Last night at the city council there was a resolution introduced to allow the campers without houses/traditional roofs to remain at Reindahl and other parks.Here’s the link to the resolution. It only has Juliana Bennett’s name on it, but I belive there are other sponsors. It was referred to the City-County Homeless Issues Committee and will come back to the council at their next meeting.
Here’s the language:
Fiscal Note – Fiscal note pending.
Title – Prohibiting the eviction of temporary encampments in Reindahl Park.
WHEREAS, the July 2019 Point in Time Count of Homelessness Madison/Dane County
(<https://0dae4f91-4a77-41b6-8005-0e9000834ebd.filesusr.com/ugd/73dee7_c2f276f97ac644f99d222cd1dd16e50a.pdf>) stated the Homeless Services Consortium of Dane County identified 650 people experiencing homelessness in Dane County on a single night in July 2019 and an estimated 800 people in July 2020; and
WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020, Public Health Madison & Dane County announced that community spread of COVID-19 was occurring in Dane County, with the first confirmed community death being reported on March 25; and
WHEREAS, individuals experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic and public health emergencies have needed public assistance to secure areas where it is possible to observe proper social distancing, however there remain some individuals who are not using such resources and are instead taking temporary shelter or residency in City parks, greenways and other City lands; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control (the CDC) has issued interim guidance on dealing with populations experiencing unsheltered homelessness (sleeping outside or in places not meant for human habitation) during the COVID-19 pandemic
(<https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/homeless-shelters/unsheltered-homelessness.html>). The CDC recognizes that this is a population at risk for COVID-19 and the most up-to-date guidance recommends allowing temporary permissible encampments (TPEs) to remain; and
WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, Mayor Rhodes-Conway issued a Proclamation of Emergency due to COVID-19, which allowed for the temporary encampment in public parks and other designated areas; and
WHEREAS, on February 4, 2021, the City of Madison served an eviction notice to persons living in temporary encampments in McPike Park with an order to vacate the premise by February 28, 2021, as per Madison General Ordinance 8.44; and
WHEREAS, on April 9, 2021, the City of Madison served an eviction notice to persons living in temporary encampments in Reindahl Park with an order to vacate the premise by May 9, 2021, as per Madison General Ordinance 8.44;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Madison Common Council will continue to authorize the use of public parks and other designated areas as temporary permissible encampments (TPEs).
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED the Madison Common Council will prohibit the removal and eviction of persons taking shelter in temporary permissible encampments
