(This is my third time submitting as the comment form disappears on the page if I pause for more than a minute, please disregard earlier submissions)
I am grateful for the opportunity to comment online as my board meeting conflicts with this evening’s city council meeting and I believe the city plan to address homelessness is of dire importance to our city and our region. Faith based communities have long been on the front lines of working with those on the margins in greatest need. We provide laundry for free once a month at a local laundromat (Redondo Beach). We work with Family Promise to help homeless families return to permanent housing (Torrance), and we feed anyone who needs a meal once a month at our Neighbor to Neighbor program (Redondo Beach). Those without permanent shelter are human beings as worth of dignity and kindness as anyone who lives in a permanent home.
Frequently we have people come by to ask for assistance with rent, food, housing, gas, bus passes and the like. We help when and where we can on an individual basis, yet the need is greater than any one organization can manage. That is why I am strongly in support of this city plan especially Goal #3, Action 3c to work on better coordination. We often have to refer people and more often than not, our latest lists are out of date, hours have changed, locations have shifted. We need better coordination with all of the partners who are working with the homeless population.
In our local Laundry Love program we often encounter those who are at risk of losing their housing. Often the school counselors have sent them to us as one way in which they can receive some small assistance. However, I know that our organization does not have the training and information to help those who are at greatest risk. Having a prevention plan with all of the partners working together will go a long way to help those most in need.
While I believe that the City of Hermosa would not be enthusiastic to build a shelter today, it has been done in the past. 1736 House was started in Hermosa Beach to house the homeless, runaway youth who were sleeping on the beach. Homeless shelters are often a challenge for those who live on the street. It isn’t a simple solution of a bed, but involves safety, cleanliness, hospitality. This is why we work with Family Promise. If St. Cross had showers, we would be housing families on a rotational basis. Hence Goal #5, Action 5c will go a long way in work to improve options for those who have nowhere indoors, safe, warm/cool to sleep. Our sister parish, St. Mary’s, Mariposa has been written up in the LATimes and other news outlets for opening their parking lot. The board (Vestry) of St. Cross will be talking in the coming months about what we can do and how we can be a place of welcome and hospitality to the homeless population, whether in Hermosa or in our neighboring cities.
I urge you to approve this plan so that we can begin implementation on this most urgent of matters.
(This is my third time submitting as the comment form disappears on the page if I pause for more than a minute, please disregard earlier submissions)
I am grateful for the opportunity to comment online as my board meeting conflicts with this evening’s city council meeting and I believe the city plan to address homelessness is of dire importance to our city and our region. Faith based communities have long been on the front lines of working with those on the margins in greatest need. We provide laundry for free once a month at a local laundromat (Redondo Beach). We work with Family Promise to help homeless families return to permanent housing (Torrance), and we feed anyone who needs a meal once a month at our Neighbor to Neighbor program (Redondo Beach). Those without permanent shelter are human beings as worth of dignity and kindness as anyone who lives in a permanent home.
Frequently we have people come by to ask for assistance with rent, food, housing, gas, bus passes and the like. We help when and where we can on an individual basis, yet the need is greater than any one organization can manage. That is why I am strongly in support of this city plan especially Goal #3, Action 3c to work on better coordination. We often have to refer people and more often than not, our latest lists are out of date, hours have changed, locations have shifted. We need better coordination with all of the partners who are working with the homeless population.
In our local Laundry Love program we often encounter those who are at risk of losing their housing. Often the school counselors have sent them to us as one way in which they can receive some small assistance. However, I know that our organization does not have the training and information to help those who are at greatest risk. Having a prevention plan with all of the partners working together will go a long way to help those most in need.
While I believe that the City of Hermosa would not be enthusiastic to build a shelter today, it has been done in the past. 1736 House was started in Hermosa Beach to house the homeless, runaway youth who were sleeping on the beach. Homeless shelters are often a challenge for those who live on the street. It isn’t a simple solution of a bed, but involves safety, cleanliness, hospitality. This is why we work with Family Promise. If St. Cross had showers, we would be housing families on a rotational basis. Hence Goal #5, Action 5c will go a long way in work to improve options for those who have nowhere indoors, safe, warm/cool to sleep. Our sister parish, St. Mary’s, Mariposa has been written up in the LATimes and other news outlets for opening their parking lot. The board (Vestry) of St. Cross will be talking in the coming months about what we can do and how we can be a place of welcome and hospitality to the homeless population, whether in Hermosa or in our neighboring cities.
I urge you to approve this plan so that we can begin implementation on this most urgent of matters.