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POWER TO THE PUBLIC: TACKLING HOMELESSNESSJoin us for an event featuring the book's authors and Built for Zero leaders. May 13, 2021
Online event today 10am PDT, 1pm EDT, featuring #BuiltForZero program from Community Solutions, and the well-known founder of CS, Roseanne Haggerty.
You MUST register here: ** If any issues, contact hosts Community Solutions - I am not running this, won't be able to help. **
Built For Zero is a very significant program/org that recently got huge funding boost from the MacArthur Foundation.
They have a particular approach to defining and achieving "functional zero" homelessness for target populations -- typically, either chronic or veteran homelessness.
This particular webinar appears to be looking especially at an "Public Interest Technology," and features authors of recent book on this. #BuiltForZero is a key example discussed in the book.
From what I know and can see, I really recommend this webinar. If you haven't yet heard about BuiltForZero in your community, chances are you will before long, and your officials / agency heads have already. Including recently in Portland, -- where basically their program was adopted straight out by A Home For Everyone, Executive Committee, without public discussion or consultation with the Coordinating Board.
Could be fine, great, in outcome -- I don't know, I'm just skeptical as usual, especially when they didn't ask us our views on it. The Executive Committee peremptorily chose Community Solutions - seems like the typical amusing ironic way of the world, from my p.o.v., but who asked my opinion on that anyway, ever? ;)
-- -- Tim McCormick Portland, Oregon
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recent story on Built For Zero, in Next City: "Bakersfield is the first city in California to achieve functional zero for any category, and Maguire says that’s an important milestone in a state with an infamously tough housing crisis.
“[Bakersfield] is not L.A., but it’s a decent-sized city combined with a huge rural county,” Maguire says. “It’s a large, complex geography in one of the highest-cost states in America, with conservative politicians and lots of things that would make people say, ‘That’s not the place to go solve homelessness.’ But actually, Bakersfield did it.”
One reason why Bakersfield has had success in reducing its chronically homeless population is because the Housing Authority of the County of Kern has committed time and resources to helping. Heather Kimmel was leading Built for Zero work at the California Veterans Assistance Foundation before joining the housing authority, where she now works as assistant executive director. The Housing Authority of the County of Kern has been uniquely committed to serving people experiencing homelessness for years, Kimmel says, but more housing authorities are starting to focus explicitly on the issue.
“The link between the housing authority’s resources and ending homelessness is becoming more and more clear,” Kimmel says. “A community can’t effectively address homelessness without a strong partnership with the housing authority.”
Sounds good, right? Solutions Journalism!
with apologies, I find I once again have a contrarian take... see below cartoon @tmccormick: how the story went..How the situation's going.. Chronic homeless reduced by 70 people; total, by PIT count, increased by 570 people, 27%, in a year. Perhaps better story is, why we're hearing #BuiltForZero story, vs of the less attention-deserving poor? c/@anikasinghlemar @JakeMaguire
as I tweeted to story author, editor, Next City co-founder acquaintance, and #BuiltForZero program head Jake Maguire.
Not so incidentally, I recently watched Maguire present to Portland area's homelessnes policy board, A Home For Everyone. AHFE's Executive Committee has basically preemptorily adopted BuiltForZero's program and policy guidance, with no public discussion, in a manner and direction I find rather problematic for multiple reasons.
POWER TO THE PUBLIC: TACKLING HOMELESSNESSJoin us for an event featuring the book's authors and Built for Zero leaders. May 13, 2021
Online event today 10am PDT, 1pm EDT, featuring #BuiltForZero program from Community Solutions, and the well-known founder of CS, Roseanne Haggerty.
You MUST register here: ** If any issues, contact hosts Community Solutions - I am not running this, won't be able to help. **
Built For Zero is a very significant program/org that recently got huge funding boost from the MacArthur Foundation.
They have a particular approach to defining and achieving "functional zero" homelessness for target populations -- typically, either chronic or veteran homelessness.
This particular webinar appears to be looking especially at an "Public Interest Technology," and features authors of recent book on this. #BuiltForZero is a key example discussed in the book.
From what I know and can see, I really recommend this webinar. If you haven't yet heard about BuiltForZero in your community, chances are you will before long, and your officials / agency heads have already. Including recently in Portland, -- where basically their program was adopted straight out by A Home For Everyone, Executive Committee, without public discussion or consultation with the Coordinating Board.
Could be fine, great, in outcome -- I don't know, I'm just skeptical as usual, especially when they didn't ask us our views on it. The Executive Committee peremptorily chose Community Solutions - seems like the typical amusing ironic way of the world, from my p.o.v., but who asked my opinion on that anyway, ever? ;)
-- Tim McCormick Portland, Oregon
-- -- Tim McCormick Portland, Oregon
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Commissioner Sharon Meieran is my hero. If you agree with what she is saying below, please post a comment here.
Below is a quote from the May 5th AHFE meeting:
“Sorry, my motto is speak your mind even if your voice shakes, and I know my voice is shaking right now. The way that we even have this conversation is to me so disrespectful. We talk about having difficult conversations, we talk about inclusion and equity and respecting people, and what I find is, we actually don’t have those difficult conversations because certain voices and perspectives are silenced or mocked or disregarded for whatever reason. It does not actually feel like a safe space in many ways, and in recognizing that I’m privileged, I’m an elected official, that I’m white, all of these things—and for me it doesn’t feel safe. I can imagine it might not feel safe for other people.”
On May 13, 2021, at 5:40 AM, Tim McCormick <tmccormick@...> wrote:
recent story on Built For Zero, in Next City: "Bakersfield is the first city in California to achieve functional zero for any category, and Maguire says that’s an important milestone in a state with an infamously tough housing crisis.
“[Bakersfield] is not L.A., but it’s a decent-sized city combined with a huge rural county,” Maguire says. “It’s a large, complex geography in one of the highest-cost states in America, with conservative politicians and lots of things that would make people say, ‘That’s not the place to go solve homelessness.’ But actually, Bakersfield did it.”
One reason why Bakersfield has had success in reducing its chronically homeless population is because the Housing Authority of the County of Kern has committed time and resources to helping. Heather Kimmel was leading Built for Zero work at the California Veterans Assistance Foundation before joining the housing authority, where she now works as assistant executive director. The Housing Authority of the County of Kern has been uniquely committed to serving people experiencing homelessness for years, Kimmel says, but more housing authorities are starting to focus explicitly on the issue.
“The link between the housing authority’s resources and ending homelessness is becoming more and more clear,” Kimmel says. “A community can’t effectively address homelessness without a strong partnership with the housing authority.”
Sounds good, right? Solutions Journalism!
with apologies, I find I once again have a contrarian take... see below cartoon @tmccormick: how the story went..How the situation's going.. Chronic homeless reduced by 70 people; total, by PIT count, increased by 570 people, 27%, in a year. Perhaps better story is, why we're hearing #BuiltForZero story, vs of the less attention-deserving poor? c/@anikasinghlemar @JakeMaguire
as I tweeted to story author, editor, Next City co-founder acquaintance, and #BuiltForZero program head Jake Maguire.
