It just gets stupider and stupider. We;ve been here before and here we go again. Stupid “solutions”, no problems solved.
This involves homeless persons, so of course, there are no REAL solutions, just stupid ideas to address surface issues. Ok, so I’m just dumbfounded about how we can be so dumb.
The Problem
The Mayor . . . I know, I know . . . didn’t like the people without homes, and without days left in shelter, leaving their belonging outside city hall or the City-County Building (CCB). So, their not so brilliant “solution” was to buy two dog kennels and put them on city property a block away. This was a stupid plan. They didn’t provide any shelving and everything was getting wet, resulting in more costs to the city funded laundry program. Some advocates fixed the cages by putting tarps on the side and putting pallets in there to get things off the ground. The mayor says people are having sex out there and he accuses of them of various things. I don’t know if he has one of his creepy cameras that he loves to watch during meetings trained on the kennels or how he knows this information and I don’t really want to know. He complained about it frequently. Also, apparently, they decided they may have decided this is a zoning code violation, which is odd, because I asked that question, if I can’t store things on my property for others, how can they.
Working on solutions
So, I knew there were issues and I heard Gloria in the Mayor’s office was working with others to try to find a solution. She was talking with Boone from the Homeless Storage space who was advocating for a space downtown that they would volunteer to open in the morning and again in the evening for people to drop off and pick up their stuff, they just needed a room.
I suggested that they just install lockers in that same location. A lot of people stopped storing their things here because everything was getting stolen, soaked and it was too hard to find your stuff without some type of organization. Or, use that Porchlight van and pick people up a few times in the morning and then drop them off a few times in the evening at the CCB or storage as needed. Cuz the storage is a transportation problem.
But the best plan was the one that Tami Miller and the Friends of the State St. Family put together. She described it on my facebook page last night and frankly I think it is brilliant! It’s thoughtful, helpful, compassionate and make just a little too much sense!
Our ideas included Having people who are living outdoors register to get a locker near where they sleep, and a citypack and bike….the lockers at strategic places around the city (HSC Agencies, cooperating/complementary services), each group(5-10) of lockers is assigned an outreach worker or homeless services case manager to reach out and to be the “host” of the folks assigned to the lockers. Lockers are numbered. The person’s locker number matches the number we put on their new Citypack backpack that we give them, filled with essentials. Each person has their own lock/key and if they lose it the “host” can let them into their locker and help them change the lock or get a replacement key asap. We are also hoping to incorporate free, refurbished bicycles from the UW Swap $1 bike sale and connect with community bicycle workshop to help us get these in good working order and teach recipients basic bike maintenance. Anything that will not fit in a locker or in the backpack can be placed in 2 (SAME number as bike, locker and backpack) numbered 35 gallon sealed bins and put in Sanctuary Storage…. The cooperating agencies would be able to find out who owns backpack #36 if they find it… and the “Host” will have instructions of who to contact if they do not claim their property in 6 months, next of kin, what to do with their property. THEN if the individual has things that are impractical for outdoor living- like a large mattress or electric fan or microwave- we would like to ask St.Vincent Du Paul if they would accept these as “donations”, but keep track of these separately, and when the individual is housed again, issue them a voucher for a similar/or like item that they had to give up since they had become homeless- along with the other vouchers they typically issue for new housing occupants. This would help folks let go of the few precious items they had from when they were housed… Brenda thought they could also somehow use the lockers address as a mailing address. The idea is, that the host will keep regular contact with the individuals using the lockers in their area, and help them connect with services, monitor their risk factors and help assess how their needs have changed since filling out the VSPIDAT (Zero-2016 housing forms) because a person’s status can change dramatically in a year when living outside, and we want to be sure that the people that are most vulnerable at the time of the first 60 then 100 apartments for zero-2016 go to those who are at the greatest risk first. Also, they (the host) need to make sure they are registered for all appropriate services, SSI, Section 8…Salvation army, Quest card, free phone, Porchlight, Rape Crisis Center, Briarpatch…etc… because so many folks live outside and never really get connected because they don’t know where to start, or they hear there is a long wait list— We haven’t had an opportunity to talk to St.Vincent’s or Free community Bicycle on park street or UW Swap, or the HSC agencies yet, we were hoping to find out if we could work cooperatively along with the Mayor’s office and the county… to see if they would be willing to support this endeavor. It could be great—if we get support. It will give people an opportunity to not have to hang out downtown all day, because they are mobile- and the limited bus passes can go to those who are unable to ride a bicycle. It will give people a way to keep their things safe. It will give them a person who will look out for them and contact their next of kin or friend if something happens and they stop coming by for mail or their things. IT will make sure that the Housing first lists are more accurate and up to date. It will keep their things safe. It will give dignity. It will teach a new skill. It will help with housing readiness, and learing appropriateness of what should be kept and what should not… I’m sure I am leaving some important points out, but that is the general gist.
48 hour notice
Apparently, “working with Gloria” didn’t work out. On Monday they wrote a letter and put it on the kennels, I didn’t find out about it til about 7:30 or 8:00 last night. This is what I found.
Everything has to be gone by 2:00 today or it will be removed and they give a phone number to pick things up, within 45 days, noting people have to have their own transportation. Otherwise they give the information for the Homeless Storage on Willy St. and get just about every piece of information about it wrong. Here’s the correct info. 
The phone number they provide is for the Social Justice Center “office” which rings in my office and is only answered when the part time staff is there, which is ad hoc. For instance, she won’t be in the office at all today, so calling that number is useless. The SJC is just the landlord for the storage facility and lets them use he phone when hey need it.
Here is the letter
July, 20, 2015
The City of Madison will be closing this temporary storage site on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. At that time, the City of Madison, as owner of this property, no longer grants permission for the storage of personal property at this location.
This posting is the City’s notice that all personal property remaining in this location after 2:00 PM on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 will be considered Lost Property pursuant to Madison General Ordinance Sec. 8.44.
Property remaining at this location will be collected and bagged by City Staff and stored offsite by the City for no less than 45 days. After 45 days, the City may dispose of all Lost Property. Items with an estimated replacement value of $50 or less, contraband or other dangerous materials, perishable items, items which pose a public health risk or other items with no sentimental, medical or legal value may be disposed of immediately.
Property collected under this notice may be claimed by the owners by contacting the Engineering Division at 608-266-4751. Owners will need to arrange for their own transportation to retrieve any items collected.
Homeless Storage Facility. You can store your belongings for free at the Social Justice Center located at 1202 Williamson Street (first room on the right inside the front door) Hours: 7 days a week: 7AM – 10 AM & 4 PM – 9 PM. Contact 227-0206.
