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Los Angeles County, CA November 7, 2006 Election
Smart Voter

Homelessness: We Can Do Better

By Bob Holbrook

Candidate for City Council Member; City of Santa Monica

This information is provided by the candidate
Recent city initiatives to move chronically homeless people into housing, combined with more enforcement and referral help from the police and courts, will result in fewer people living on our streets. I am seeking another term on the city council to make sure this happens.
The mailer I sent to voters explains my position on homelessness:

We Can Do Better: A Report from Santa Monica Mayor Bob Holbrook

Dear Santa Monicans,

As Mayor, almost every day I am asked when the City is going to do something about homelessness. The truth is, over the past two years we have adopted many new strategies to move people off our streets and into housing. Even though these programs are new to Santa Monica, they are already working in many cities, such as San Francisco, New York, and San Diego.

Can we see progress on our streets and in our parks? Probably not yet--but within the next year, I believe that we will.

This is obviously a mailer to ask you to reelect me to the Santa Monica City Council, but let me also use it to report to you on work in progress. I know how frustrated, angry, and dismayed people are. I am too. There is no City issue I want to resolve more than homelessness. Please see below for a summary of what we're doing.

Sincerely, Bob Holbrook

  • Chronic Homeless Program

City staff has identified 86 individuals who have lived on our streets the longest. So far 46 have been moved into housing with supportive services to address whatever condition(s) caused them to end up on the streets. Fourteen other chronic homeless people are working with case managers to find housing, and fourteen more have left the city.

  • Project Homeward Bound

When a homeless person wishes to return home and someone there will see that he or she receives the necessary support, the City will provide a bus ticket home.

  • Serial Inebriate Outreach

To keep public inebriates from cycling from the streets to jail and back, arrestees upon their release are offered detox and other treatment. In the past year, 62 people have entered residential treatment programs.

  • Community Court

A judge gives chronically homeless individuals cited for minor violations a choice of completing a rehab program or jail time.

  • VA Proposal

Mayor Pro Tem Shriver and four homeless service providers have submitted a proposal to the Veterans Administration to rehabilitate three unused buildings on the West L.A. VA campus. These would provide therapeutic supportive housing for homeless veterans now living on our streets.

  • Regional Efforts

I will push for a state law that requires all cities to do their fair share to end homelessness. Now that we have programs in place to serve the chronically homeless, I will not support any new homeless programs or housing in Santa Monica until neighboring cities provide the same level of care that we do.

  • Moving Park Feeding Programs Indoors

This fall the two groups that run the largest feeding programs in our parks will move indoors, so their clients can meet with case workers, who will connect them with the information or services they need to find housing and support. The food providers will be very effective outreach workers, because of the trust they have built with the people they have been feeding.

  • Dealing with the "Urban Camper"

I support homeless programs that assist those willing to help themselves or unable to help themselves. However, some people are homeless by choice. I don't believe the City has any responsibility to provide showers, mailboxes, food, clothing, living space, or anything else for people who can support themselves but choose not to. As we make contact with more of our homeless population through the indoor feedings and expanded outreach to the chronic homeless, the urban campers and criminals hiding among the homeless will become more obvious. The City must not play the role of enabler. We must have a heart to help people, but we also must use our brains--and enforce our laws.

The City is on the right track, but, as Will Rogers said, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." I want to make sure we move forward until we all see results.

Next Page: Position Paper 2

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