Not so incidentally, I recently watched Maguire present to Portland area's homelessnes policy board, A Home For Everyone. AHFE's Executive Committee has basically preemptorily adopted BuiltForZero's program and policy guidance, with no public discussion, in a manner and direction I find rather problematic for multiple reasons.
POWER TO THE PUBLIC: TACKLING HOMELESSNESSJoin us for an event featuring the book's authors and Built for Zero leaders. May 13, 2021
Online event today 10am PDT, 1pm EDT, featuring #BuiltForZero program from Community Solutions, and the well-known founder of CS, Roseanne Haggerty.
You MUST register here: ** If any issues, contact hosts Community Solutions - I am not running this, won't be able to help. **
Built For Zero is a very significant program/org that recently got huge funding boost from the MacArthur Foundation.
They have a particular approach to defining and achieving "functional zero" homelessness for target populations -- typically, either chronic or veteran homelessness.
This particular webinar appears to be looking especially at an "Public Interest Technology," and features authors of recent book on this. #BuiltForZero is a key example discussed in the book.
From what I know and can see, I really recommend this webinar. If you haven't yet heard about BuiltForZero in your community, chances are you will before long, and your officials / agency heads have already. Including recently in Portland, -- where basically their program was adopted straight out by A Home For Everyone, Executive Committee, without public discussion or consultation with the Coordinating Board.
Could be fine, great, in outcome -- I don't know, I'm just skeptical as usual, especially when they didn't ask us our views on it. The Executive Committee peremptorily chose Community Solutions - seems like the typical amusing ironic way of the world, from my p.o.v., but who asked my opinion on that anyway, ever? ;)
-- Tim McCormick Portland, Oregon
-- -- Tim McCormick Portland, Oregon
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thanks Andy, I agree. I think you are getting that from this Willamette Week article by Sophie Peel on Tuesday, which for those who haven't seen is available at: [Bcc: Sophie Peel - Sophie thanks again for this, please feel free to join this list and join conversation here if you would like].
I was in attendance at that (virtual) meeting, it was pretty shocking -- for Portland, I'd note -- and affecting.
I sent this note in the meeting chat channel to the panelists, ie all AHFE Coordinating Board members present, just after Commissioner Meieran spoke:
----- "Formerly and not so far from houseless, Portland-born committed advocate here. I want to thank Commissioner Meieran, and say that she has *greatly* stood out among local officials and leaders in being willing to listen and participate with our houseless-centered advocacy group. We have felt treated with open contempt or general indifference by others here.
Commissioner Sharon Meieran is my hero. If you agree with what she is saying below, please post a comment here.
Below is a quote from the May 5th AHFE meeting:
“Sorry, my motto is speak your mind even if your voice shakes, and I know my voice is shaking right now. The way that we even have this conversation is to me so disrespectful. We talk about having difficult conversations, we talk about inclusion and equity and respecting people, and what I find is, we actually don’t have those difficult conversations because certain voices and perspectives are silenced or mocked or disregarded for whatever reason. It does not actually feel like a safe space in many ways, and in recognizing that I’m privileged, I’m an elected official, that I’m white, all of these things—and for me it doesn’t feel safe. I can imagine it might not feel safe for other people.” recent story on Built For Zero, in Next City: "Bakersfield is the first city in California to achieve functional zero for any category, and Maguire says that’s an important milestone in a state with an infamously tough housing crisis.
“[Bakersfield] is not L.A., but it’s a decent-sized city combined with a huge rural county,” Maguire says. “It’s a large, complex geography in one of the highest-cost states in America, with conservative politicians and lots of things that would make people say, ‘That’s not the place to go solve homelessness.’ But actually, Bakersfield did it.”
One reason why Bakersfield has had success in reducing its chronically homeless population is because the Housing Authority of the County of Kern has committed time and resources to helping. Heather Kimmel was leading Built for Zero work at the California Veterans Assistance Foundation before joining the housing authority, where she now works as assistant executive director. The Housing Authority of the County of Kern has been uniquely committed to serving people experiencing homelessness for years, Kimmel says, but more housing authorities are starting to focus explicitly on the issue.
“The link between the housing authority’s resources and ending homelessness is becoming more and more clear,” Kimmel says. “A community can’t effectively address homelessness without a strong partnership with the housing authority.”
Sounds good, right? Solutions Journalism!
with apologies, I find I once again have a contrarian take... see below cartoon @tmccormick: how the story went..How the situation's going.. Chronic homeless reduced by 70 people; total, by PIT count, increased by 570 people, 27%, in a year. Perhaps better story is, why we're hearing #BuiltForZero story, vs of the less attention-deserving poor? c/@anikasinghlemar @JakeMaguire
as I tweeted to story author, editor, Next City co-founder acquaintance, and #BuiltForZero program head Jake Maguire.
Not so incidentally, I recently watched Maguire present to Portland area's homelessnes policy board, A Home For Everyone. AHFE's Executive Committee has basically preemptorily adopted BuiltForZero's program and policy guidance, with no public discussion, in a manner and direction I find rather problematic for multiple reasons.
POWER TO THE PUBLIC: TACKLING HOMELESSNESSJoin us for an event featuring the book's authors and Built for Zero leaders. May 13, 2021
Online event today 10am PDT, 1pm EDT, featuring #BuiltForZero program from Community Solutions, and the well-known founder of CS, Roseanne Haggerty.
You MUST register here: ** If any issues, contact hosts Community Solutions - I am not running this, won't be able to help. **
Built For Zero is a very significant program/org that recently got huge funding boost from the MacArthur Foundation.
They have a particular approach to defining and achieving "functional zero" homelessness for target populations -- typically, either chronic or veteran homelessness.
This particular webinar appears to be looking especially at an "Public Interest Technology," and features authors of recent book on this. #BuiltForZero is a key example discussed in the book.
From what I know and can see, I really recommend this webinar. If you haven't yet heard about BuiltForZero in your community, chances are you will before long, and your officials / agency heads have already. Including recently in Portland, -- where basically their program was adopted straight out by A Home For Everyone, Executive Committee, without public discussion or consultation with the Coordinating Board.
Could be fine, great, in outcome -- I don't know, I'm just skeptical as usual, especially when they didn't ask us our views on it. The Executive Committee peremptorily chose Community Solutions - seems like the typical amusing ironic way of the world, from my p.o.v., but who asked my opinion on that anyway, ever? ;)
--
-- Tim McCormick Portland, Oregon
-- -- Tim McCormick Portland, Oregon
-- -- Tim McCormick Portland, Oregon
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toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
From: pdxshelterforum@groups.io <pdxshelterforum@groups.io>
On Behalf Of Tim McCormick via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2021 5:27 AM
To: pdxshelterforum@groups.io
Subject: [pdxshelterforum] today 10-11am webinar: #BuiltForZero [homelessness] & Public Interest Technology
POWER TO THE PUBLIC: TACKLING HOMELESSNESS
Join us for an event featuring the book's authors and Built for Zero leaders.
