Here we go again, what is that definition of insanity, do thing the same thing and expecting different results? Expect a meeting soon with the mayor’s office proposing we turn the signs around and say people are trespassing if they sleep at the City-County Building.
The email from Enis mentions a plan, which I’m not sure what it is . . . but apparently they have one.
From: Ragland, Enis
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2015 1:43 PM
To: All Alders
Cc: Crawley, Katie; Soglin, Paul; Reyes, Gloria; Rottman, Monica; Okeefe, James; Wallinger, Sue; Gloede, Carl; Wescott, Joshua
Subject: CCB Porch Individuals Services Initiative/Partnership with Dane County UpdatePlease see the message from CDD Division Director Jim O’Keefe below.
I also, recently received a message from Josh Wescott, Chief of Staff to County Exec Parisi that he has met with the day and night shift CCB Facilities Workers regarding our plan and they are pleased with our efforts.
MPD is also targeting the known drug dealers who frequent the porch.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Enis
**************************
From: Okeefe, James
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2015 11:38 AM
To: Ragland, Enis; Reyes, Gloria
Subject: CCB PorchHi
I wanted to update you on staff efforts that are underway regarding the CCB situation. This morning, Sue Wallinger and I spoke to Lynn Green and Casey Becker to discuss follow-up to ongoing actions being considered to help clear that area. Next week, City and County staff plan to convene a meeting of outreach workers and other service providers to gather information about the current group, including what services are available to people and what services have already been offered. (As an aside, one of the surprising things I learned today is that there is no waiting list for uninsured people for AODA services. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for mental health services, though Lynn Green insists that if someone claims they are forced to live on the street because they can’t get access to mental health services, she will find a way to serve them.) The goal is to try to account for as many of the current occupants as possible.
Also, we will discuss with Steve Schooler the possibility of relaxing the shelter stay limits (from 60 to 90 days) and we will broach the same topic with the Salvation Army (for women and children).
Unfortunately, I will be out of the office next week and not able to participate in these conversations. Enis, I have asked that the information compiled through this effort be shared directly with you. Lynn Green will do the same with Josh Wescott and Jeff Kostelic.
Jim
Last time efforts like this were made, was October or November of 2012. The Mayor was in the paper promising that anyone sleeping on E. Wash (2nd time, before moving to the County Human Services Building on Northport) that wanted housing would be provided housing. 14 people signed up that I know of. One got housing. Then got evicted for non-payment of rent. And is homeless again.
My current concern is that they will say people have been offered housing, but it won’t be a sincere, genuine offer and the people sleeping there will be blamed for not taking the offer. Some won’t take it because of who the provider is, some won’t take it because they won’t leave their partner alone on the street, some won’t take it because of the curfews and rules. Some won’t be offered anything new, but may have been offered something in the past, but refused at the time for various reasons. Some will never have been worked with and not even on the radar screen – probably won’t even make the list.
I asked to be able to go to the meeting . . . .
any chance that i will be invited to this . . . i’d love to advocate for several of the folks and have money from ETH at the moment . . .. if that money can be used for this purpose, I think I can help
Well, I was shot down . . . this isn’t a meeting to actually help people, its to justify the providers actions:
The intent of this meeting is to have a conversation with outreach workers and chronicle their efforts. We’ve been told that elected officials are not all on the same page as to what has been offered by service providers. The conversation is being centered around their efforts and what they have heard from CCB sleepers regarding what would it take to move from the CCB. In addition, staff from the single men’s and women’s shelter are invited to share what they know about the CCB sleepers ability to utilize the shelters. No other advocates or service or housing providers are being invited to this specific meeting.
Same shit, different day.
Garbage in, garbage out.
Anything that comes out of this meeting is suspect based on their lack of transparency and exclusivity. I anticipate that they will say people have been offered housing, but if we talk to people, they will say something very different. Just like when the mayor says people all have days left in shelter, and then you talk to people and they say something very different.
