People in Humboldt love to complain about the administration of criminal justice, but you want to know one thing they don’t often complain about? The fact that we have a dismal percentage of people who actually show up to do the civic duty of serving on a jury.

Earlier this week, the Outpost’s John Kennedy O’Connor spoke with Scott Anderson, assistant court operations manager for the Humboldt County Superior Court, to talk about the problem, explore potential solutions — prettier art in the jury room, anyone? — and to all but beg people to answer their summonses.

Video above, transcript below.

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JOHN KENNEDY O’CONNOR:

I’m joined now on Lost Coast Outpost by Scott Anderson, who’s the Assistant Court Operation Manager here at the Humboldt Superior Court. Scott thanks so much for joining us today and for sitting down with us. 

Well, there’s been a bit of an issue. A few months ago I interviewed Judge Elvine-Kreis about what is literally a crisis in the fact that jurors are not showing up when they’re summoned for jury service. A colleague of ours brought it to our attention last week as he was summoned and I think he said he was one of 18 out of 500 that actually came along when summoned. Is the situation getting worse?

SCOTT ANDERSON:

It is getting a little worse. Eighteen out of 500 does sound a little, I don’t know where that number came from, but it does sound a little low. The average return rate hovers between 7% on a really bad week to about 14% on a really good week, which is considered pretty low across the state.

O’CONNOR:

So perhaps, yeah, I mean I was going to compare with other counties, so perhaps the 18 out of 500 is not typical.

ANDERSON:

No, I mean that would be a very low percentage. Typically an average would be about nine and a half percent over the last twelve months … that would be the the average return rate of the jurors

O’CONNOR:

But this must be having a very big impact on not only the business of the court, but those people who are facing and needing justice.

ANDERSON:

I mean, it can cause delays in trials. It can also cause a bit of a burden for the jurors who do show up because it takes longer to get a panel of jurors to then seat a trial. So it does have an impact on both justice and the people who are coming to court.

O’CONNOR:

Are you having to cancel court hearings because there aren’t any jurors? 

ANDERSON:

We’ve never had to cancel a jury trial. We have postponed a jury trial by a day or two, or even up to a week, in order to get a panel of jurors built.

O’CONNOR:

Now, I always thought that being summoned was punishable by law, by not turning up. But am I wrong about that?

ANDERSON:

It is punishable by law. The Humboldt Superior Court has never taken a punitive stance for jury services. We’ve never punished folks for not doing it. Jury service is your civic duty, and I think everyone here — judges included — would hope that everyone would want to be their civic duty.

O’CONNOR:

But wouldn’t that be a remedy that might actually help in the situation should you be pursue that?

ANDERSON:

It could be, and there’s discussions. Again, we’ve never taken a punitive stance and I think there’s an apprehension about going down that road.

O’CONNOR:

Now, one of the issues is … I’ve actually never been, I’ve never served on a jury, but I know that if I was called it would be financially very difficult for me,  and I think that’s another impact that people have to consider. They simply don’t, can’t afford to serve on a jury, let alone for a long time.

ANDERSON:

Sure. Humboldt County has a lower, you know, closer to the poverty rate than a lot of other counties, so we do have a large percentage of folks that are excused for that purpose. You can usually ask, you can go online, we have an online portal when you’re summoned, you can ask for a postponement or an excusal for that reason. Oftentimes you may have to come in and then explain in person why you have that problem. But yeah, financial hardship is, I think, 25% of the jurors that come in are excused for that reason.

O’CONNOR:

When I spoke to the judge he said as a result of all of these sort of impacts, most of the jurors who do serve tend to be much older. And so is there really not even a representation of the society around Humboldt on a given jury?

ANDERSON:

There are a lot of retired folks who do jury service because they have the time and they’re available. A lot of government employees do jury service because they’re paid by their employer to do the jury services. A lot of other employers — Costco — pays their employees to do jury service. So you’ll find there is an actual pretty good chunk of the population that is paid to do jury duty.

California does have a pilot program going currently. Humboldt County was not selected in that pilot program, but they are experimenting with higher jury fees. The current fee is $15 a day — with inflation kind of a low amount. They’re looking at raising it and seeing if that has an impact in getting folks in the door.

O’CONNOR:

I mean that’s for the day. 

ANDERSON:

Yes, for one day. And starting in January the court didn’t begin paying folks two ways for their travel up until this January you’re only paid to the courthouse not on your way home now you are given mileage both ways.