May 13, 2021
Online event today 10am PDT, 1pm EDT, featuring #BuiltForZero program from Community Solutions, and the well-known founder of CS, Roseanne Haggerty.
You MUST register here:
** If any issues, contact hosts Community Solutions - I am not running this, won't be able to help. **
Built For Zero is a very significant program/org that recently got huge funding boost from the MacArthur Foundation.
They have a particular approach to defining and achieving "functional zero" homelessness for target populations -- typically, either chronic or veteran homelessness.
This particular webinar appears to be looking especially at an "Public Interest Technology," and features authors of recent book on this. #BuiltForZero is a key example discussed in the book.
From what I know and can see, I really recommend this webinar. If you haven't yet heard about BuiltForZero in your community, chances are you will before long, and your officials / agency heads have already.
Including recently in Portland, -- where basically their program was adopted straight out by A Home For Everyone, Executive Committee, without public discussion or consultation with the Coordinating Board.
Could be fine, great, in outcome -- I don't know, I'm just skeptical as usual, especially when they didn't ask us our views on it.
The Executive Committee peremptorily chose Community Solutions - seems like the typical amusing ironic way of the world, from my p.o.v., but who asked my opinion on that anyway, ever? ;)
--
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Can you clarify the following, Tim?
1) Is Built for Zero, which was previously deployed in Bakersfield, CA with MacArthur Foundation funding being promoted for Portland?
2) Is it the case that Built for Zero has only helped 70 people in Bakerfield out of homelessness, yet in the meantime the number of unhoused has ballooned to 570?
3) What are the flaws/problems with Built for Zero that make it an ineffective and/or slow program?
4) How does Built for Zero tie into the Meiran quote and the meeting you attended?
5) Is Built for Zero top-down and not designed with equity, inclusion and the lived experiences of the houseless in mind?
6) What is the greater significance of the event today? What might we do in attending? Is it an opportunity to question the model? Is this event an important precursor to bringing Built for Zero to Portland?
I am asking these questions for myself and for others on the listserv because I think what you've posted is likely important and so want to fully understand.
Thanks, Elise
On Thu, May 13, 2021 at 11:18 AM Tim McCormick < tmccormick@...> wrote: thanks Andy, I agree. I think you are getting that from this Willamette Week article by Sophie Peel on Tuesday, which for those who haven't seen is available at: [Bcc: Sophie Peel - Sophie thanks again for this, please feel free to join this list and join conversation here if you would like].
I was in attendance at that (virtual) meeting, it was pretty shocking -- for Portland, I'd note -- and affecting.
I sent this note in the meeting chat channel to the panelists, ie all AHFE Coordinating Board members present, just after Commissioner Meieran spoke:
----- "Formerly and not so far from houseless, Portland-born committed advocate here. I want to thank Commissioner Meieran, and say that she has *greatly* stood out among local officials and leaders in being willing to listen and participate with our houseless-centered advocacy group. We have felt treated with open contempt or general indifference by others here.
Commissioner Sharon Meieran is my hero. If you agree with what she is saying below, please post a comment here.
Below is a quote from the May 5th AHFE meeting:
“Sorry, my motto is speak your mind even if your voice shakes, and I know my voice is shaking right now. The way that we even have this conversation is to me so disrespectful. We talk about having difficult conversations, we talk about inclusion and equity and respecting people, and what I find is, we actually don’t have those difficult conversations because certain voices and perspectives are silenced or mocked or disregarded for whatever reason. It does not actually feel like a safe space in many ways, and in recognizing that I’m privileged, I’m an elected official, that I’m white, all of these things—and for me it doesn’t feel safe. I can imagine it might not feel safe for other people.” recent story on Built For Zero, in Next City: "Bakersfield is the first city in California to achieve functional zero for any category, and Maguire says that’s an important milestone in a state with an infamously tough housing crisis.
“[Bakersfield] is not L.A., but it’s a decent-sized city combined with a huge rural county,” Maguire says. “It’s a large, complex geography in one of the highest-cost states in America, with conservative politicians and lots of things that would make people say, ‘That’s not the place to go solve homelessness.’ But actually, Bakersfield did it.”
One reason why Bakersfield has had success in reducing its chronically homeless population is because the Housing Authority of the County of Kern has committed time and resources to helping. Heather Kimmel was leading Built for Zero work at the California Veterans Assistance Foundation before joining the housing authority, where she now works as assistant executive director. The Housing Authority of the County of Kern has been uniquely committed to serving people experiencing homelessness for years, Kimmel says, but more housing authorities are starting to focus explicitly on the issue.
“The link between the housing authority’s resources and ending homelessness is becoming more and more clear,” Kimmel says. “A community can’t effectively address homelessness without a strong partnership with the housing authority.”
Sounds good, right? Solutions Journalism!
with apologies, I find I once again have a contrarian take... see below cartoon @tmccormick: how the story went..How the situation's going.. Chronic homeless reduced by 70 people; total, by PIT count, increased by 570 people, 27%, in a year. Perhaps better story is, why we're hearing #BuiltForZero story, vs of the less attention-deserving poor? c/@anikasinghlemar @JakeMaguire
as I tweeted to story author, editor, Next City co-founder acquaintance, and #BuiltForZero program head Jake Maguire.
Not so incidentally, I recently watched Maguire present to Portland area's homelessnes policy board, A Home For Everyone. AHFE's Executive Committee has basically preemptorily adopted BuiltForZero's program and policy guidance, with no public discussion, in a manner and direction I find rather problematic for multiple reasons.
POWER TO THE PUBLIC: TACKLING HOMELESSNESSJoin us for an event featuring the book's authors and Built for Zero leaders. May 13, 2021
Online event today 10am PDT, 1pm EDT, featuring #BuiltForZero program from Community Solutions, and the well-known founder of CS, Roseanne Haggerty.
You MUST register here: ** If any issues, contact hosts Community Solutions - I am not running this, won't be able to help. **
Built For Zero is a very significant program/org that recently got huge funding boost from the MacArthur Foundation.
They have a particular approach to defining and achieving "functional zero" homelessness for target populations -- typically, either chronic or veteran homelessness.
This particular webinar appears to be looking especially at an "Public Interest Technology," and features authors of recent book on this. #BuiltForZero is a key example discussed in the book.
From what I know and can see, I really recommend this webinar. If you haven't yet heard about BuiltForZero in your community, chances are you will before long, and your officials / agency heads have already. Including recently in Portland, -- where basically their program was adopted straight out by A Home For Everyone, Executive Committee, without public discussion or consultation with the Coordinating Board.
