City announces plan to bring health care, food to the homeless

Seattle officials announced today that instead of sending staff into parks to destroy unauthorized tent camps, they will send in brigades of workers to offer health care, food and other services to the homeless. “We realized that just confiscating their belongings and telling them to go somewhere else wasn’t working,” said a spokesman for the mayor. “Instead, we’ll be working to get people healthier and into homes and stability.”

Hah! Now that would be a nice story, no?

But instead, the city has announced plans to move ahead with sweeps in our parks, dislocating the homeless and taking their belongings without answering the obvious question: Where, then, do people go?

The city’s answer so far: Add a paltry 20 shelter beds.

The city’s point-person on the sweeps, the just-retiring Patricia McInturff, says “Everybody knows we need more housing.” True. Given that, Just how does destruction of these tent camps further the city’s stated goal of ending homelessness?

In health care terms, the city’s policy is trying to treat the symptom of homelessness, not the cause. Rather than proceeding with sweeps, city officials might ask themselves, “Why are people sleeping in the parks and woods?” “How did they become homeless?” “What do they need in order to get stability?” “How do we create safe and stable housing?”

Want go get involved? Go here.

Citizen advocacy pays off

There's a new Washington state budget - adopted by the Legislature Thursday evening - that includes a big victory for housing advocates.

The Legislature put $70 million into the Housing Trust Fund, which will spur new housing construction for low-income people and for people without homes.

That's going to make a dent in the housing crisis - but not more than that.

Last time we last checked, there were more than 2,600 residents living on the streets in King County. And if you also add up the folks in shelters and transitional housing, the number's over 8,000.

I think about how much effort it's taken to get a modest supported housing project built in my neighborhood in southeast Seattle. The Rainier Avenue South project will cost $15 million to build, but in addition to fighting to round up scarce funds, the project had to fight NIMBYs in the 'hood who trotted out the usual arguments. Fortunately, a lot of neighbors also came out in support of the project, and now it's moving ahead.

But you'd have to do such projects 160 times over just to reach the goal of ending homelessness here in King County. That's a lot of money and a lot of arm-to-arm combat with NIMBYstas still ahead. So let's celebrate - but get ready for a lot more work ahead.

Playing the end game, and playing to win

By Guest Blogger Ben Gitenstein, Executive Director of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance

With just two weeks left in the session, it's crunch time for housing & homelessness in Olympia. The fate of the Housing Trust Fund, which is the state's primary response to the housing & homelessness crises, will be decided in final budget negotiations between the House, the Senate & the Governor over the next week. Go to the Alliance action center and send a letter to your representatives now!

The Governor began the session by announcing an increase of $50 million to the Housing Trust Fund. The House followed with proposed increase of more than $90 million. This historic commitment would fund the development of thousands of permanently affordable homes necessary to end homelessness and confront the foreclosure crisis. Just this week, the Senate released its budget, with only $50 million for housing programs, of which only $30 million is for the Housing Trust Fund. While a good start, we believe that the state can do more. We advocates need to focus now on the end-game. How can we support our allies in the Legislature as they approach the final budget negotiations? The most effective support we can offer is direct advocacy to our legislators, urging them to make housing a REAL priority, and adopt the House budget. Remember, it's not enough to get your legislator's support; we need to ask them to advocate in caucus and to their leadership for the Housing Trust Fund. This has been an amazing session so far. Hundreds of advocates have put in thousands of hours of effort. If we can keep it up, I think we can make a real difference in these final days.

Real recovery = housing

Here’s guest blogger Mike Staszak of Edmonds, WA, writing to state Rep. Mary Helen Roberts:

Dear Rep. Roberts:

I am a community mental health worker and if anyone knows how homelessness negatively effects people it is me. I see people each day on my job where having a place to live is not something they have or that they have it but it is holding on by a fingernail, so to speak.

I cannot fully help people heal their mental illness if they are worrying about where they will live. I hear about the recovery model constantly, and if Washington state truly believes in this model, then we have to continue to increase the Housing Trust Fund and make sure pople have the stability to recover.

