A CRISIS OF HOMELESSNESS
Cities across the country are experiencing a surge in homelessness, and Palm Springs is no different. Frustrated citizens and business owners have become impatient with being told to “be compassionate” or “we are working on it”, while the crisis negatively impacts our local businesses and our major lifeline of tourism.
As the City Council representative for District 1 my focus will be to protect our entire community. With the Northern part of the District being chosen as the location of the Navigation Center, it will be my responsibility to make sure the neighborhood sees only positive results from this facility set to open in 2023. We are a district with a high percentage of children, and their safety is paramount, so I will ensure that the promises of 24/7 security are fulfilled and closely monitored, and that the Center employs every means possible to prevent a negative impact on the surrounding community. I will not allow this solution to become the root of other problems plaguing our community.
We must also provide a source of transportation for the unhoused to reach the navigation center from other parts of town where they have congregated, or else all other efforts will be fruitless. We need to ensure that the program has liaisons who know the unhoused population in the city and can help get them to accept entrance into the facility to receive services to help. We should always lead with respect and empathy when dealing with unhoused members of the community, as many can be women and children forced out of their homes by domestic abuse situations, people who lost their jobs and housing during the pandemic, and people battling mental illness or addiction who have been derailed from their appropriate treatment.
On September 14th, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Care Act into law in California, aiming to help thousands of unhoused suffering from severe forms of mental health, such as schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders. The court-ordered care plans will be managed by a care team, and it will provide everything from medications to housing plans. Palm Springs and the Council must be ready on day 1 to implement these programs into the Navigation Center, and have the proper infrastructure to deliver the promised services. I will push for strong oversight of the Center and it’s programs, including during the developmental and roll out phases.
To tackle the crisis of homelessness we must also combat its causes.
Affordable Housing Programs. Advocate for the development and support of programs and services to directly combat the issues facing those that are unhoused.
Mental Health. Work with local organizations and experts to expand access to mental health services, including mobile programs which would go directly where patients are in need. This also includes working closely with local medical centers to ensure that anyone who is unhoused has access to their medication and treatments.
Addiction treatment. Invest in expanding the community’s existing programs to help treat addiction and keep people on the path to sober living. Work with local treatment centers, through “good neighbor” partnerships, to make sure that people who are ejected from their facilities do not end up on our streets.
Community Partnerships. Assure that a working committee of homelessness providers, business and local residents are provided with support to assure that the community maintains “ownership” in solving the problem and making sure that the Navigation Center is achieving the goals set by its creation.