THE MEETING. WILL THE CLERK CAL
THE ROLL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FOUR MEMBER
PRESENT.
>> APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE AGEND
WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE HEARING IS
ADOPTED. CHAIR'S REPORT, TODAY
WE'LL ONLY HAVE ONE AGENDA ITEM
ALTHOUGH IT WILL BE A VERY BIG
AND IMPORTANT AGENDA ITEM,
REPORT BACK ON THE COLEAD,
JUSTCARE SUCCESS AND IMPACT, TH
MATERIALS FOR THAT PRESENTATION
HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED, INCLUDING
THE REPORT COMPLETED BY DR.
KATHERINE BECKETT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
LOOKING FORWARD TO JUMPING IN T
THAT ITEM OF TODAY'S BUSINESS.
MOVING FORWARD TO PUBLIC
COMMENT. FOLKS WHO WANT TO
COMMENT ON TODAY'S AGENDA CAN
NOW DO SO. I'M GOING TO GO AHEA
AND SET THE PUBLIC SPEAKING TIM
AT ONE MINUTE. AND PEOPLE KNOW
THE REMOTE VERSES THE IN-PERSON
RULES. WHY DON'T WE START WITH
THE REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIO
AND THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED BY THE
COMMITTEE CLERK. SO LET'S TAKE
THE REMOTE FOLKS FIRST AND THEN
WE'LL GO THROUGH EVERYBODY IN
COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. OUR
FIRST REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENTER I
JOE SCOROLA. YOU'LL NEED TO
PRESS STAR SIX AND THEN YOU HAV
ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK.
>> HELLO?
>> HI, GEORGE, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> OKAY, GREAT. MY NAME IS
GEORGE. I'M SPEAKING AS AN
INDIVIDUAL.
>> HEY GEORGE, WE CAN'T REALLY
HEAR YOU. CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTL
LOUDER, PLEASE?
>> MY NAME IS GEORGE SCOROLA,
I'M SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL
TODAY. I WANT TO TELL A STORY
ABOUT A GUY I MET AT MY GYM,
SOUTH OF SEATTLE. HE HAS A TEAR
APPLIERS TATTOOED ON HIS CALF.
ASKED HIM WHY. HE SAYS HE'S A
PLUMBER, A HAPPY PLUMBER, MAKIN
$100,000 A YEAR. WE GOT TO
TALKING AND LATER HE ASKED ME
WHAT I DO. I SAID I DO
HOMELESSNESS. HE TOLD ME THE
STORY OF HIS LIFE. HE'S BEEN
LIVING, HAD BEEN LIVING ON THE
STREETS OF SEATTLE IN AND OUT
FOR YEARS. IN AND OUT OF KING
COUNTY JAIL. IN AND OUT OF
SHELTERS. HE ASKED ME IF I EVER
HEARD OF A PROGRAM CALLED LEAD.
I SAID YEAH. LEAD SAVED MY LIFE
>> THANK YOU, GEORGE. OUR NEXT
CALLER IS JAKE. JAKE, PLEASE
PREZ STAR SIX, AND THEN YOU'LL
HAVE ONE MINUTE TO GIVE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JAKE ALPER.
AND I JUST WANT TO SHOW AS A
WEST SEATTLE HOMEOWNER, I'VE
BEEN HORRIFIED TO LEARN ABOUT
THE INCREASE OF VIOLENCE LIVING
IN OUR VIEW. RECENTLY SEVERAL O
OUR NEIGHBORS RECEIVED A
THREATENING LETTER FOLLOWED BY
DUMPING OF SUSPICIOUS MATERIAL,
GUNSHOTS IN THE AREA OF THEIR
HOME. THIS ISN'T SURPRISING
GIVEN THE CITY KNOWS BIASED
CRIMES AGAINST UNHOUSED
NEIGHBORS INCREASED 229% LAST
YEAR. THESE NEIGHBORS DESERVE
RESPECT AND SAFETY AS MUCH AS
ANY HOMEOWNER. THE CITY'S ONLY
SWEEP, DRIVING THEM TO NEW AREA
TO BE THREATENED BY NEW
NEIGHBORS. THIS IS A POLICY.