Could be fine, great, in outcome -- I don't know, I'm just skeptical as usual, especially when they didn't ask us our views on it. The Executive Committee peremptorily chose Community Solutions - seems like the typical amusing ironic way of the world, from my p.o.v., but who asked my opinion on that anyway, ever? ;)
--
-- Tim McCormick Portland, Oregon
-- -- Tim McCormick Portland, Oregon
-- Tim McCormick Portland, Oregon
-- Elise Aymer
Co-founder, Critical Diversity Solutions Pronouns: She/her
Thanks for your message!
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Hi Tim, and others,
Thank you Andy and Sharon for your support for
speaking ones understanding of the situation !
I was born into a family of a social worker and
as a result have been reviewing homeless programs for decades.
Recently there have been many more names of programs. This is a
trend. A modest change is made to the same basic platform, and
is now rebranded as the solution.
What worked to a somewhat better extent in 1980,
now works more poorly. Each modest change i have seen, are
good. However small changes to a basic program that is out of
step with 21st century socioeconomic reality is not turning the
tide. This is unfortunate as the affordability crisis is only
deepening.
People enter the field from a university that
continues to base there course work on this solutions that were
somewhat sensible when the typewriter was key. Today one may
call it transitional housing, rapid rehousing, housing first or
built for 0, i am not yet a master of this 0 yet, however from
the summaries i have read so far, its just another rubber
biscuit.
living in far northern California i might be too far from the
center of this group to be meaningful. However I would love a
focus on actual solutions that are uplifting, community and
participant driven, as well as permanent. Housing is indeed
the tip of the iceberg, however it is only the tip.
As a result solutions to me must be holistic,
including homes for people in need that are tailored to their
well being. Based on thousands of conversations with people on
and over the economic edge over the last few decades, i see
some, but very little interest in siting in an apartment and
working if they are lucky at the laundry mat. This might be
fine for a policy maker, they have the funds to make change, for
most it is just depressing! Mental health is totally out of
their league today, at this rate, tomorrow will be really much
more bleak. Exchanging a housing problem, for a mental health
problem, is like exchanging a rundown car, for a 50 car pile up
traffic accident. Even if there was evidence of such approaches
leading to people becoming housed on along term basis, which is
clearly not the case.
For most who i have spoken with, a cottage or
even a tiny home, with a small yard, would be an amazing up
grade. Along with many others who enjoy such opportunity
nearby. However this in itself is not sufficient for human well
being in today's world. However when we include areas for
gardening, workshops, a big kitchen for preparing and preserving
food, a place for running small business, repairing, recycling,
upcycling and building etc. Than the citizenry may provide for
themselves, and each other, as well as reduce costs, and earn
money, thereby making ends meet. For most people who live this
way, their physical and mental health improve. This is not
surprising given humanity has lived a version of this for
thousands of years, our mind and bodies have evolved to thrive
in and around nature, and people helping people.
Fortunately, such solutions are low cost,
inspiring, sustainable and more and more people are recognizing
this. We as far as i have seen, are still essentially not
working as much of a team. if we do, we perhaps can turn the
tide!
I would love to hear from both people who agree.
And who disagree, if they think i have missed something.
Sincerely,
Jayme Delson
jayme@...
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
On 5/13/2021 7:18 AM, Andrew Olshin
wrote:
Commissioner Sharon
Meieran is my hero. If you agree with what she is saying
below, please post a comment here.
Below is a quote from
the May 5th AHFE meeting:
“Sorry, my motto is speak your mind even if your voice shakes,
and I know my voice is shaking right now. The way that we even
have this conversation is to me so disrespectful. We talk
about having difficult conversations, we talk about inclusion
and equity and respecting people, and what I find is, we
actually don’t have those difficult conversations because
certain voices and perspectives are silenced or mocked or
disregarded for whatever reason. It does not actually feel
like a safe space in many ways, and in recognizing that I’m
privileged, I’m an elected official, that I’m white, all of
these things—and for me it doesn’t feel safe. I can imagine it
might not feel safe for other people.”
recent story on Built For Zero, in Next
City:
"Bakersfield is the first city in
California to achieve functional zero for any
category, and Maguire says that’s an important
milestone in a state with an infamously tough housing
crisis.
“[Bakersfield] is not L.A., but it’s a
decent-sized city combined with a huge rural county,”
Maguire says. “It’s a large, complex geography in one
of the highest-cost states in America, with
conservative politicians and lots of things that would
make people say, ‘That’s not the place to go solve
homelessness.’ But actually, Bakersfield did it.”
One reason why Bakersfield has had
success in reducing its chronically homeless
population is because the Housing Authority of the
County of Kern has committed time and resources to
helping. Heather Kimmel was leading Built for Zero
work at the California Veterans Assistance Foundation
before joining the housing authority, where she now
works as assistant executive director. The Housing
Authority of the County of Kern has been uniquely
committed to serving people experiencing homelessness
for years, Kimmel says, but more housing authorities
are starting to focus explicitly on the issue.
“The link between the housing
authority’s resources and ending homelessness is
becoming more and more clear,” Kimmel says. “A
community can’t effectively address homelessness
without a strong partnership with the housing
authority.”
Sounds good, right? Solutions Journalism!
with apologies, I find I once again have
a contrarian take... see below cartoon
@tmccormick:
how the story went..How the situation's
going..
Chronic homeless reduced by 70 people;
total, by PIT count, increased by 570
people, 27%, in a year.
Perhaps better story is, why we're
hearing #BuiltForZero story, vs of the less
attention-deserving poor?
c/@anikasinghlemar @JakeMaguire
as I tweeted to story author, editor,
Next City co-founder acquaintance, and #BuiltForZero
program head Jake Maguire.
Not so incidentally, I recently watched
Maguire present to Portland area's homelessnes policy
board, A Home For Everyone. AHFE's Executive
Committee has basically preemptorily adopted
BuiltForZero's program and policy guidance, with no
public discussion, in a manner and direction I find
rather problematic for multiple reasons.
POWER
TO THE PUBLIC: TACKLING HOMELESSNESS
Join us for an event featuring the
book's authors and Built for Zero leaders.
May
13, 2021
Online event today 10am PDT, 1pm
EDT, featuring #BuiltForZero program from
Community Solutions, and the well-known founder
of CS, Roseanne Haggerty.
You MUST register here:
** If any issues, contact hosts
Community Solutions - I am not running this,
won't be able to help. **
Built For Zero is a very
significant program/org that recently got huge
funding boost from the MacArthur Foundation.
They have a particular approach to
defining and achieving "functional zero"
homelessness for target populations --
typically, either chronic or veteran
homelessness.
This particular webinar appears to
be looking especially at an "Public Interest
Technology," and features authors of recent book
on this. #BuiltForZero is a key example
discussed in the book.
From what I know and can see, I
really recommend this webinar. If you haven't
yet heard about BuiltForZero in your community,
chances are you will before long, and your
officials / agency heads have already. Including
recently in Portland, -- where basically
their program was adopted straight out by A Home
For Everyone, Executive Committee, without
public discussion or consultation with the
Coordinating Board.
