Doyle Park legal case
This is a case of 7 people being swept at 2 am and taken to jail several years ago. Motion to exclude evidence is next Tuesday.
Steamer Landing case
The people in this camp got a delay until an evidentiary hearing on Nov. 17. The judge will call Mary Isaac’s staff. Hearing by zoom.
Non-Congregant Shelter Update
Tina Rivera, interim head of Sonoma County Health Dept
This discussion relates to the Covid Safe Facilities at:
Astro Motel
Trailers at Fairgrounds
Windsor Holiday Inn
Dry Creek Inn. Isolation and quarantine.
It does not relate to:
Azura, (Mickey Zane place), Elderberry Commons (Sebastopol Inn) or Los Guilicos Village
These sites are paid or reimbursed by FEMA. Takes time for FEMA to reimburse costs. Initially told that FEMA funding would end Dec. 31, 2021. Last week, mid-week, Feds said they would continue funding through April 1, 2022. Will it be extended from then? We don’t know. They currently house/shelter 85 individuals.
Right now, March 31, 2022 end of COVID. Ceased referrals to Astro and Windsor. Doesn’t want hundreds of individuals who need placement at the last minute. Currently wanting everyone in permanent housing.
Unless there’s an emergency, no new referrals. Referrals must meet FEMA criteria – Over age 65 or covid vulnerable. Still taking referrals for L.G and Fairground trailers. Asura and Elderberry Commons.
IMDT – Working with the individuals at covid response sites. 6 IMDT workers. 1:14 caseload.
Many of these folks have a voucher or are eligible for a voucher.
Fairground trailers currently placed at ball field lot and D lot at the Fairgrounds. April 22 update to Board of Supervisors by Tina Rivera and Dave Kiff, including Project Homekey.
Board of Supervisors approved IMDT for $200,000 for direct services to individual homeless people. Final passage on 12/7 on Consent calendar. These dollars are for support for street individuals.
More Winter Shelters. ESG-CV Funds might help with more winter shelter. Expanding West County Community Services shelter and Kathy Kane in Sonoma at The Haven. The Warming shelters are set up by the Emergency Management Department. Chris Godley is the director there.
Tina sees investments in tiny homes and safe parking as sensible and reasonably cheap. She is working to open more. Congregant shelters (like Sam Jones & Mary Isaacs) have been exposed as unhealthy during covid.
Question: Getting a voucher doesn’t mean that you can find a house. Can we get statistics about that?
Question: Community is extremely important for health. Community, not congregate.
Concerned about the heavy security at Mickey Zane.
Tina: I agree about the security. We would like to have less. It is due to neighborhood pressure. We are looking to pull back on that security because it is so very expensive.
Question: How does one apply for Rapid Rehousing?
Tina: County doesn’t run these, although they fund them. Apply through various agencies. Catholic Charities, IFSN, WCCS;
For West County RRH, please contact WCCS at 707-239-4353, 707-889-3411
Question: What about the leak of funds from Affordable housing to private hands. See current Bohemian Issue for 2-part story, https://bohemian.com/freight-railroaded/
Question: General Assistance. What department? When will the county review and expand this program?
Tina: Human Services Felicia Pinson is the head of General Assistance. It is under the Social Service Department. Angela Struckman is the Director. IMDT has a person who connects people with General Assistance.
Question: What can happen to people now that the Covid- shelters are not taking referrals?
Tina: Emergencies will be accepted. Winter shelter may be expanded. Homekey funding will set up new options.
Tina’s Work email: Tina.Rivera@sonoma-county.org
Follow Up Discussion
All the agencies are required to report their statistics about how many people they were able to to house, but no one asks for the statistics, or analyzes them. We could do a Request for Information and do our own analysis.
Resources and Meetings
Help for Individuals: The Paulin Dr address Is a great place to walk-in, or walk-in with a client – or call them. They also have counselors who can provide additional assistance. Just ask! https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services/Economic-Assistance/
Opportunity to set policy for affordable housing in Sonoma County
Deadline: Nov 23
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/PRMD/Press-Release/Seeking-members-for-Housing-Advisory-Group/
Third Friday CoC (Continuum of Care) Strategic Planning meeting – open to the public. https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CDC/Homeless-Services/Continuum-of-Care/Strategic-Planning-Committee/Calendar/Meeting-November-19-2021/
CoC Board Meeting this Wednesday:
Free Legal Advice: Dec. 1 at the Sonoma County law library for free legal info/referrals 707-565-2668
New apartment complex on E. Robles at SR Ave. “Cedar Grove” asking for applicants at 707-710-8016
Homeless Dog Incident
Vira, our member from Guerneville was bitten by a Homeless person’s dog November 9th, 4:30-5pm in front of Guerneville post office. It took a chunk out of her Right hand and broke my bone under her pinky. The dog is a pit bull labrador mix named Gold Digger. No one called 911. No one even responded due to being used to all the homeless screaming. This dog bit other people and was ordered to wear a muzzle. Rumer is this dog killed another dog in the Guerneville Navigation Center. Just yesterday the dog was finally taken into quarantine. What is the future of the dog? Recommendations: look at legal options with Victoria. Insist on extermination.
Internal Mediation Committee
A small group who are willing to listen to complaints about individuals or Homeless Action! as a whole and attempt to resolve issues. Discussion includes people thinking that ‘we need to weed out destructive people’, and those who say this is simply reasonable. Perhaps it is also a place where people who want changes in the way the group works can also talk at some length
Ludmilla, Gregory, Victoria and Anita Volunteered to serve. Decision about whether or not to have the Committee is tabled to next week.
SAVS Safe Parking Lot in Sebastopol
Lots of questions and problems that SAVS is dealing with. How to deal with gray water (washing dishes)? Warmth? Only in common area or can we bring power to each trailer? Will the lot be graveled, or can it just be dirt with gravel paths? Locked gate? Curfew? What about people who stay with others in their trailers but don’t own a trailer? (Sometimes people take in folks overnight.) We have three hot meals a week promised; can we do more? How? Guests and Visitors? Things the neighbors want. Things the city wants. Ideas from the potential residents. SAVS is meeting every 1-2 weeks with neighbors, city council members and the Morris St. residents. They can use more help. SAVS will put out a list of possible volunteer needs in the next few weeks.
Copperwoman Being Kicked Off Property
The Code Enforcement folks are coming down on the property owners, including Copperwoman, with fines. Three separate properties and at least five households in rural area near Sebastopol. Copperwoman and another person who lives in a 5thwheel on the same property will likely have to leave. Can we find a place where she could move her tiny home and/or live?
Are we advocating a legal place where she could move her tiny home?
Could she be in the Sebastopol Safe Parking Lot? This is unlikely because the Morris St. residents will fill up the lot and the lot won’t open until at least Feb. 1.
Is there a legal avenue? There is some legal research and discussion going on. Jonathan Greenberg is heading up the committee. Kathleen Finigan is doing media work on this.
There is a mtg happening Dec. 1 at the Sonoma County law library for free legal info/referrals 707-565-2668
Notes by Adrienne
