It was a big housing week for me and the Water District.
Tuesday:
I attended the ground breaking for an emergency interim housing project on Water District property. Shout out to Director Beall for leading the effort to allow Water District land to be used for housing. The project, built by Dignity Moves, will ultimately house 136 homeless folks. Priority will be given to those living along our waterways within a certain radius of the project.

Wednesday @ 6am!
Wednesday morning, I volunteered for the Point In Time homeless count (PIT). The highlight: I got to meet people in an encampment I ride by on my bike frequently. I met three people there from three different tents, and, through the survey, learned more about why they live outside. For all of them, being able to have their pets with them as well as the safety of their belongings was a reason they choose to live outside. I'm sure we can all relate.
Wednesday Night:
That night I attended the Youth Commission meeting where the lead project is to create hygiene kits for unhoused youth through the Bill Wilson Center.
Previous Week:
But what I really want to highlight is the recently released materials about what the Water District calls the Good Neighbor Program.
Whether it’s advocates decrying the criminalization of unhoused individuals and families by the Water District or residents complaining that the Water District isn’t doing enough, I would like to uplift District staff's thoughtful work with all perspectives to determine the humane ways to implement the recently passed ordinance (called the Water Resources Protection Zones ordinance, which most simply call the no encampment zone ordinance).
District staff has put together several documents, located here, where folks can find lots of info on how those living inside and out can work together to address issues that arise. There are several really wonderful materials:
1. A map of ownership so that people can first identify whether an area in question is under the Water District’s purview
2. Factsheets on how the ordinance will be implemented
3. A map of encampments that details when the last cleanups occurred and when future cleanups will occur
These materials are great. For those of you looking to understand how the ordinance will be implemented, and who to call, take a look.

Komentar