Could be fine, great, in outcome
-- I don't know, I'm just skeptical as usual,
especially when they didn't ask us our views on
it.
The Executive Committee
peremptorily chose Community Solutions - seems
like the typical amusing ironic way of the
world, from my p.o.v., but who asked my opinion
on that anyway, ever? ;)
--
--
Tim
McCormick
Portland,
Oregon
--
--
Tim
McCormick
Portland,
Oregon
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Hi Elise,
Great questions. I am new to built for 0,
however from reading their summaries, it looks like your
concerns are founded, l look forward to being in error if they
are not just a rerun !
Wow are there really only 570 homeless in
Bakersfield? There are 3 times that amount even by point in time
counts, which are really not a meaningful way to determine who
needs a home, in Humboldt county ca.
Cheers, Jayme
jayme@...
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
On 5/13/2021 9:09 AM, Elise Aymer
wrote:
Can you clarify the following, Tim?
1) Is Built for Zero, which was previously deployed in
Bakersfield, CA with MacArthur Foundation funding being
promoted for Portland?
2) Is it the case that Built for Zero has only helped 70
people in Bakerfield out of homelessness, yet in the meantime
the number of unhoused has ballooned to 570?
3) What are the flaws/problems with Built for Zero that
make it an ineffective and/or slow program?
4) How does Built for Zero tie into the Meiran quote and
the meeting you attended?
5) Is Built for Zero top-down and not designed with equity,
inclusion and the lived experiences of the houseless in mind?
6) What is the greater significance of the event today?
What might we do in attending? Is it an opportunity to
question the model? Is this event an important precursor to
bringing Built for Zero to Portland?
I am asking these questions for myself and for others on
the listserv because I think what you've posted is likely
important and so want to fully understand.
Thanks,
Elise
On Thu, May 13, 2021 at 11:18
AM Tim McCormick < tmccormick@...> wrote:
thanks Andy, I agree.
I think you are getting that from this
Willamette Week article by Sophie Peel on Tuesday, which for
those who haven't seen is available at:
[Bcc: Sophie Peel - Sophie thanks again for this, please
feel free to join this list and join conversation here if
you would like].
I was in attendance at that (virtual) meeting,
it was pretty shocking -- for Portland, I'd note -- and
affecting.
I sent this note in the meeting chat channel
to the panelists, ie all AHFE Coordinating Board members
present, just after Commissioner Meieran spoke:
-----
"Formerly and not so far from houseless, Portland-born committed advocate here. I want to thank Commissioner Meieran, and say that she has *greatly* stood out among local officials and leaders in being willing to listen and participate with our houseless-centered advocacy group. We have felt treated with open contempt or general indifference by others here.
Commissioner
Sharon Meieran is my hero. If you agree with
what she is saying below, please post a comment
here.
Below
is a quote from the May 5th AHFE meeting:
“Sorry, my motto is speak your mind even if your
voice shakes, and I know my voice is shaking right
now. The way that we even have this conversation
is to me so disrespectful. We talk about having
difficult conversations, we talk about inclusion
and equity and respecting people, and what I find
is, we actually don’t have those difficult
conversations because certain voices and
perspectives are silenced or mocked or disregarded
for whatever reason. It does not actually feel
like a safe space in many ways, and in recognizing
that I’m privileged, I’m an elected official, that
I’m white, all of these things—and for me it
doesn’t feel safe. I can imagine it might not feel
safe for other people.”
recent story on Built For
Zero, in Next City:
"Bakersfield is the first
city in California to achieve functional
zero for any category, and Maguire says
that’s an important milestone in a state
with an infamously tough housing crisis.
“[Bakersfield] is not L.A.,
but it’s a decent-sized city combined with
a huge rural county,” Maguire says. “It’s
a large, complex geography in one of the
highest-cost states in America, with
conservative politicians and lots of
things that would make people say, ‘That’s
not the place to go solve homelessness.’
But actually, Bakersfield did it.”
One reason why Bakersfield
has had success in reducing its
chronically homeless population is because
the Housing Authority of the County of
Kern has committed time and resources to
helping. Heather Kimmel was leading Built
for Zero work at the California Veterans
Assistance Foundation before joining the
housing authority, where she now works as
assistant executive director. The Housing
Authority of the County of Kern has been
uniquely committed to serving people
experiencing homelessness for years,
Kimmel says, but more housing authorities
are starting to focus explicitly on the
issue.
“The link between the
housing authority’s resources and ending
homelessness is becoming more and more
clear,” Kimmel says. “A community can’t
effectively address homelessness without a
strong partnership with the housing
authority.”
Sounds good, right? Solutions
Journalism!
with apologies, I find I
once again have a contrarian take... see
below cartoon
@tmccormick:
how the story went..How the
situation's going..
Chronic homeless reduced by
70 people;
total, by PIT count,
increased by 570 people, 27%, in a year.
Perhaps better story is, why
we're hearing #BuiltForZero story, vs of
the less attention-deserving poor?
c/@anikasinghlemar
@JakeMaguire
as I tweeted to story
author, editor, Next City co-founder
acquaintance, and #BuiltForZero program
head Jake Maguire.
Not so incidentally, I
recently watched Maguire present to
Portland area's homelessnes policy board,
A Home For Everyone. AHFE's Executive
Committee has basically preemptorily
adopted BuiltForZero's program and policy
guidance, with no public discussion, in a
manner and direction I find rather
problematic for multiple reasons.
POWER
TO THE PUBLIC: TACKLING
HOMELESSNESS
Join us for an event
featuring the book's authors and
Built for Zero leaders.
May
13, 2021
Online event today
10am PDT, 1pm EDT, featuring
#BuiltForZero program from Community
Solutions, and the well-known
founder of CS, Roseanne Haggerty.
You MUST register
here:
** If any issues,
contact hosts Community Solutions
- I am not running this, won't be
able to help. **
Built For Zero is a
very significant program/org that
recently got huge funding boost from
the MacArthur Foundation.
They have a particular
approach to defining and achieving
"functional zero" homelessness for
target populations -- typically,
either chronic or veteran
homelessness.
This particular
webinar appears to be looking
especially at an "Public Interest
Technology," and features authors of
recent book on this. #BuiltForZero
is a key example discussed in the
book.
From what I know and
can see, I really recommend this
webinar. If you haven't yet heard
about BuiltForZero in your
community, chances are you will
before long, and your officials /
agency heads have already. Including
recently in Portland, -- where
basically their program was adopted
straight out by A Home For Everyone,
Executive Committee, without public
discussion or consultation with the
Coordinating Board.
Could be fine, great,
in outcome -- I don't know, I'm just
skeptical as usual, especially when
they didn't ask us our views on it.
