HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-21-2012 ac eastmanHomelessness: City Council Meetin g
Tuesday, February 21, 201 2
I am Reverend Cynthia Rae Eastman . In addition to being a former high school teacher, I am an
ordained interfaith minister and the founder of a San Luis Obispo-based nonprofit organization ,
Common Ground Worldwide . However, I have also had personal experience with homelessness and it i s
based on that experience that I am advocating for our brothers &sisters who are suffering due to being
un-housed .
Rather than our city putting ourselves at risk of being cited by the United Nations for Huma n
Rights violations, which is what happened in Sacramento recently, and the possibility of San Lui s
Obispo being sued for societal child and elder neglect, endangerment, and abuse, our community has an
opportunity to create a model for the state, nation, & world concerning how we help our neighbors to
transition from being un-housed back into housing .
I would like to suggest that people who are experiencing homelessness should actually be viewed
as Internally Displaced Persons . The definition means people who are refugees in their own countries .
Usually, these groups of people have lost their homes due to natural disasters or wars .However,what
we are seeing right now are record numbers of people without access to housing due to the current state
of the economy. They are "Economic Refugees .
I am asking you to shift your ideas of what it is to be "homeless" and realize that a disaster or
crisis response is what is needed right now .People,who are Internally Displaced, for whatever reason ,
require emergency humanitarian outreach efforts .
Citizens who are living in their vehicles need to have "Safe Parking" with a bathroom available .
This is not complicated and does not take a lot of time to create, simply open parking lots with restroom s
at night. Santa Barbara's "New Beginnings" program has had a system in place for several years .
http ://www .newbeinning counselincenter .orglprorams .html
Clearly, there are not enough shelter beds for everyone who needs a place to sleep.Having
children, the elderly, and those who are physically or mentally disabled sleeping on the streets i s
completely unacceptable . It is dangerous and even life-threatening to be living outside . We must
provide shelter for our most vulnerable citizens . In addition to creating a Safe Parking program ,
emergency dwellings need to be set up until vacant buildings are re-appropriated for housing and/or
affordable, sustainable, communities are established .
I'm extremely proud to be a member of a community that has been innovative with its vision for
creating a healthy safe environment for its residents, as witnessed by our "No Smoking" ordinance .
However,in order to actually fulfill our title as the "Happiest City in America"we need to step up ourresponse to ending homelessness. As a team, I know that we can do better! I hope that you will tak eaction now . Thank you for your support!
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