Written Communications
Manahan – Received 9/ 11/ 2024
From: Liz Wilson Manahan <
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 10:57 AM
To: CityClerk < CityClerk@chulavistaca. gov>
Subject: Comments Regarding Item 7.2 from 9/10 City Council Meeting ToWhom It May Concern,
The business item number 7.2, about the camping ban, from last night' s meeting was postponed from the meeting on the 10th to the meeting on the 17th. I will not be able to attend the meeting on the 17th, so I would like to submit comment for public comment for the meeting on the 17th. My comments are as follows.
Imagine if you will, you are unhoused for a variety of reason, there are resources, but they are difficult to navigate andthere are not enough. Thenthe one safe place youlay your head atthe end of the night to sleep uncomfortably is now off limits becauseof a camping ban. Now your things and your person will be moved some place else. You are still not housed and now you are displaced.
Here is what we know: the homeless population is increasing in our city. We have a housing crisis. It is not going to get better quickly. The city is working hard with all their resources to help this population, but there are not enough resources. The governor will not give municipalities that do not have a camping ban in place resources form the state for housing and homelessness services.
We know that camping bans do not solve homelessness, but they move populations around. This helps neither the unhoused person or the community.
While I know the camping ban will pass through the city council, because of government funding, what I would implore the Council as well as the Housing and Homelessness committee is to continue to solve the problem of homelessness by finding more waystooffer those who are unhoused wrap around services. I implore the council to continue to work on ways for those who are on the fringes, the working poor, who are one to two paychecks away from being homeless, to educate people on how to get help and resources. We need more shelters in our community. The South Bay does not have enough resources to help all who are unhoused or on the verge of being unhoused. We need more. The issue of homelessness in our community is not a us and them problem, it is a human problem, where all people should have a safe place to lay their heads.” Peace,
Liz Wilson Manahan
Pastor
Chula Vista Presbyterian Church