The Executive
Committee peremptorily chose
Community Solutions - seems like the
typical amusing ironic way of the
world, from my p.o.v., but who asked
my opinion on that anyway, ever? ;)
--
--
Tim
McCormick
Portland,
Oregon
--
--
Tim
McCormick
Portland,
Oregon
--
--
Tim
McCormick
Portland,
Oregon
--
Elise Aymer
Co-founder, Critical
Diversity Solutions
Pronouns: She/her
Thanks for your message!
|
|
|
Here is the Built for Zero site: https://community.solutions/our-solutions/built-for-zero/
It looks more like an initiative of the MacArthur Foundation than something that they grant funded and it's a national program that involves numerous municipalities across the country.
The site makes what I think are sweeping claims of having "ended homelessness" in five communities and "ended veteran homeless" in twelve. These determinations are based on a standard that they call "functional zero" https://community.solutions/functional-zero/
This is what I could find from the source itself. I would like to hear from others on this list who are better places to comment and critique the program.
Elise
On Thu, May 13, 2021 at 11:18 AM Tim McCormick < tmccormick@...> wrote: thanks Andy, I agree. I think you are getting that from this Willamette Week article by Sophie Peel on Tuesday, which for those who haven't seen is available at: [Bcc: Sophie Peel - Sophie thanks again for this, please feel free to join this list and join conversation here if you would like].
I was in attendance at that (virtual) meeting, it was pretty shocking -- for Portland, I'd note -- and affecting.
I sent this note in the meeting chat channel to the panelists, ie all AHFE Coordinating Board members present, just after Commissioner Meieran spoke:
----- "Formerly and not so far from houseless, Portland-born committed advocate here. I want to thank Commissioner Meieran, and say that she has *greatly* stood out among local officials and leaders in being willing to listen and participate with our houseless-centered advocacy group. We have felt treated with open contempt or general indifference by others here.
Commissioner Sharon Meieran is my hero. If you agree with what she is saying below, please post a comment here.
Below is a quote from the May 5th AHFE meeting:
“Sorry, my motto is speak your mind even if your voice shakes, and I know my voice is shaking right now. The way that we even have this conversation is to me so disrespectful. We talk about having difficult conversations, we talk about inclusion and equity and respecting people, and what I find is, we actually don’t have those difficult conversations because certain voices and perspectives are silenced or mocked or disregarded for whatever reason. It does not actually feel like a safe space in many ways, and in recognizing that I’m privileged, I’m an elected official, that I’m white, all of these things—and for me it doesn’t feel safe. I can imagine it might not feel safe for other people.” recent story on Built For Zero, in Next City: "Bakersfield is the first city in California to achieve functional zero for any category, and Maguire says that’s an important milestone in a state with an infamously tough housing crisis.
“[Bakersfield] is not L.A., but it’s a decent-sized city combined with a huge rural county,” Maguire says. “It’s a large, complex geography in one of the highest-cost states in America, with conservative politicians and lots of things that would make people say, ‘That’s not the place to go solve homelessness.’ But actually, Bakersfield did it.”
One reason why Bakersfield has had success in reducing its chronically homeless population is because the Housing Authority of the County of Kern has committed time and resources to helping. Heather Kimmel was leading Built for Zero work at the California Veterans Assistance Foundation before joining the housing authority, where she now works as assistant executive director. The Housing Authority of the County of Kern has been uniquely committed to serving people experiencing homelessness for years, Kimmel says, but more housing authorities are starting to focus explicitly on the issue.
“The link between the housing authority’s resources and ending homelessness is becoming more and more clear,” Kimmel says. “A community can’t effectively address homelessness without a strong partnership with the housing authority.”
Sounds good, right? Solutions Journalism!
with apologies, I find I once again have a contrarian take... see below cartoon @tmccormick: how the story went..How the situation's going.. Chronic homeless reduced by 70 people; total, by PIT count, increased by 570 people, 27%, in a year. Perhaps better story is, why we're hearing #BuiltForZero story, vs of the less attention-deserving poor? c/@anikasinghlemar @JakeMaguire
as I tweeted to story author, editor, Next City co-founder acquaintance, and #BuiltForZero program head Jake Maguire.
Not so incidentally, I recently watched Maguire present to Portland area's homelessnes policy board, A Home For Everyone. AHFE's Executive Committee has basically preemptorily adopted BuiltForZero's program and policy guidance, with no public discussion, in a manner and direction I find rather problematic for multiple reasons.
POWER TO THE PUBLIC: TACKLING HOMELESSNESSJoin us for an event featuring the book's authors and Built for Zero leaders. May 13, 2021
Online event today 10am PDT, 1pm EDT, featuring #BuiltForZero program from Community Solutions, and the well-known founder of CS, Roseanne Haggerty.
You MUST register here: ** If any issues, contact hosts Community Solutions - I am not running this, won't be able to help. **
Built For Zero is a very significant program/org that recently got huge funding boost from the MacArthur Foundation.
They have a particular approach to defining and achieving "functional zero" homelessness for target populations -- typically, either chronic or veteran homelessness.
This particular webinar appears to be looking especially at an "Public Interest Technology," and features authors of recent book on this. #BuiltForZero is a key example discussed in the book.
From what I know and can see, I really recommend this webinar. If you haven't yet heard about BuiltForZero in your community, chances are you will before long, and your officials / agency heads have already. Including recently in Portland, -- where basically their program was adopted straight out by A Home For Everyone, Executive Committee, without public discussion or consultation with the Coordinating Board.
Could be fine, great, in outcome -- I don't know, I'm just skeptical as usual, especially when they didn't ask us our views on it. The Executive Committee peremptorily chose Community Solutions - seems like the typical amusing ironic way of the world, from my p.o.v., but who asked my opinion on that anyway, ever? ;)
--
-- Tim McCormick Portland, Oregon
-- -- Tim McCormick Portland, Oregon
-- Tim McCormick Portland, Oregon
-- Elise Aymer
Co-founder, Critical Diversity Solutions Pronouns: She/her
Thanks for your message!
|
|
|
Hi Jayme,
It looks like Build for Zero relies on the creation of a list of homeless people as the basis for their engagements. It's supposed to be updated along the way. But yes, 590 sounds low, especially as we know there are so many hidden people who are doubled up with relatives, sleeping on couches at acquaintance's, sleeping at work, living in their vehicles, etc.
Elise
On Thu, May 13, 2021 at 1:48 PM Jayme Delson < jayme@...> wrote:
Hi Elise,
Great questions. I am new to built for 0,
however from reading their summaries, it looks like your
concerns are founded, l look forward to being in error if they
are not just a rerun !
Wow are there really only 570 homeless in
Bakersfield? There are 3 times that amount even by point in time
counts, which are really not a meaningful way to determine who
needs a home, in Humboldt county ca.
Cheers, Jayme
jayme@...
On 5/13/2021 9:09 AM, Elise Aymer
wrote:
Can you clarify the following, Tim?
1) Is Built for Zero, which was previously deployed in
Bakersfield, CA with MacArthur Foundation funding being
promoted for Portland?
2) Is it the case that Built for Zero has only helped 70
people in Bakerfield out of homelessness, yet in the meantime
the number of unhoused has ballooned to 570?