We all want people to recover and move on with their lives as productive citizens who are self sufficient and I can tell you that every person I work with has that goal in mind. I have not met one client in 3.5 years that wants to be on public assistance or SSI. They want to recover and move on with their lives. And, housing allows them that stable environment to get the recovery going and maintain it to completion.

Join Emily to help end homelessness

Hi - this is Emily Diepenheim.

I just got back from an exciting Housing Advocacy Day in Olympia.

On Valentine’s Day, more than 500 of us rallied, marched and lobbied our elected leaders on the Housing Trust Fund. The Housing Trust Fund is incredibly important because it enables non-profit organizations committed to ending homelessness to develop, maintain, and enhance affordable housing.

We had great success in Olympia. The legislators were supportive, but they said they may not be able to increase funding for these vital services because revenue projections are down. It seems that they still need some persuasion.

I urge you to take the next step with me. Our state leaders need to hear from those who see the profound impact of homelessness on a daily basis. I truly believe that your voice will help convince our legislators that moving forth in the effort to end homelessness must be a top priority.

Click here and join me in sending an email to our state legislators, urging them to increase the Housing Trust Fund by $100 million in this year’s budget.

Thanks for your help with this imperative issue!

Emily Diepenheim,
Case Manager, Community Psychiatric Clinic, Seattle

Live from Housing Advocacy Day!

It's close to noon on Valentine's Day. We're blogging live from the state Capitol in Olympia, WA, where the Legislative Building is mobbed with around 500 (well-behaved!) housing advocates in our trademark red ponchos. We came this morning from all around the state: Vancouver, Seattle, Spokane, Yakima.

After hearing from Gov. Gregoire this morning in a packed church, we marched up to the Capitol and are now "pulling" legislators out of the chamber for meetings with constituents.

Katie, a recreation counselor from Seattle, was part of a group that just met with Rep. Jamie Pedersen. Her report:

The constituents that showed up from the 43rd district came in droves- strong, powerful, and with a keen desire to see 100 million in the Housing Trust Fund. Jamie Pederson was understanding of our desires, however he came in with a sense of the financial limitations that will determine how much money can be put into the Housing Trust Fund. He seemed to be playig the Devil's Advocate, reminding us to keep our vision sensible. I think we need to keep our vision on the goal- ending homelessness in Washington State.

Kurt O., a discharge planner at West Seattle Psychiatric Hospital, writes:

I'm impressed by the record turnout (aprox 500) on behalf of homeless issues which can affect those with persistant mental illness the hardest. I had the opportunity to speak with my legislators to ask them to improve funding for housing. I was able to tell them about the roughly 120 group home residents who will need to find housing in the coming months as a result of the 2 group home closures on Capitol Hill. Improved funding for housing will benefit those that we see everyday in the ER's and community hospitals and save money in the long run.

Tom Nogler, a case worker at Behavioral Health Resources in Olympia, writes:

I am thrilled to be here today at the Washington State Legislature to help the efforts to end homelessness in Washington State. I have been advocating for the increase of funding for the states Houring Trust Fund to everyone I know. I am
excited that SEIU 1199 has been supportive of this effort. I have been helping
people who are homeless or near homeless in my own home for the past ten years. It is not fair that individuals in the community have to shoulder this problem. Federal and state support is critical to the efforts to give people homes where they can gain their dignity and be functional members of society.

Nancy Clark, a mental health clinician at Compass Health in Snohomish County, met with Rep. Dave Quall. Her report:

I 'm very pleased to be here, advocating for an end to homelessness and for affordable housing. I met with Rep. Quall just a little while ago, and explained
the need for those with mental illness to have stable, affordable housing. I
told him about the great difficulty we have in finding housing for them. He
asked me how the money would help. I explained that the Housing Trust Fund helps
finance and build affordable housing units. He was behind it, he seemed very
supportive. He's on the Board of Directors of Friendship House, our homeless
shelter in Mt. Vernon. I'm still waiting to meet with my other representative,
Jeff Morris. I hope he comes out of the chamber so we can talk. My union
organizer, Jason Beauchene, gave up his seat at last week's Obama rally to Rep.
Morris, so I think he owes us one!

