From: Christa Lizano <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, March 7, 2025 2:29 PM
To: James Fowler <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: public hearing march 12- HOUSING AMENDMENTS OPPOSITION
Christa Lizano
974 Euclid Ave
Camarillo, CA 93010
[email protected]
805-504-5525
Dear City of Camarillo Council and staff,
I hope this letter finds you well. I have sent this letter approximately 1 month ago and I am sending it again so it is included in the upcoming meeting on 03/12/25.
I am writing to express my strong disagreement with the request for release of funds to provide affordable and free housing for homeless individuals in our community. While I understand the intention behind this measure is to provide support to those in need, I have several concerns that I believe should be considered before any decision is made.
My primary concern is that providing housing for the homeless may not necessarily address the root causes of homelessness, such as addiction, mental health issues, and lack of job opportunities. In fact, there is a real possibility that these housing facilities will be used by individuals not to rehabilitate or seek assistance, but merely to store their belongings. This could exacerbate the issue by creating spaces where individuals continue to beg for money, enter public spaces intoxicated, or remain in a state of poor hygiene and disarray. I myself have experienced the disgust of urine smell in public places I visit and these encounters without consequence leads me to believe that the city of Camarillo has no intentions of solving the homelessness problem, but rather plans to provide more gathering locations.
Additionally, I fear that this approach could attract even more homeless individuals from outside Camarillo, believing they will receive free housing and assistance. As we’ve seen in other cities, this kind of measure can inadvertently create a “magnet effect, ” encouraging others in similar situations to migrate here. This could lead to a larger homeless population and a much greater strain on our community, making the problem worse rather than alleviating it.
I understand that homelessness is a complex issue that requires long-term solutions, but I believe that providing free housing may only be a short-term fix that fails to address the deeper issues at play. I urge you to consider alternative solutions that focus on rehabilitation, job training, and support services rather than providing shelter. Though the proposal indicated there may be “supportive services, ” these will likely be optional for residents and will not be an accountability mechanism in which there will be consequences for shortcomings of the residents. I myself am a therapist in the mental health field and was a previous sworn officer working as a therapist in the mental health field in prison. This gives me a unique perspective to this field and the importance of not creating a larger issue.
If providing housing is the only way Camarillo is going to address the problem, the housing should be out away from the main city to discourage the use of the space as a storage unit, potential “magnet, ” and may encourage the utilization of the on-site “supportive services. ”
Thank you for taking the time to consider my concerns. I trust that the planning department and city council will weigh all perspectives in its decision-making process to ensure the best outcomes for both the homeless and the residents of Camarillo.
Sincerely,
Christa Lizano