HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-05-2016 Public Comment, BennettFrom:
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Dear City Council Members:
Patricia Bennett
Wednesday, December 30, 2015 4:57 PM
E -mail Council Website
Shelter Crisis Declaration
COUNCIL MIN=TING :]
ITEM NO.:
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As a sixteen year resident of the County, I, along with many other county residents, am deeply
concerned about the threatened welfare of our County's homeless population posed by the well -
known and well- understood severe El Nino weather pattern anticipated in the coming months.
It is my understanding that some private and non - profit agencies located within the City of San Luis
Obispo are the primary recipients of the County's funding and authority to assist, advocate for, and
house the County's homeless population.
I respectfully urge the San Luis Obispo City Council, therefore, to initiate on its own -- and to support
all those who advocate for -- a "Shelter Crisis Declaration" at the next San Luis Obispo City Council
meeting scheduled for Tuesday January 5, 2016 at 6:00 p.m., if not earlier.
Similar to such Declarations in other major cities, including Los Angeles with an estimated 26,000
homeless individuals, such a Declaration will allow some empty buildings to be opened and could
also allow for free transportation similar to that provided by Ride Share, for example, to house more
homeless people indoors, and out of the expected flooding.
I also respectfully urge the San Luis Obispo City Council members to support and encourage their
colleagues on the County's Board of Supervisors as well as other city councils and town advisory
councils throughout San Luis Obispo County to adopt similar if not identical "Shelter Crisis
Declarations" so that additional empty buildings scattered throughout the County can be similarly
opened along with free transportation as noted above to provide accessible shelter to members of
our County's homeless population located in or near those cities and towns scattered throughout the
County.
Thank you for your consideration and anticipated action in this regard.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia Bennett
Atascadero