Posted on 09/27/2018 10:25:17 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Working on a complex issue often takes creativity. When it’s an issue like homelessness, every angle is worth exploring.
So when the nonprofit Oroville Southside Community Improvement Association Inc. asked to partner with the city on its Haven of Hope on Wheels project, which includes a trailer outfitted with showers, toilets and laundry facilities, the Oroville City Council obliged.
The council sensibly saw the project for what it is — another way to help the disenfranchised while keeping them from disrupting businesses or taking baths, doing laundry and going to the bathroom along rivers and in parks.
The council voted to help fund the proposed mobile hygiene project with bond money from the successor to the Redevelopment Agency, offering a grant of $175,000 to the nonprofit.
City Attorney Scott Huber said while it was a “creative” way to use the bond money, it was an appropriate use.
Still, Mayor Linda Dahlmeier and Councilor Scott Thomson questioned using the funds for such a charitable purpose with Thomson suggesting the bond money go toward more traditional uses like fixing roads.
Traditional funding approaches aren’t working for the homeless, especially when the homeless population in Oroville has increased by 83 percent since 2015, according to the most recent countywide point-in-time homeless population survey.
Homelessness is a communitywide issue that requires the whole community to step up and find solutions. The city working in conjunction with the nonprofit group is a creative approach that allows the council to invest in its own community (much like fixing up roads).
As Councilor Linda Draper shot back, “We’re supposed to be about helping everybody, whether they’re wealthy or not.”
Though she meant “we” as in the City Council, the adage could be applied to the community as a whole.
There’s still much to done before the unit gets rolling by the end of the year. The plan is to set up the trailer at different locations. A few places have already been identified that will allow the trailer to be temporarily parked on their property. More locations are being sought.
The group also will have a fundraiser on Nov. 4 at the Southside Oroville Community Center. “We” should be there.
Every person deserves fulfillment when it comes to the basic needs of hygiene, food and shelter. A mobile hygiene unit — providing a hot shower — supported by the community, including its leaders, is a creative investment for offering those basic needs.
Will it help get people off the streets? That’s a separate issue. One problem at a time — and this solves one problem.
You want to know why homelessness increased in Oroville starting around 2015? I will tell you why. Marijuana. Lots of illegal grows in the county above Oroville. It brought in 20-something neer-do-wells that clog the street corners waiting for “Bud Trimming Season” to start.
That and the city of Chico rushed out all their bums down to Oroville. It is the county seat of Butte County so it makes sense to be where the money and county freebies are...
Used to be a very nice sleepy area with a nice mix of tweakers and seniors/sarc now its changed. There is a shooting once a week. Break ins and burglaries and more.
Speaking as a dude that was homeless, for the second or third time, this last winter and spring, I can say in all honesty that the easier life it made for the homeless, the more homeless there will be in that area.
Want a homelessness crisis in your town or city? Just start spending a lot of money on the homeless.
Works like a charm. Every. Time.
Marijuana brings jobs, not homeless. Maybe I misunderstand the connection you are trying to make. Happy to have a clarification.
Wow have you got that right.
The neer-do-wells come to town for “jobs” as bud trimmers, once that is done and they are paid off in marijuana, they just hang around the streets for months on end. I see it with my own eyes.
They do? Grimmy had it right, you want homeless people? then make them comfortable, and spend money on them.
If you build it, they will come.
Can’t they just run them through a cattle dip? Forced to take a few baths they may leave the area.
The only problem this solves is how to milk more hard earned money from taxpayers.
Sorry you had to go through that and I agree with you. We had a small homeless camp in our town. As luck would have it, they chose a plot of land that was tied up in probate and the ownership was uncertain. The city couldn’t find the owners to make a trespassing charge.
The Police Chief made public announcements to not bring them food, blankets etc. The police were very visible and they made many offers to transfer them to shelters.
They made life uncomfortable and they finally left.
Put them in a metal warehouse with heat. Give them rice and beans to eat. Give them all the Thunderbird they want. Cheap. Problem solved.
Sounds like you have outdoor grow operations. The indoor grows are employing the trimmers full time. Do I have that correct?
And thanks for the reply. Interesting information.
There’s more. Why does this vehicle have to COME TO THEM? Seems like they’re encouraging them to not do anything for themselves. There are vagrancy laws on the books that should be enforced. But then you get a few blacks hanging out and doing nothing it becomes racism. Can’t do anything until they do something illegal. It’s like one free grope.
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