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We need to stop playing Wack-a-Mole with homeless camps. |
San Lorenzo Park unmanaged open/closed twice Benchlands managed open/closed twice River St. managed open/closed twice Camp Paradise unmanaged open/closed twice Ross Camp unmanaged open/closed. The river by the Cemetery unmanaged open/closed often and many, many smaller unmanaged camps. |
Camps are needed, yet they always close. Needed, as many of the 1,700 unsheltered (78%, one of the highest in the state) can't find room in a shelter or won't go because they have pets, possessions or partners that are usually not welcomed. So, they form their own communities for self protection (unmanaged) from law enforcement and the predators among the unhoused.
Closed, because the managed camps are never intended to stay open, either placed in flood zones or in spaces known to be needed for other purposes even before they open. Closed, because the unmanaged camps need assistance to succeed: sanitation, security, services and structure. Without these essentials, they fall into squalled conditions attract too many others, including the predators, and turn the quest for safety in numbers into more misery. Yet, everybody seems to be surprised when they are closed or fail and are swept by police.
Planning would make the difference. We need managed camps on pre-selected public property set aside for a semi-permanent basis with the essentials mentioned above. Yet, no plan by the county or the city in includes them. This is a failure of politic will, not management skills, and not entirely because of lack of funding.
We can do better, and you can help. Email us and let's figure our way out of this cycle: director@afcsantacruz.org
Ever
Closed, because the managed camps are never intended to stay open, either placed in flood zones or in spaces known to be needed for other purposes even before they open. Closed, because the unmanaged camps need assistance to succeed: sanitation, security, services and structure. Without these essentials, they fall into squalled conditions attract too many others, including the predators, and turn the quest for safety in numbers into more misery. Yet, everybody seems to be surprised when they are closed or fail and are swept by police.
Planning would make the difference. We need managed camps on pre-selected public property set aside for a semi-permanent basis with the essentials mentioned above. Yet, no plan by the county or the city in includes them. This is a failure of politic will, not management skills, and not entirely because of lack of funding.
We can do better, and you can help. Email us and let's figure our way out of this cycle: director@afcsantacruz.org
Ever