WHAT IS SEATTLE DOING OTHER THA
TRYING TO HIDE HOMELESSNESS? IF
YOU CAN ALL DO BETTER, I THINK
WE CAN ALL DO BETTER.
>> THANK YOU, JAKE. WE WILL NOW
MOVE TO IN-PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENT. OUR FIRST IN-PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENTER IS JESSE
BURLINGTON. PLEASE APPROACH THE
MICROTON. FOLLOWING JESSE, WE'L
HAVE SANDY RUFFIN. BOTH SHOULD
WORK.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS, I'M JESSE BURLESON,
HERE TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE
FACT VIOLENCE IS BEING
PERPETRATED AGAINST THE HOMELES
IN THE MOST RAMPANT WAY. LAST
MONDAY I RECEIVED THIS LETTER O
A WINDSHIELD OF MY RV. I'D LIKE
TO READ IT TO THE COUNCIL IF I
MAY. DEAR FRIEND, I AM SINCEREL
SORRY YOU ARE IN THE POSITION
YOU ARE IN. HOWEVER, THIS IS NO
A GOOD PLACE FOR YOU TO PARK AN
LIVE, EVEN TEMPORARILY. WHEN TH
FIRST THOUGHT OF RV SHIELDING
CAME HERE LAST NIGHT, IT BROUGH
US TOGETHER. OUR KIDS WERE
SCARED, WIVES ARE HARASSED. SOM
OF YOU ARE SEX OFFENDERS, DRUG
DEALERS, ALL TO MAKE A MESS.
EVERYONE HERE HAS HANDLED THIS
DIFFERENTLY. REPORTING SOME
COMPLAINTS TO THE MAYOR AND NOW
WE ARE FED UP. SOME PEOPLE ARE
READY TO MAKE YOUR LIFE SHEAR
HELL. IN ORDER TO KEEP YOU WARM
OR BE DRIVABLE. THEY'RE READY
AND LOOKING TO FIGHT. THIS WILL
HAPPEN LIKELY SOON. YOU HAVE
BEEN WARNED. I AM A MILITARY VE
RAN. THIS IS A DECLARATION OF
WAR. I HAVE SEEN WAR. WAR SAN
UGLY THING. WHERE IS OUR SAFE
LAW? I'M PRICED OUT, AND I CAN'
AFFORD TO PAY RENT IN THIS TOWN
I HAVE PEOPLE COME BY OFFERING
ME HOUSING YESTERDAY. THEY TOLD
ME WE'LL HELP YOU WITH THE
MOVE-IN COST. WELL, THAT'S WELL
AND FINE, BUT IF YOU CAN'T
AFFORD THE RENT TO BEGIN WITH,
YOU'RE SETTING ME UP FOR
FAILURE.
>> SIR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
IF YOU WANT TO CONNECT AFTER TH
COUNCIL MEETING TODAY, I'D BE
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE.
SERIOUSLY, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
JUST REALLY QUICKLY. THERE IS
APPARENTLY AN ISSUE WITH THE
PUBLIC SPEAKING MICS BEING
PICKED UP FOR THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS APPEARING REMOTELY. I'M
SORRY, WOULD YOU TRY SPEAKING
INTO THE OTHER MICROPHONE? IS
THAT WORKING?
>> WE'RE NOT GETTING ANYTHING.
CAN YOU CONFIRM THE PODIUM MICS
ARE ENABLED?
>> YEAH, I.T. THINKS THE MIC --
>> MAYBE BECAUSE I HAD MY MASK
ON.
>> NOW QUESTION HEAR.
>> AND IT SOUNDS LIKE I.T.,
BECAUSE THE SPEAKER WAS WEARING
A MASK, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THE
MICS ARE OPERATING OKAY. THANK
YOU.
>> YEAH, NO OBJECTION TO LETTIN
THE SPEAKER SPEAK AGAIN SINCE
COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD NOT HEAR
HIS COMMENTS. SO GO AHEAD,
PLEASE. YOU HAVE ONE MORE
MINUTE.