3) What are the flaws/problems with Built for Zero that
make it an ineffective and/or slow program?
4) How does Built for Zero tie into the Meiran quote and
the meeting you attended?
5) Is Built for Zero top-down and not designed with equity,
inclusion and the lived experiences of the houseless in mind?
6) What is the greater significance of the event today?
What might we do in attending? Is it an opportunity to
question the model? Is this event an important precursor to
bringing Built for Zero to Portland?
I am asking these questions for myself and for others on
the listserv because I think what you've posted is likely
important and so want to fully understand.
Thanks,
Elise
On Thu, May 13, 2021 at 11:18
AM Tim McCormick < tmccormick@...> wrote:
thanks Andy, I agree.
I think you are getting that from this
Willamette Week article by Sophie Peel on Tuesday, which for
those who haven't seen is available at:
[Bcc: Sophie Peel - Sophie thanks again for this, please
feel free to join this list and join conversation here if
you would like].
I was in attendance at that (virtual) meeting,
it was pretty shocking -- for Portland, I'd note -- and
affecting.
I sent this note in the meeting chat channel
to the panelists, ie all AHFE Coordinating Board members
present, just after Commissioner Meieran spoke:
-----
"Formerly and not so far from houseless, Portland-born committed advocate here. I want to thank Commissioner Meieran, and say that she has *greatly* stood out among local officials and leaders in being willing to listen and participate with our houseless-centered advocacy group. We have felt treated with open contempt or general indifference by others here.
Commissioner
Sharon Meieran is my hero. If you agree with
what she is saying below, please post a comment
here.
Below
is a quote from the May 5th AHFE meeting:
“Sorry, my motto is speak your mind even if your
voice shakes, and I know my voice is shaking right
now. The way that we even have this conversation
is to me so disrespectful. We talk about having
difficult conversations, we talk about inclusion
and equity and respecting people, and what I find
is, we actually don’t have those difficult
conversations because certain voices and
perspectives are silenced or mocked or disregarded
for whatever reason. It does not actually feel
like a safe space in many ways, and in recognizing
that I’m privileged, I’m an elected official, that
I’m white, all of these things—and for me it
doesn’t feel safe. I can imagine it might not feel
safe for other people.”
recent story on Built For
Zero, in Next City:
"Bakersfield is the first
city in California to achieve functional
zero for any category, and Maguire says
that’s an important milestone in a state
with an infamously tough housing crisis.
“[Bakersfield] is not L.A.,
but it’s a decent-sized city combined with
a huge rural county,” Maguire says. “It’s
a large, complex geography in one of the
highest-cost states in America, with
conservative politicians and lots of
things that would make people say, ‘That’s
not the place to go solve homelessness.’
But actually, Bakersfield did it.”
One reason why Bakersfield
has had success in reducing its
chronically homeless population is because
the Housing Authority of the County of
Kern has committed time and resources to
helping. Heather Kimmel was leading Built
for Zero work at the California Veterans
Assistance Foundation before joining the
housing authority, where she now works as
assistant executive director. The Housing
Authority of the County of Kern has been
uniquely committed to serving people
experiencing homelessness for years,
Kimmel says, but more housing authorities
are starting to focus explicitly on the
issue.
“The link between the
housing authority’s resources and ending
homelessness is becoming more and more
clear,” Kimmel says. “A community can’t
effectively address homelessness without a
strong partnership with the housing
authority.”
Sounds good, right? Solutions
Journalism!
with apologies, I find I
once again have a contrarian take... see
below cartoon
@tmccormick:
how the story went..How the
situation's going..
Chronic homeless reduced by
70 people;
total, by PIT count,
increased by 570 people, 27%, in a year.
Perhaps better story is, why
we're hearing #BuiltForZero story, vs of
the less attention-deserving poor?
c/@anikasinghlemar
@JakeMaguire
as I tweeted to story
author, editor, Next City co-founder
acquaintance, and #BuiltForZero program
head Jake Maguire.
Not so incidentally, I
recently watched Maguire present to
Portland area's homelessnes policy board,
A Home For Everyone. AHFE's Executive
Committee has basically preemptorily
adopted BuiltForZero's program and policy
guidance, with no public discussion, in a
manner and direction I find rather
problematic for multiple reasons.
POWER
TO THE PUBLIC: TACKLING
HOMELESSNESS
Join us for an event
featuring the book's authors and
Built for Zero leaders.
May
13, 2021
Online event today
10am PDT, 1pm EDT, featuring
#BuiltForZero program from Community
Solutions, and the well-known
founder of CS, Roseanne Haggerty.
You MUST register
here:
** If any issues,
contact hosts Community Solutions
- I am not running this, won't be
able to help. **
Built For Zero is a
very significant program/org that
recently got huge funding boost from
the MacArthur Foundation.
They have a particular
approach to defining and achieving
"functional zero" homelessness for
target populations -- typically,
either chronic or veteran
homelessness.
This particular
webinar appears to be looking
especially at an "Public Interest
Technology," and features authors of
recent book on this. #BuiltForZero
is a key example discussed in the
book.
From what I know and
can see, I really recommend this
webinar. If you haven't yet heard
about BuiltForZero in your
community, chances are you will
before long, and your officials /
agency heads have already. Including
recently in Portland, -- where
basically their program was adopted
straight out by A Home For Everyone,
Executive Committee, without public
discussion or consultation with the
Coordinating Board.
Could be fine, great,
in outcome -- I don't know, I'm just
skeptical as usual, especially when
they didn't ask us our views on it.
The Executive
Committee peremptorily chose
Community Solutions - seems like the
typical amusing ironic way of the
world, from my p.o.v., but who asked
my opinion on that anyway, ever? ;)
--
--
Tim
McCormick
Portland,
Oregon
--
--
Tim
McCormick
Portland,
Oregon
--
--
Tim
McCormick
Portland,
Oregon
--
Elise Aymer
Co-founder, Critical
Diversity Solutions
Pronouns: She/her
Thanks for your message!
-- Elise Aymer
Co-founder, Critical Diversity Solutions Pronouns: She/her
Thanks for your message!
|
|
|
Hi Elise,
Thank you for your reply. thank you for sending
out their approach.
Being a big foundation they might not know the
history of homeless programs? What i consider adjusting at the
edges, they might think is making a big difference?
Cheers,
Jayme
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
On 5/13/2021 10:58 AM, Elise Aymer
wrote:
Hi Jayme,
It looks like Build for Zero relies on the creation of a
list of homeless people as the basis for their engagements.
It's supposed to be updated along the way. But yes, 590 sounds
low, especially as we know there are so many hidden people who
are doubled up with relatives, sleeping on couches at
acquaintance's, sleeping at work, living in their vehicles,
etc.
Elise
On Thu, May 13, 2021 at 1:48
PM Jayme Delson < jayme@...> wrote:
Hi Elise,
Great questions. I am new to built for
0, however from reading their summaries, it looks like
your concerns are founded, l look forward to being in
error if they are not just a rerun !
