HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/8/2024 Item 5b, Nguyen
Kimmie Nguyen <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:5/8/24 PC Item 5b - Support for Welcome Home Village
Attachments:5_8_24 Item 5b - Welcome Home Village Support Letter.docx
This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond.
Good morning!
I am submitting the attached support letter on behalf of SLO County YIMBY. This is an important project that we
wholeheartedly support and I thank you for the chance to comment.
1
Yes to people. Yes to housing.
yimbyaction.org
1
Support Welcome Home Village
May 8th, 2024
Planning Commission Members:
SLO County YIMBY is made up of homeowners, tenants, working people, and
families up and down the Central Coast affected by the housing crisis in one way or
another. We are volunteers who advocate for abundant, affordable housing and
inclusive communities.
A few of us even reside or used to reside in the Johnson Avenue/Sinsheimer
neighborhood. It’s a nice neighborhood. We think it would be even nicer if we didn’t
gatekeep who gets to have a bed to sleep in at night.
SLO County YIMBY unequivocally supports the proposed Welcome Home Village
project at Bishop Street and Johnson Avenue. There is currently historic support
for all types of housing within the community, and the SLO City Council has again
and again affirmed its commitment to the housing continuum. Today we are excited
to advocate specifically for our most vulnerable neighbors, who suffer without
shelter as a result of our collective policy choices.
This is an incredible location in which to provide 80 supportive homes. DignityMoves
and Good Samaritan Shelter have a great track record in other communities on the
Central Coast. Wraparound services and security are provided on-site, and only a
short walk away are additional County Public Health and non-profit services.
Yes to people. Yes to housing.
yimbyaction.org
1
While there are many reasons a person may become homeless, homelessness is
fundamentally a housing problem. When the average rent exceeds the average
person's ability to pay, the risks of homelessness go up. Access to mental health and
addiction resources are important in successfully transitioning many of our
unsheltered neighbors into housing, but keeping an abundant supply of housing
keeps people from becoming homeless in the first place.
We ask the Commission and City staff to consider the high cost of inaction. The
staff report contains tons of technical zoning jargon but leaves out information
about the homeless folks that we are most likely to help through this effort. The City
and County have spent considerable funds on Goal 2 of the Homeless Response
Strategic Plan (Data). The community needs a better understanding of what the
status quo is, and what it will continue to be if we don’t support projects like this.
How many people live in the creek encampments today? How many of these
individuals suffer serious injuries and trauma, or are victims of crime? How many
arrests does SLO PD issue every year? It hurts to think about, but have any of our
neighbors passed away just from the stress and danger of living outdoors?
You are hearing from many neighbors that say, “Don’t build here, build somewhere
else, anywhere but here,” and naively think the problem will be solved. Instead, let’s
take responsibility and not kick the can further down the road for our children to
figure out.
We urge you to consider this project with your utmost compassion. SLO County
YIMBY will continue to fight for our homeless neighbors and we look forward to
seeing Welcome Home Village become a tiny part of a better SLO County.
SLO County YIMBY
Krista Jeffries
Myles Couch
Kevin Buchanan
Delaney Ginn
Jessica Goswick
Kimmie Nguyen