>> DEAR FRIEND, I AM SINCERELY
SORRY YOU'RE IN. AND HOWEVER,
THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLAE FOR YOU
TO LIVE EVEN TEMPORARILY. WHEN
THE FIRST LAW LOTTERY SHOWED UP
LAST YEAR, IT BROUGHT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD TOGETHER. OUR KIDS
ARE SCARED, OUR WIVES ARE
HARASSED. SOME OF YOU ARE SEX
OFFENDERS, DRUG DEALERS,
ADDICTS, ALL OF YOU MAKE A MESS
EVERYONE HAS HANDLED IT
DIFFERENTLY. SOME COMPLAIN TO
THE MAYOR. BUT NOW WE'RE FED UP
AND SOME PEOPLE ARE READY TO
MAKE YOUR LIFE SHEAR HELL, AND
WILL DAMAGE YOUR VEHICLE, SO
THEY CAN NO LONGER KEEP YOU WAR
OR DRIVABLE. THEY'RE READY AND
LOOKING TO FIGHT. THIS WILL
HAPPEN LIKELY SOON. YOU HAVE
BEEN WARNED. I TAKE THIS AS A
DECLARATION OF WAR, AND AS A
MILITARY VETERAN, I KNOW ABOUT
WAR. I'VE SEEN KILLING. AND IF
YOU PEOPLE DON'T DO SOMETHING T
GET US SOME PLACE SAFE TO PARK,
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GE
KILLED. MAYBE EVEN AN INNOCENT
CHILD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JESSE. OUR NEXT
SPEAKER IS SANDY RUFFIN, AFTER
SANDY, WE'LL HAVE CHANEL HORNER
>> HELLO. I AM ONE OF JESSE'S
NEIGHBORS AND I JUST WANT TO SA
I'VE SEEN THE LETTERS, I'VE SEE
GUNS SHOT NEAR THEIR RVs TO
SCARE THEM. I'VE SEEN PEOPLE
DUMP TRASH AND DO MUCH WORSE TO
THEIR HOMES. THESE PEOPLE
DESERVE A SAFE LOT. LIFETIME
SEATTLE RESIDENTS WHO ARE PRICE
OUT. MOST OF THEM WORKING FULL
TIME OR SOMEHOW MEDICAL
EMERGENCIES AND CAN'T THEY THEI
BILLS. GOOD NEIGHBORS. THEY'RE
HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS? WHERE
IS THE RV SAFE LOT? WHO IS
TAKING CARE OF THEM, AND WHO
WILL KEEP THEM SAFE WHEN
NEIGHBORS DECIDE TO DO WORSE IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT? AND FO
COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO MAY NOT HAV
HEARD JESSE SPEAK THE FIRST
TIME, THOSE LETTERS WERE LEFT O
MULTIPLE RVs IN ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD, THEN FOLLOWED UP
WITH A LOT OF ACTION GOING FROM
ANNOYING TO THREATENING. SO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, SANDY. NEXT IS
CHANEL HORNER FOLLOWED BY CELIN
RUSSO.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS CHANEL
HORNER, I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH
MEETINGS AS A LIVED EXPERIENCE
PERSON LIVING IN THE RV OR IN M
BUS FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. I KNOW
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FINDING
THE RV LOT, BUT THE CITY COULD
DO A LOT AS THEY HELP DONATE
PROPERTY. RIGHT NOW AT THIS
POINT, WE'VE BEEN WAITING SINCE
LAR MARCH. THEY GOT APPROVED
LAST MARCH, AND THEY HAD A LOT
OF MONEY. A LOT OF MONEY TO
BUILD THIS LOT, AND WE HAVE
NOWHERE TO PARK. NOBODY HAS DON
ANYTHING ABOUT IT. BUT SOMETHIN
NEEDS TO BE UP FOR THESE BLOCKS
WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO PARK,
AND YOU GUYS ARE PUSHING US OUT
OF THE INDUSTRIAL AREA INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOODS. THINGS LIKE THIS