Wow are there really only 570 homeless in
Bakersfield? There are 3 times that amount even by point
in time counts, which are really not a meaningful way to
determine who needs a home, in Humboldt county ca.
Cheers, Jayme
jayme@...
On 5/13/2021 9:09 AM, Elise Aymer wrote:
Can you clarify the following, Tim?
1) Is Built for Zero, which was previously deployed
in Bakersfield, CA with MacArthur Foundation funding
being promoted for Portland?
2) Is it the case that Built for Zero has only
helped 70 people in Bakerfield out of homelessness,
yet in the meantime the number of unhoused has
ballooned to 570?
3) What are the flaws/problems with Built for Zero
that make it an ineffective and/or slow program?
4) How does Built for Zero tie into the Meiran
quote and the meeting you attended?
5) Is Built for Zero top-down and not designed with
equity, inclusion and the lived experiences of the
houseless in mind?
6) What is the greater significance of the event
today? What might we do in attending? Is it an
opportunity to question the model? Is this event an
important precursor to bringing Built for Zero to
Portland?
I am asking these questions for myself and for
others on the listserv because I think what you've
posted is likely important and so want to fully
understand.
Thanks,
Elise
On Thu, May 13, 2021
at 11:18 AM Tim McCormick < tmccormick@...>
wrote:
thanks Andy, I agree.
I think you are getting that from this
Willamette Week article by Sophie Peel on Tuesday,
which for those who haven't seen is available at:
[Bcc: Sophie Peel - Sophie thanks again for this,
please feel free to join this list and join
conversation here if you would like].
I was in attendance at that (virtual)
meeting, it was pretty shocking -- for Portland, I'd
note -- and affecting.
I sent this note in the meeting chat
channel to the panelists, ie all AHFE Coordinating
Board members present, just after Commissioner
Meieran spoke:
-----
"Formerly and not so far from houseless, Portland-born committed advocate here. I want to thank Commissioner Meieran, and say that she has *greatly* stood out among local officials and leaders in being willing to listen and participate with our houseless-centered advocacy group. We have felt treated with open contempt or general indifference by others here.
Commissioner
Sharon Meieran is my hero. If you agree
with what she is saying below, please
post a comment here.
Below
is a quote from the May 5th AHFE
meeting:
“Sorry, my motto is speak your mind even
if your voice shakes, and I know my voice
is shaking right now. The way that we even
have this conversation is to me so
disrespectful. We talk about having
difficult conversations, we talk about
inclusion and equity and respecting
people, and what I find is, we actually
don’t have those difficult conversations
because certain voices and perspectives
are silenced or mocked or disregarded for
whatever reason. It does not actually feel
like a safe space in many ways, and in
recognizing that I’m privileged, I’m an
elected official, that I’m white, all of
these things—and for me it doesn’t feel
safe. I can imagine it might not feel safe
for other people.”
recent story on Built
For Zero, in Next City:
"Bakersfield is the
first city in California to
achieve functional zero for any
category, and Maguire says that’s
an important milestone in a state
with an infamously tough housing
crisis.
“[Bakersfield] is
not L.A., but it’s a decent-sized
city combined with a huge rural
county,” Maguire says. “It’s a
large, complex geography in one of
the highest-cost states in
America, with conservative
politicians and lots of things
that would make people say,
‘That’s not the place to go solve
homelessness.’ But actually,
Bakersfield did it.”
One reason why
Bakersfield has had success in
reducing its chronically homeless
population is because the Housing
Authority of the County of Kern
has committed time and resources
to helping. Heather Kimmel was
leading Built for Zero work at the
California Veterans Assistance
Foundation before joining the
housing authority, where she now
works as assistant executive
director. The Housing Authority of
the County of Kern has been
uniquely committed to serving
people experiencing homelessness
for years, Kimmel says, but more
housing authorities are starting
to focus explicitly on the issue.
“The link between
the housing authority’s resources
and ending homelessness is
becoming more and more clear,”
Kimmel says. “A community can’t
effectively address homelessness
without a strong partnership with
the housing authority.”
Sounds good, right?
Solutions Journalism!
with apologies, I
find I once again have a
contrarian take... see below
cartoon
@tmccormick:
how the story
went..How the situation's going..
Chronic homeless
reduced by 70 people;
total, by PIT count,
increased by 570 people, 27%, in a
year.
Perhaps better story
is, why we're hearing
#BuiltForZero story, vs of the
less attention-deserving poor?
c/@anikasinghlemar
@JakeMaguire
as I tweeted to
story author, editor, Next City
co-founder acquaintance, and
#BuiltForZero program head Jake
Maguire.
Not so incidentally,
I recently watched Maguire present
to Portland area's homelessnes
policy board, A Home For
Everyone. AHFE's Executive
Committee has basically
preemptorily adopted
BuiltForZero's program and policy
guidance, with no public
discussion, in a manner and
direction I find rather
problematic for multiple reasons.
POWER TO THE PUBLIC:
TACKLING HOMELESSNESS
Join us for an
event featuring the book's
authors and Built for Zero
leaders.
May
13, 2021
Online event
today 10am PDT, 1pm EDT,
featuring #BuiltForZero
program from Community
Solutions, and the
well-known founder of CS,
Roseanne Haggerty.
You MUST
register here:
** If any
issues, contact hosts
Community Solutions - I am
not running this, won't be
able to help. **
Built For Zero
is a very significant
program/org that recently
got huge funding boost from
the MacArthur Foundation.
They have a
particular approach to
defining and achieving
"functional zero"
homelessness for target
populations -- typically,
either chronic or veteran
homelessness.
This
particular webinar appears
to be looking especially at
an "Public Interest
Technology," and features
authors of recent book on
this. #BuiltForZero is a key
example discussed in the
book.
From what I
know and can see, I really
recommend this webinar. If
you haven't yet heard about
BuiltForZero in your
community, chances are you
will before long, and your
officials / agency heads
have already. Including
recently in Portland,
-- where basically their
program was adopted straight
out by A Home For Everyone,
Executive Committee, without
public discussion or
consultation with the
Coordinating Board.
Could be fine,
great, in outcome -- I don't
know, I'm just skeptical as
usual, especially when they
didn't ask us our views on
it.
The Executive
Committee peremptorily chose
Community Solutions - seems
like the typical amusing
ironic way of the world,
from my p.o.v., but who
asked my opinion on that
anyway, ever? ;)
--
--
Tim
McCormick
Portland,
Oregon
--
--
Tim
McCormick
Portland,
Oregon
--
--
Tim
McCormick
Portland,
Oregon
--
Elise Aymer
Co-founder, Critical Diversity
Solutions
Pronouns: She/her
Thanks for your message!
--
Elise Aymer
Co-founder, Critical
Diversity Solutions
Pronouns: She/her
Thanks for your message!
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