Mary Nicholls, a vocational specialist at Community Psychiatric Clinic in Seattle, tells us:

I am in the 41st District. I saw several people I knew from my community and loosely with my job. It has been a fun atmosphere. I like hearing the Governer. She really seems to care about the issue of homelessness. We will have talked to all of the reps and the senator in my district. It's so good to see people working together to make a difference.

Mary's colleague at CPC, therapist Mike Staszak, also is here:

It has been great coming out for this lobby day and being a little overwhelmed by the large turnout of people supporting the goal of ending homelessness! I live in the 21st district and got to meet with Rep. Mary Helen Roberts who is supportive in ending discrimination in housing and making sure we get a good contribution for the state fund to create affordable housing. It is clear that she is a firm supporter of human services, affordable housing and making Washington state a leader in this area. It was great to make new contacts and see old friends from past lobbying efforts. Anyone that is curious if your representatives in Olympia care about your concerns, then make a trip down here and meet with them in person. They do care and they will listen to what you have to say.

Guess who just walked by us? Former Governor Mike Lowry, a long-time leader on housing issues. He says:

It's going great, and that is because of the 500-plus people down here who are talking for the issue - that everyone should have a right to decent housing. We're going to have real successes in this legislative session because people here are very effective in theri message. Aned importantly, their message is right. This is the best housing lobby day I've seen. The turnout is probably the best. And the message is honed in on the legislators effectively. Constituents are talking to legislators. That's what counts.

Adrian Johnson, Tacoma-Pierce County Affordable Housing Consortium and Lakewood Area Shelter Association, serving greater Pierce County, says:

This day has been very worthwhile as it has allowed dynamic, personal contacts with our legislators to express the needs for legislative funding of programs to erase the occurence of homelessness from our state. The eventual outcome is intended to enrich the lives of all persons living throughout the state. Homelessness is not an acceptable circumstance for anyone to experience and must be eliminated.

Anna Markee (one of the key organizers of today's effort), with the Housing Development Consortium, says:

As an organizer, events that I plan are only as strong as the energy of the participants. Today, we drew more people than ever before with greater energy and hope than ever. People from around the state who care about housing for lots of reasons showed up--many for the first time. My job has been easy today thanks to the dedicated folks who got up early to come to Olympia and tell their elected officials that housing is their top priority.

Derek Low, a housing specialist from Downtown Emergency Services Center, is a first-time citizen-lobbyist:

Going to Olympia to advocate for housing issues and funding is important to me because the legislators need to know that more funding and housing is a necessity. As a professional paid to help people navigate a very complex maze of housing application, I know that the wait lists are closed. Many waitlists only open every other year or they have a lottery system just to get on a 2 year wait list. The gap is huge and legislators need to know ALL the housing programs are well over capacity. This was my first time to lobby in Olympia, it was fun and made me believe I can make a difference in the minds of my representatives in Olympia.

Tally for the day:

500+ housing advocates
75+ visits with individual legislators

Medically homeless?

With all the talk about the mortgage crisis, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that the leading cause of personal bankruptcy continues to be illness and health care costs.

Are these just the unfortunately uninsured? No – most of the 2 million-plus Americans who declare medical bankruptcy every year actually have insurance when they begin the downhill slide. They just have poor coverage, max out on benefits, drop eligibility when they lose a job, etc. Or they work for a company like Tyson (see below).

A catch-phrase gaining currency is “medically homeless," a term for people who don’t have a family provider – and who therefore end up in (underfunded) public clinics or emergency rooms.

One blogger takes the term more literally. Check out his story of winding up homeless after driving 200+ miles in extreme pain to the only medical facility in Iowa that will accept him.

And don’t miss his account of Fellow Traveler and Shelter-Dweller David, a non-union worker at Tyson Foods who breaks his leg in the company parking lot, gets interrogated by the company for four hours before being allowed to see a doctor, then gets dumped on the icy streets by a multinational corporation that couldn’t give a damn about workers but, to their credit, has an uplifting corporate mission statement and encourages us all to pray at dinnertime. Thank you, Tyson.