HAPPEN. WE DON'T WANT TO PARK
NEXT TO THESE BUSINESSES OR THE
STREETS OR CAUSEWAYS. WE WANT T
PARK SOMEWHERE WHERE WE ARE
ALLOWED. BELLEVUE IS GOING TO
OPEN A NEW PARK IN ANOTHER
MONTH. ALL BECAUSE BELLEVUE
DONATED PROPERTY. IF WE DONATE
PROPERTY, WE WOULD HAVE A PLACE
NOW.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT PUBLIC
COMMENTER IS CELINE RUSSO
FOLLOWED BY ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
>> ALL RIGHT. AS A WEST SEATTLE
HOMEOWNER, I FEEL NEITHER
THREATENED NOR HARASSED BY
JESSE, BUT I'M DISGUSTED BY THE
LETTER. I'M EXTREMELY
DISAPPOINTED BY THE RESPONSE OF
SWEEPS WITH NO SUPPORT. THIS
FORCES PEOPLE TO MOVE EVERY FEW
WEEKS AND FACE THREATS IN A
DIFFERENT LOCATION. THIS POLICY
OF SWEEPS IS NOT ONLY CRUEL AND
INHUMANE, BUT DANGEROUS. WHEN
THE CITY LIES TO HOUSE SERVICES
WHICH THEY ARE NOT. THE CITY IS
ENCOURAGING VIOLENCE AGAINST OU
RV AND TENT NEIGHBORS. THESE
THREATS ARE INCREASING, AND THE
VIOLENCE IS LIVING OUTSIDE. WHY
IS THE CITY SPENDING $38 MILLIO
ON SWEEPS AND A $2 MILLION GRAN
FOR AN RV SAFE LOT SITS UNUSED?
THE CITY DECLARED A HOMELESS
EMERGENCY QUOTE TEN YEARS AGO I
SEATTLE, AND WE CAN'T EVEN GET
ONE SAFE LOT UILT? I LOVE THE
SUGGESTION OF DONATING PROPERTY
LIKE THE CITY CAN DO SOMETHING
AT THIS POINT. WE NEED TO GET I
DONE NOW. WE CAN'T ALLOW THE
VIOLENCE TO CONTINUE. WE CANNOT
ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE IN ONE OF
THE RICHEST CITIES IN THIS
COUNTRY. IT'S NOT OKAY. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN. [ SPEAKING
NON-ENGLISH ] YOU KILL EVERY
YEAR 300 PEOPLE. YOU'RE NOT IN
JAIL. IT CAN'T HAPPEN IN
SEATTLE. SO WHY IS THIS
HAPPENED? WHY DO YOU KILL 300
HOMELESS? YOUR SALARY IS
$150,000. YOU SPEND $150,000 FO
EACH ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT COST
$1,000 PER MONTH. IT'S $12,000.
WHAT IS THE REASON TO SPEND
$12,000? FOR $12,000 YOU GIVE
EVERYBODY ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. AND
YOU'RE DOING THIS BUSINESS FOR
40 YEARS. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR
THE UNION TO MOVE OUT BECAUSE
YOU'RE A CRIMINAL, A KILLER. YO
DON'T SHOW THE FACES. THIS IS
ANOTHER CLASS SAYING YOU WOULD
BE IN JAIL AND THAT IS EXACTLY
WHAT THEY SAID. BECAUSE
DEFINITION, YOU'RE A KILLER.
YOU'RE SUPPOSE TO BE IN JAIL.
STAND UP, AMERICA.
>> OUR FINAL PUBLIC COMMENTER,
YOU'LL HAVE ONE MINUTE.
SOMETIMES IN OUR LIVES WE ALL
HAVE PAIN, WE ALL HAVE SORROW.
BUT IF WE ARE WISE, WE KNOW THA
THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW ♪°7
MEANING THERE IS ALWAYS
TOMORROW. MEANING IF YOU EVEN
MAKE MISTAKES REGARDLESS OF YOU
JOB OCCUPATION BECAUSE WE ARE
ALL EQUAL IN THE EYES OF GOD. W
ARE TALKING ABOUT THE HOMELESS,
WHICH I TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME
AND YOU ARE PUSHING THEM ASIDE.
WE ALL NEED SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON
BECAUSE ANYBODY CAN HAPPEN. AND
I JUST HOPE YOU LISTEN TO US
BECAUSE WE ARE ALL EQUAL. THANK
YOU. HAVE A NICE DAY.
