Good one’s for a change, both being voted on today! Both hopefully making it easier on our brothers and sisters without homes. One at the county, one at the city. The city one has a process snag, but should be good.
COUNTY LOCKERS
Introduced Thursday:
5:30 PM Public Works & Transportation Committee 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison WI
– DESIGNATING SPACE IN THE DOWNTOWN COUNTY PARKING RAMP FOR PERSONAL STORAGE LOCKERS FOR THE HOMELESS
Sponsors: HEIDI WEGLEITNER, CAROUSEL BAYRD, JERRY BOLLIG, BILL CLAUSIUS, PATRICK DOWNING, JENNI DYE, CHUCK ERICKSON, JOHN HENDRICK, DOROTHY KRAUSE, JEREMY LEVIN, AL MATANO, PATRICK MILES, PAUL NELSON, LELAND PAN, JEFF PERTL, KYLE RICHMOND, ANDREW SCHAUER, MATT VELDRAN, ABIGAIL WUEST, NICK ZWEIFEL, MICHELE RITT
DESIGNATING SPACE IN THE DOWNTOWN COUNTY PARKING RAMP FOR PERSONAL
STORAGE LOCKERS FOR THE HOMELESSIn August, 2012, Res. 87, 12-13 was introduced to address unmet basic needs of homeless persons in the downtown area, particularly the need for restrooms, personal storage space, and showers. When the final substitute amendment of the resolution was adopted, it authorized the county to rent space at 827 E. Washington for a day shelter for the homeless that was to meet these basic needs. Although showers never materialized at the day shelter, during shelter hours, homeless persons could access restrooms and storage lockers. Additionally, a portable toilet was placed in the County Parking Ramp on Henry St. shortly after passage of Res. 87. Later, an additional handicapped accessible portable toilet was placed outside the City-County Building near the corner of Doty St. and Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Personal storage space was accessible at 827 E. Washington until the day shelter closed March 31, 2013.
Since the closure of the temporary day shelter, Dane County has worked with the City of Madison to address unmet needs, including, but not limited to showers and personal storage space. The City of Madison has funded a storage program located at the Social Justice Center at 1202 Williamson St. Space at the Social Justice Center site is limited, however, and over one (1) mile from downtown locations where homeless persons utilize public spaces and access services and shelters. More recently, the City of Madison created a fenced in area outside the Madison Municipal building to store belongings of persons sleeping around the City County Building, but it has since closed due to a number of problems associated with it. Due to the lack of a comprehensive daytime resource center downtown offering personal storage space for homeless persons, additional space is needed to ensure homeless persons have the ability to safely store their personal belongings, including, but not limited to gear for sleeping on the streets. Homeless persons should not have to carry all of their belongings on their backs when they are going to work, applying for jobs, going to a doctor’s appointment, or accessing other services. Since disabled persons are over-represented among the homeless population, persons with disabilities are even more burdened by having to carry all their belongings on their person.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the County designate space and place personal 30 storage lockers in its downtown parking ramp which can be utilized by homeless persons to store their personal belongings;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the storage lockers shall be large enough to store sleeping gear and a backpack;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the necessary costs to purchase and service the lockers will come from borrowing proceeds;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County requests the City of Madison work with its parking utility to designate space for additional lockers in the City of Madison downtown parking ramps;
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that these lockers shall remain in place until such time as a comprehensive day resource center offers equivalent access to personal storage for homeless persons in the downtown area.
CITY SURPRISE
This one is more of an issue, how do they handpick who gets this money? How do you get to be the agency that magically gets handed $25,000?
Introduced last Tuesday:
4:30 PM BOARD OF ESTIMATES – A QUORUM OF THE COMMON COUNCIL MAY BE IN ATTENDANCE ROOM 260 MMB
– Declaring the City of Madison’s intention to work in partnership with Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development on a targeted four month Homeless, jobless and disaffected individuals assessment Pilot Program.
SPONSORED BY: Mayor Paul Soglin, Paul Skidmore
Fiscal Note
The Nehemiah Pilot Program is anticipated to require $25,000 from the contingency reserve to conduct an assessment of the needs for the homeless, jobless and disaffected population in targeted areas in downtown Madison.Title
Declaring the City of Madison’s intention to work in partnership with Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development on a targeted four month Homeless, jobless and disaffected individuals assessment Pilot Program.Body
WHEREAS, the City of Madison is experiencing a significant increase in our homeless, jobless and disaffected individuals population that has resulted in gathering locations that have become conducive to negative behaviors and illegal activities; andWHEREAS, due to the increase in behavioral problems, it has become a public concern particularly at specific locations downtown including the Central Library, State Street. and the front of the City County and Madison Municipal Buildings; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison often works collaboratively with organizations and agencies to serve the needs of our residents; and
WHEREAS, the Nehemiah Pilot Program has the capacity and experienced professional staff to engage the homeless, jobless and disaffected individuals and social service agencies to connect individuals with resources using holistic and culturally specific strategies; and
WHEREAS, Nehemiah Pilot Program will hire four former homeless individuals to partner alongside two licensed social service staff to conduct assessments of targeted individuals; and
WHEREAS, the Nehemiah Pilot will provide a report, including a summary of findings, placements and recommendations to the City on or before January 31, 2016; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that that the City of Madison will enter into a contract with the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development for a Pilot Program in the amount of $25,000 to conduct an assessment of the needs of the homeless, jobless and disaffected population frequenting State Street, the City County Building, Madison Municipal Building, Central Library and other targeted areas of the downtown to determine best practices to reach this population and address existing gaps in services and to refer individuals to appropriate agencies for assistance.
