the list to testiify at the City Council public hearing tomorrow afternoon, about the 5 new housing/homelessness resolutions released by Mayor Wheeler on Friday. For the resolutions, and video of this and Friday press conference (pictured below), see https://www.portland.gov/council/agenda/2022/10/21, Weds 2pm meeting, items 899-903.What might be useful, in the 2 minutes I have? Perhaps: offer and position Alternative Shelter Network as credible, constructive, useful resource to help research, compare, discuss, & disseminate good responses?I'd like to be able to state some simple, clear pointer like URL "alternativeshelter.net" and make Council members, staff, and publics feel they should note this down, it is something helpful and relevant, and they ought to go there and e.g. bookmark it / sign up for notifications / join mailing list.From precedent, I'd predict that public comments will be polarized and mostly non-constructive: either condemning the City's ideas for campuses and enforcement, or reiterating the harms of unsanctioned camping. Ideally, a public comment would stand out from this, promote later constructive engagement with Council members & other leaders, and express openness to different ideas/proposals.Suggestions welcome.thanks, Tim
Bcc: Shelter Now core team members.