>> THANK YOU. MR. CHAIR, THAT I
ALL OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CLERK
WE'LL PURSUE, SORRY, PROCEED TO
THE ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. THE
PRESENTATION ON LEAD COLEAD. I
DO WANT TO TAKE CHAIR'S
PREROGATIVE FOR A MOMENT FOR TH
RIGHTEOUS FRUSTRATION OF THE
AUDIENCE MEMBERS OVER THE
CONTINUED FAILURE OF THE CITY
AND THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL
AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH A SAFE
LOT THAT THE CITY HAS FUNDED
THREE BUDGETS RUNNING NOW. AND
WISH I COULD SAY MORE FROM THE
THING RIGHT NOW ABOUT THAT, BUT
THE EXTENT OF WHAT I CAN SAY IS
JUST THAT THIS COUNCIL FEELS
THAT FRUSTRATION KEENLY. WE'LL
CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT FUNDING
AVAILABLE. WE'LL CONTINUE TO
PUSH FOR OUR EXECUTIVE PARTNERS
TO IMPLEMENT THAT SAFE LOT
BECAUSE IT IS AN IMPORTANT
PRIORITY. THANK YOU FOR COMING
DOWN HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR IT
TODAY. SO WITH THAT WE WILL MOV
TO OUR AGENDA ITEM ON COLEAD,
AND IT IS GREAT TO BE IN A
POSITION TO WELCOME DR. BECKETT
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE. WE
PREVIOUSLY HEARD A REPORT ON
THIS RESEARCH DURING THE
PRELIMINARY, THE PRELIMINARY
REPORT ON JUST CARE A COUPLE OF
YEARS AGO. AND THE BROADER PANE
OF OUR PARTNERS WHO HAVE BROUGH
JUST CARE AND IT'S MULTIPLE
REITERATION OVER THE COURSE OF
THE PANDEMIC AND CONTINUE TO DO
THIS WORK. HOPEFULLY WE'LL
CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK IN A
GREATER RESOURCE WAY AS WE GO
FORWARD WITH THE PARTNERSHIP ON
THE CASE AND THE OTHER LOCAL
LEADERS TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE
FULL ADVANTAGE. WHO SHOULD I
HAND IT OVER FIRST? SHOULD I
HAND IT OVER TO YOU, LISA
DAUGAARD, TO INTRODUCE THE
PANEL? AND THEN INTRODUCE DR.
BECKETT?
>> YES, THAT'S THE PLAN. THANK
YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR LEWIS. GOOD
AFTERNOON, IT IS REALLY A
PRIVILEGE FOR US TO BE HERE WIT
THE COUNCIL BECK, THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN A
SUPPORTER OF THIS WORK FROM
EARLY DAYS AND IN A VERY REAL
SENSE THAT WOULD NOT HAVE COME
TO FRUITION, AND WE WOULD NOT
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMPLETE THE
LEARNING ARC THAT WE'RE GOING T
PRESENT TODAY WITHOUT VERY
STRONG COUNCIL INTERVENTION TO
MAKE SURE THE WORK REMAINS A
LIE. TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY,
MARCH 1, 2023, THAT THE DIGNITY
ACTION, NO LONGER THE PUBLIC
ASSOCIATION. WE PROVIDE PROJECT
MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN SUPPORT
FOR COMMUNITY BASED
ALTERNATIVES, SAFETY STRATEGIES
AND AS ELUDED TO IN PUBLIC
COMMENT BY GEORGE SCOROLA, WHOS
STORY I WANTED TO HEAR THE END
OF. SINCE THE ORIGIN OF THE WOR
REALLY TRACES BACK TO LEAD, LAW
ENFORCEMENT, ASSISTED DIVERSION
LETTING EVERYONE ADVANCE WITH
DIGNITY. LEAD IS A PROGRAM NOW
REPLICATED AROUND THE COUNTRY,
