Hanford Police Chief, Parker Sever, has urged the City Council to take a coordinated approach to homelessness. During a recent study session, Sever stated that the department’s Homeless Action Resource Team needs more resources to tackle the growing number of unhoused people in the city. Although he praised the team for their work, he explained that if the homeless population continues to grow, their effectiveness will be diluted. Sever pointed out the lack of a one-stop-shop for homeless services in Hanford. Instead, homeless people with mental health issues have to travel all over the city to access the help they need.
The city currently has no camping ordinances for police to enforce because there is no low-barrier homeless shelter. Martin v. Boise, a Ninth Circuit Court case, ruled that anti-camping ordinances in the public right-of-way violate homeless people’s Eighth Amendment rights when they have no access to alternative shelter. Hanford could enforce a camping ordinance if the unhoused population had easy access to a low-barrier shelter. A shelter classified as low-barrier requires minimal requirements for homeless people to enter. They can bring their possessions, pets and partners with them.
Sever argues that fear of a growing homeless population is not a good excuse anymore. Instead, he believes it is more compassionate to provide homeless people with access to food, mental health services, and temporary accommodation. The Council has granted $200,000 towards a navigation center, part food bank and part navigation center. A navigation center provides temporary room and board with limited barriers to entry, according to the Homeless and Housing Strategies for California.
Sever also highlighted the plight of parolees released into homelessness. At least half of those released into Hanford end up transient, he said, calling it sad for the people and society. Homeless Action Resource Team member, Mark Carillo, urged the Council to take action to address the growing problem. The Hanford Police Department has received over 1,500 calls related to vagrancy this year, and Carillo believes the time for action is now.
The issue of homelessness in Hanford is a complex one that requires a coordinated effort from the city council and stakeholders. While the grant for the navigation center is a step in the right direction, it is only a small part of the solution. With a growing homeless population, Hanford needs to act quickly to address the issue and provide unhoused people with the support they need.
Original Story at hanfordsentinel.com – 2023-06-22 02:00:00
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