McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
From: Andrew Good
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 10:44 AM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse
Subject: City Council agenda item 25
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My name is Andrew Good, and I'm a resident of District 3 and a member of Pasadena For All, a volunteer group that does direct outreach to the unhoused.
What we are witnessing is systemic failure: our lack of housing is to blame for the increase in the number of unhoused people on Pasadena's streets. It's not really a surprise; as a city, we have not acted with the due urgency required to meet this challenge. When opportunities have come up to convert a motel to permanent supportive housing or to increase housing density generally, the council has, more often than not, sided with the interests of those who would rather not see change.
All that has done is make housing - an essential human need - harder to obtain.
I don't want to overlook the good the city is doing tonight. I'm encouraged that we're providing funding for a Bad Weather Shelter and street outreach teams. And the fact that the homeless count numbers are on the agenda speaks to discuss shows that this city cares about the issue. We are taking action, though we could be doing so much more.
Please be assured, council members, that you have the support of a lot of people in this city to take drastic action.
A
6/12/2023
Item 25
Iraheta, Alba
From: Raquel Calderon <
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 2:24 PM
To: PublicComment-AutoResponse
Subject: Agenda Item 25: Homeless Count
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Dear City Council,
With the 9% increase in homelessness in Pasadena, I think it is worth taking a hard look at how we fund housing and services in Pasadena.
When asks for more housing budget are made, it is often met with the response that much of our housing funding comes from State and Federal grants. I think it's worth questioning if that's enough to stem the increase in homelessness in Pasadena. Additionally, I read the latest Pasadena Housing Element and I saw that many of the projects planned are supposed to be funded by the general fund, not state and federal grants.
I think it's also worth asking if we have expansive enough services to do outreach to unhoused folks in Pasadena. Do we have the services that can prevent homelessness in the first place by keeping people housed and keeping housing affordable? Do tenants know their rights? These and more questions need to be asked if we want to achieve functional zero homelessness in Pasadena.
Thank you,
Raquel Calderon
6/12/2023
Item 25