I'M ACTUALLY IN MINNEAPOLIS
RIGHT NOW CONSULTING THEIR JUST
NEED IN 2011. THE BASIC IDEA IS
TO PROVIDE WRAPAROUND CASE
MANAGEMENT FOR AS LONG AS IT
TAKES TO STABILIZE AND FOSTER
RECOVERY FOR PEOPLE WHO
OTHERWISE ARE HIGHLY LIKELY TO
BE ENGAGED BIT CRIMINALLY WEALT
SYSTEM RELATED TO BEHAVIOR THAT
IS PROBLEMATIC, OFTENTIMES FOR
THEMSELVES THAT ARE RATHER
PEOPLE, BUT RELATES TO DRUG USE
MENTAL ILLNESS, OR POVERTY. AND
SO IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO STRATEGIES
AND SOLUTIONS OF COMMUNITY BASE
CARE RATHER THAN PUNISHMENT. SO
LEAD PROVIDES THAT STREET BASED
CASE MANAGEMENT AND CARE
COORDINATION, AND IT HAS BEEN
THE LAST DECADE. IN 2020, WE HA
JUST SEEN AN INCREASED HARD
FOUGHT DECISION BY THE CITY TO
STEP UP ITS COMMITMENT TO LEAD,
SO WE COULD START TAKING
CONSIDERABLY MORE REFERRALS. AN
WHEN THOSE FUNDS CAME ONLINE,
THAT HAPPENED TO COINCIDE REALL
WITH THE VERY EARLY DAYS OF THE
COVID PANDEMIC. AND THAT
PRESENTED, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW,
COMPREHENSIVE CHALLENGES FOR
EVERYBODY IN EVERY WAY. BUT FOR
US, MANAGING LEAD, AND WE HAD
BEEN ON THE CUSP OF BUILDING A
NEW WORK FORCE THAT WOULD
PROVIDE THOSE CASE MANAGEMENT T
MANY MORE PEOPLE. WE WERE
PRESENTED WITH AN IMMEDIATE SET
OF CHALLENGES THAT COLEAD AND
JUST CARE ENDED UP BEING THE
ANSWER TO. WE HAD RESOURCES THA
WERE CLEARLY BADLY NEEDED AS YO
MAY, LIKE IF WE CAN ALL GO BACK
TO WHAT IT WAS IN THAT, THE
SPRING OF 2020. SUMMER OF 2020.
IT WAS EVIDENT THAT AS BROADLY
AS MANY PEOPLE HAD NEEDED LEAD
CASE MANAGEMENT AND FLEX FUNDS
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, ALL THE
MORE. WAS THAT THE CASE IN 2020
AS PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN IN
SHELTERS WERE DEINCENSE VISED I
ORDER TO PREVENT COVID
TRANSITION. SO SOME PEOPLE WERE
TRANSFERRED, BUT MANY OTHERS
TURNED OUT TO THE STREETS
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT
ELSE TO DO AND THERE WASN'T
ALREADY AN ALTERNATIVE. MANY OF
THE FOLKS WE WORK WITH IN LEAD
HAD ALREADY NOT BEEN WELCOMED
GUESTS IN THE CONGREGANT SHELTE
SYSTEMS, SO THEY WERE ALREADY
OUTSIDE. BUT NOW THEY WERE CUT
OFF FROM PUBLIC SPACES LIKE
LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY CENTERS
AND ALSO FROM THE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM ALTOGETHER. EVERYTHING
WAS CLOSED. YOU KNOW, SITTING
WHERE WE ARE TODAY, IT IS HARD
TO BE RECALLED ON HOW DRAMATIC
THE SITUATION WAS. OR THOUGH
WITH A W-2 PRETTY EARLY ON
GETTING THE MESSAGE THAT THERE
WOULD BE RELIEF STRATEGIES IF
THEIR JOBS CLOSED DOWN. BUT
PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN MAKING THEI
LIVING IN THE SORT OF GRAY
ECONOMY OR THE ILLICIT ECONOMY
DID NOT HAVE THOSE STRATEGIES.
THEY DID NOT HAVE PLACES TO GO
TO SEEK SUPPORT. THEY DID NOT
HAVE PLACES TO BE DURING THE
DAY. FOLKS WERE JUST GATHERING
OUTDOORS IN LARGE NUMBERS AND
INCREASINGLY IN LOCATIONS THAT
IN THE PAST HAD BEEN USED BY TH
OTHER MEMBERS OF