I started to read his blog post complaining about the Homeless Services Consortium, and couldn’t get past the first line. Long story short: we’d like him and the police department to talk to us!!!!!! They refuse, have for a long time. Check this out, we have such a very long ways to go!!!!!
This is the line I didn’t get past . . . the. very. first. line.
Recently, one of our officers shared an email with me that was directed to members of the Homeless Services Consortium, a group comprised of volunteers, formerly homeless, some not-for-profits, and some alders.
A. This. description. is. dead. wrong. We are a nonprofit organized under the laws of the State of Wisconsin. Here’s our by-laws that describe us as follows:
Membership is open to any person who shares the vision of the HSC. Members may include, but are not limited to, representatives of service and housing providers, healthcare providers, government officials, developers, public safety staff, landlords, funders, advocates and persons with lived experience of homelessness.
B. These are the members – posted on our website.
– Access Community Health Centers
– Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Dane County
– AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW)
– ARC Community Services, Inc
– Bethel Homeless Support Services
– Briarpatch Youth Services, Inc. (formerly known as Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin)
– Cambridge Area Resource Team (CART)
– Center for Families – Respite Center
– Central Library
– City of Madison
– City of Madison Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
– Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Inc. (CAC)
– Community Development Authority of the City of Madison
– Dane County – CDBG
– Dane County Housing Authority
– Dane County Human Services – Adult Community Services Division
– Dane County Human Services – Economic Assistance
– Dane County Parent Council – Hope House
– Dane County Parent Council, Inc.
– Dane County Veterans Service Office
– Dodgeville Dental Clinic
(Well, you get the point . . . there are 8 more pages of agencies listed . . . but oddly, no Catholic Charities, which will be running the new Day Resource Center . . . but I digress)
Another, perhaps more accurate listing is in appendix B (starting on page 43) of the Dane County Community Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. It includes additional rabble rousers and ne’er do wells such as:
– Baldwin, Senator Tammy
– Catholic Multicultural Center
– City of Madison, Mayor’s Office
– City of Madison, Parks
– City of Madison, Police
– Community Meal Program
– Cornucopia, Inc.
– Dane County, County Executive’s Office
– Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (D.A.I.S.)
– Dryhootch of America
– Elizabeth House Care Net Pregnancy Center of Dane County
and on . . .and on . . .
C. As Cheif Koval knows, he met with us ONCE after he first got appointed – and when I asked if he would work with us on a regular basis and not just make an annual appearance, he refused and made some snide remark about “see you next year”. Hasn’t been back. However, we just elected Officer David Dexheimer to be on the Board of Directors, because we want to have more communication with the police department. Officer Andy Naylor regularly participates in our Outreach committee and recently organized a forum for us to start discussing issues. Captain Gloede (who should have been chief!) was a regular ally and helped score applications for our group. Koval, I’m looking at you, your officers see that this group adds value for them. If you can’t be a leader in this regard, we can go around you – but that is just absurd. What is he so afraid of?
D. This group is largely NOT made up of volunteers and its not just “some” non-profits that are involved, our city contracts require us to participate in this group. The consortium controls approximately $3.5M in federal funds and determines which nonprofits get the money. They also control about another half a million in state ETH funds. All the major nonprofits are active in the consortium and its committees – well, except the aforementioned Catholic Charities . . . sigh. Not. on. either. list. of. members. Sigh. (again.)
E. Of the 400ish or more members, formerly homeless make up an embarrassingly small portion of the group. There are very few advocates involved because meetings are held a noon while the volunteers in those organizations are at work and as far as I know, no alders participate. However, there is one very active county board supervisor.
I suspect Chief Mike Koval used the description, emphasizing advocates and homeless persons to discredit us . . . but that description couldn’t be further from the truth. But then again, he is truth challenged. When I read something so intentionally ignorant, I just stop. I never finished reading the rest of his post until this morning and its not worth responding to. He has zero credibility. The level of feigned ignorance is gross. Time to be a part of the solution dude!!!! Get to know the consortium. Work with us. That is what the email that went to the consortium, from me, was asking for:
Here is the police department plan for the panhandling ordinance that I said I would share (attached). I will make sure to forward any additional information I receive (through the alders) such as the pamphlet or other department plans.
Side note: It sure would be nice to have some direct communication about this matter from the police department instead of finding out through alderpersons. Perhaps you might feel inclined to let Chief Koval know that the Homeless Services Consortium members are interested in having more of a dialogue on these issues. If he heard from a few folks, he might be motivated to discuss issues with us in advance when ordinances like this are being considered. mkoval@cityofmadison.com is his email.
Any questions, let me know!
Brenda Konkel
(not exactly the legislative committee chair)p.s. Rumor has it that perhaps the sit/lie ordinance will be “placed on file” meaning that it will be removed from consideration. Instead, Downtown Madison Inc and the mayor’s office are working on plans to “activate” the space at the top of State St. in lieu of the ordinance. Stay tuned! I’ll let you know more when I hear more.
Chief Koval – why do you respond in a blog post instead of just talking to the consortium and our members? That’s cowardly.
Readers – When you’re done reading this post, perhaps you want to drop him a line and tell him that you expect community leaders to work together . . . collaboratively. Ask him to show some real leadership – all we are asking for is clear and direct communication and to rebuild some of that alleged trust that he allegedly seeks from the community. His defensive blog post doesn’t help with that. Not. at. all. I don’t think its asking much to have the chief work with us on this highly visible community issue and to discuss real solutions. Email him directly. Maybe you want to send the same message to the mayor as well. (mayor@cityofmadison.com) Ask the boys to man-up and communicate directly with people involved. How could it hurt? Cuz what we are doing isn’t working. Olive branch extended, just reach out. You can do it.
