City of Newark’s Post

This is really sad, why would Logan City Council and Mayor Jon Raven lock shower facilities? There can only be one reason. City councils profess to help the homeless by not moving them on from parks. They tell all they empathise with the homeless. The reality is they want them gone and by removing access to public facilities are trying to drive them away. Shame on you Logan City Council. I see Chris most weeks on my Orange Sky Australia morning shift. Like many others sleeping rough, by choice or not, he depends on public ablutions being available 24/7. What right have do councils and corporations have to restrict this access? This isn't the only example of denied access to public ablutions. Queensland Rail locks toilets on unmanned stations. Do QR employees monitor the use of toilets? Are we saying people can't use public facilities unless supervised? Last year Adrian Schrinner made the call that he realised those sleeping rough had nowhere else to go. Its time all councils accepted this reality and support those living rough by not moving them on and providing access to public facilities. Its common dignity for people to have access to showers and toilets. There is an outstanding organisation, Share the Dignity, providing female sanitary product vending machines to communities. I think it's time councils proved their worth and locate these vending machines at all public ablutions. Again some services shouldn't be dependent on controlled access or having money. As a community we should provide common dignity to all. All councils need to lift their game. 4 Voices Global Limited Rosies - Friends on the Street Merciful Servants https://lnkd.in/gWrCQDng

California Senate Bill 567, i.e., the Homelessness Prevention Act, which goes into effect on April 1, 2024, seeks to cap rent hikes at 10% and prevents landlords from evicting tenants without a legal cause. California Assembly Bill 12, i.e., the new residential security deposit law, which goes into effect on July 1, 2024, limits the amount landlords can charge for security deposits. Both bills were signed into law in 2023 by Governor Newsom, and while they signal new protections and legal benefits for tenants, the potential financial exposure for landlords is elevated. https://lnkd.in/ecBrwfbi

Every year since 2017, USC has been paid by LAHSA to do the annual Point-in-time count of homeless people in Los Angeles. LAHSA have typically released USC’s data for City Council District sheltered and unsheltered totals as well as dwelling types. There was no count in 2021 and in 2023, USC advised LAHSA not to release these numbers to the public. They didn’t, but I accessed them via CPRA. The numbers themselves are hardly surprising, but higher than the year prior. The number of dwellings in the City of LA in 2022 was 13,700 with 7,224 being vehicles and just over 3,000 each of tents and makeshift shelters. Will this insightful data be withheld by LAHSA again in 2024? Why or why not? When I obtain it anyway, will it be surprising??

Communities and individuals shouldn’t pay out of pocket for extra security. The province and city should fund the extra policing that neighbourhoods and commercial zones require due to government’s #homeless shelter and encampment location decisions. Alternatively, if it’s society that must “pay” extra for somehow causing the housing crisis and failing to provide sufficient mental health, addiction supports, and correctional services, then those payments should come from before-tax income because they relate to services that are supposed to be funded by taxes. Government should consider making expenses by individuals and businesses, to cover shortfalls in government spending on these issues, tax deductible.

This week in PublicSource: Allegheny County is moving toward creation of a Housing Advisory Committee within the Health Department. It could eyeball gaps and shortcomings in current regs and enforcement https://lnkd.in/ephgmYFZ The nonprofit org hired to run Allegheny County's Shuman Juvenile Detention Center hasn't yet received a kid, but has been paid $1.2 million — and wants more, for reputational harm https://lnkd.in/eTzWdJmu From zero to zombie apocalypse: Perry High had no drama program last year, but now its students are putting on an undead dinner show. It’s a Pittsburgh school with lots of challenges, but also spirit — and growing enrollment https://lnkd.in/e-CeV2Vz It's good to be at the top at Pittsburgh universities — because that's where the raises beat inflation. https://lnkd.in/eDt9zXWj For most of us, another rainy weekend is just a bummer. But for others, this spring’s downpours have meant disrupted transportation, canceled events, flooded housing ... What can you do when the Pittsburgh wet weather gets you? A public service guide https://lnkd.in/eSNhrJpc Sometimes the pain makes you want to withdraw. But often sharing brings healing. April Jackson led healing circles to salve others’ wounds, and one day needed to unburden herself. “One pulled out of the circle, embraced me and prayed for me.” https://lnkd.in/eCr3mpS9 Our on-staff journalists, freelance reporters, essayists and interns can do this work because readers value it enough to put their support behind it. If you can back stories for a better Pittsburgh: https://lnkd.in/eFAyVQ_Y

Last week on Thursday at 2:00 pm, the Portland City Council gathered to assess the proposed amendments to the camping ban. Community leaders and Community-Based Organizations contend that the act of criminalizing houselessness, especially without sufficient housing services, is an act of cruelty and inhumanity. They warn that such measures would inundate the system that has already proven to be ineffective and overburdened. The Judicial System currently does not attend to cases it has already criminalized and has more to come with the criminalization of possession. In no way, direct or indirectly, will criminalization help our people acquire housing. Unite Oregon stands staunchly opposed to the criminalization of houseless individuals, citing the detrimental effects of such measures. Testimonies presented during April's community budget hearings highlighted the consequences of diverting resources away from essential community support initiatives like Project Response and PSR, while simultaneously pursuing punitive actions against houseless individuals. Such actions serve only to exacerbate challenges and perpetuate harm within the houseless community. Unite Oregon is urging elected officials like the Portland City Council to tackle issues at their root cause. Criminalizing and incarcerating individuals who are homeless doesn't teach them how to overcome their situation and secure housing. Instead, it sends a message that their privileged neighbors want to hide their struggles and are not interested in addressing the underlying systems of oppression, such as the criminalization of poverty, race, and health.

🏛️ Last Night at the Spokane City Council Legislative Session: ✔️ Resolution 2024-0110 relating to approving an extension of a development agreement regarding the preliminary plat and planned unit development referred to as "The Vistas at Beacon Hill". ➕ Deferred to Dec 2nd, 2024 . ➖ Passed 7-0. ✴️ Another deferment. Why does the Council need more time? ✔️ Ordinance C36608 relating to littering and illegal dumping. ➕ 20 tons of litter is reported in Spokane every month. ➕ Dumping/Littering occurring more on top of 5-Mile, near the schools. ➕ CM Cathcart stated that what bothers him is the double standards when it comes to creating ordinances. The concept of enforcement is called into question when addressing concerns such as these. ➕ CM Bingle said he will be voting for this, but mirrored CM Cathcart's concerns in creating ordinances and resolutions that have little to no enforcement capabilities behind them. ➕ CM Dillion said the Council commonly adopts ordinances that cleanup municipal code. ✴️ This Council is creating contradictory legislation for many of our citizens that are confusing our laws and making it difficult for Spokane to find its footing, in the midst of several crises. ➕ Passed 7-0. ✔️ Hearing # 1 continuation of H1 on 2025-2026 proposed Biennium Budget (continued from November 18th, 2024 Agenda). ❗ Several citizens testified on Mayor Brown pilfering the "Janet Mann Safe Streets for All Fund" to the tune of $1.8 million to finance a SPD Traffic Unit. ✴️ Sounds similar to Mayor Woodward's proposal that was last year. Why isn't there more council push back like last time? What changed? ➕ Vote to continue Hearing # 1 into December passed 7-0. ✔️ Public Forum: ➕ 2 people testified on supporting the Council's Resolution for DNR Property use. ➕ 1 Individual spoke upon how Mayor Brown is turning our Downtown into a disgrace. ➕ 1 Person testified on asking what are the metrics of success for nonprofits in Spokane. ➕ 1 Person spoke upon the increase of encampments across Spokane with the recent TRAC Shelter closure. and the coming inclement weather. ➕ 1 Individual testified on the confusing concept of how a person who disrupted City Council and changed the very nature of Public Forum gets a city appointment. Setting a dangerous precedent. ➕ 1 Person spoke upon commending Mayor Brown for closing the TRAC Shelter. ➕ 1 Individual testified on their opposition to Catholic Charities getting city support. ➕ 1 Person spoke upon having more empathy for one another. 🔸 Save Our Spokane Organization was at the council again for a second week in a row. #SpokaneCityCouncil #PublicForum #SOS

We are committed to ensuring the well-being and safety of individuals and families and working to build stronger, more resilient communities. Budget 2024-25 initiatives include: • Creating a new $200 per month household supplement for social assistance and youth engagement services recipients • Amending legislation to permanently increase the Low-Income Seniors’ Benefit from $400 to $600, and indexing benefit to CPI beginning in 2025 • Decreasing the amount an individual at home will pay towards long-term care services for their spouse • $18.7 million to continue implementing initiatives outlined in our nursing home plan, adding nursing home beds around the province • $29.7 million to increase wages for workers in our home support and special care homes, group homes, community residences, family support, specialized placements, and attendant care • An additional $11 million in permanent funding to respond to the homelessness crisis • An additional $5.5 million to support the implementation of the new Child and Youth Well-Being Act, with further increases expected as the expanded Act becomes fully in place www.GNB.CA/Budget

When Mayors London Bree and Karen Bass recently spoke at an event in San Francisco, members of the San Francisco People's Budget Coalition made their voices heard outside the event. Mayor Breed's proposed budget will cut millions of dollars from critical public services. When direct outreach and education programs are cut, residents are unable to access critical services. If you do not know who to call when you are in crisis, and you have no one to guide you through the process, you are left standing on your own.  For example, proactive and culturally competent building code enforcement education is being cut by 10%, meaning that residents will be unable to identify and address unlawful neglect within their homes. The Emergency Rental Assistance Programs are facing a 50% cut, meaning thousands of residents are facing eviction. Workers’ rights outreach and education programs are being cut by 55% meaning low wage workers will continue to experience thousands of dollars in wage theft without recourse. Workforce development and education programs for immigrants, high-school aged and transitional-aged youth (TAY) will be cut by 100%, stifling the economic opportunities for these residents. The proposed cumulative 15% cuts impacting the Office of Economic & Workforce Development will mean there will be $2.8 million less available for adult and TAY unhoused job seekers, leaving our most vulnerable residents with less resources to obtain and maintain employment and sustain their housing. Many food distribution sites, and resource centers that provide the food, clothing, and basic toiletries that all of us need to survive, will be left empty. We're proud to work with this coalition of 40+ local non profits and unions tasked with the city’s frontline service work to provide housing, safety, health, and economic stability to the city’s most vulnerable residents. https://lnkd.in/gnbetR3c

A very distressing insight published into the impact of homelessness on families by Kitty Holland of the Irish Times: Emergency accommodation is designed to meet the short-term housing needs of a household, that arise on an urgent basis. Yet lengthy waiting lists to access social housing and lack of private rental accommodation mean many have no option but to remain in emergency accommodation on a long-term basis, if they can access it at all.   At CLM, we frequently advise families who find themselves living in poor, unsuitable and often grossly overcrowded living conditions in emergency accommodation, for prolonged periods. Our clients frequently report the profound negative impacts these living conditions are having on their children’s health and wellbeing.   Recent reports by the Ombudsman for Children highlighted the negative effects of emergency accommodation on “parenting, individual and family privacy, children’s ability to rest, sleep, learn and study, children’s health, well-being and development, opportunities for play and recreation, freedom of movement, and children’s ability to maintain relationships with family and friends” To read the report, visit: https://lnkd.in/eD4PCQXU