O’CONNOR:

Now, one controversial point … because when I interviewed Judge Elvine-Kreis I got a lot of negative messaging from people saying, “Well, why would I serve on his court? Why would I serve on his court?” Because I think there is a perception that he’s got some difficulties, some legal difficulties and he’s using the court perhaps to push them off for his own benefit, so therefore people are feeling very negative towards serving on his court. Is that something that’s come up? Is that something you’ve heard about?

ANDERSON:

I mean, I have heard folks say that, but again, he is one of eight judges. And he is not currently in any of the trial courts. So you won’t be serving, I mean, you’re not serving in his court, you’re serving in our court, everyone. This is our community court, this serves our community. And you would be serving with any one of our eight judges.

O’CONNOR:

Now, what incentives? We’ve talked obviously about perhaps getting better pay for people etc, but are there any other incentives the court could offer without necessarily legislating to do that, to get people to attend?

ANDERSON:

We’ve looked at maybe trying to put some artwork up in the jury assembly room. Maybe that would help make it more interesting. But no, short of the legislature changing some rules there isn’t a lot of incentive. We have coffee.

O’CONNOR:

I was going to say, are people fed if they come?

ANDERSON:

Yeah, we have to have coffee and tea …

O’CONNOR:

No lunch?

ANDERSON.

No lunch. Once a year on the jury appreciation week we do have food, but there’s no budget for that, uh… any other time.

O’CONNOR:

I does strike me, these are small things that could make a big difference.

ANDERSON:

No, again, I think that jury services is a civic duty and we would hope that every person in our community would want to do that duty to make the community a safer and better place.

O’CONNOR:

And not just for that, I think anybody who’s needing justice deserves the fairest justice. And the jury system is tried and tested. We’re getting that.

ANDERSON:

Been around since the Greeks.

O’CONNOR:

Absolutely. Well, Scott, great to meet you. Thank you so much for your time.

ANDERSON:

Thank you.

O’CONNOR:

And join us again on lostcoastoutpost.com.

MaKayla “Boo” Lenee Bernald
Jan. 31, 2002 – Feb. 24, 2023

MaKayla “Boo” Lenee Bernald was our surprise baby who entered the world on January 31, 2002. From the moment she entered, until the day she left, she was a positive light to so many. Starting at an early age, Boo showed empathy for others. Always the first to hug, with a perpetual smile on her face, and the ability to express concern for others was a true gift she gave us all and likely the things we will miss the most.

Along with her soft side, MaKayla had a competitive drive unmatched by many. The competitive side started with the idolization of her big brother, Logan, who played youth football. With MaKayla’s need to “keep up” with Logan, six years older than she, MaKayla decided to play youth football just like he did. MaKayla played three years with the Eureka Loggers Green team in the Eureka Junior Football League, and definitely “didn’t hit like a girl!” In fact, she became one of the best hitters out there! The grit and determination she showcased along with the work that Logan put into his sister every day teaching her how to hit correctly was a huge contributing factor in that!

After playing football, Boo decided to segway to softball. From that moment on, the game would be her passion! The competitive drive, her grit, her work ethic and so much more helped to propel her as a leading softball pitcher not only in Humboldt County, but also, in Mendocino as well. MaKayla’s softball career began in Eureka at Redwood Empire Little League for girls. Her passion for the sport led her to playing softball with the Mad River MIST travel team. She started as a 10-U and, aside from the COVID shutdown year, played until completion at the 18-U level. Because of the financial commitment Mad River MIST required for travel, Boo and her family agreed and committed to running the Arcata Sports Complex Snack Bar to help offset costs. During the ten or so years they did this, MaKayla built a strong support system in the Mad River Slow Pitch Adult League. She served hamburgers with a joke and smile one minute and played on the ball field with them the next! And…if she wasn’t in the snack bar, or on the field, she was on the pitching mound perfecting her craft with her mom on the bucket.

Boo excelled at pitching because she worked so hard! Boo worked so hard because she had to. And because of all of her hard work, she had numerous achievements. A pinnacle moment for Boo and her Mad River MIST team was when she pitched in one of the most elite softball tournaments the program attended called “Battle of the Rings.” For this tournament, there were 10 players, 10 games, and they played in 109 degree heat. Some of the teams she pitched against in the five games they played back to back on Sunday were some of the best teams in the state of California. After an incredible battle, they finished just short in 3rd place.

Boo had a couple of highlights while playing for the Arcata High Tigers as well. The first that comes to mind is the 29 strikeouts she recorded versus Fortuna High School in a doubleheader in 2018, who was ironically coached by her MIST travel coach, and who she considered her second dad, Eric Helms. And the second was when she played against Fortuna again, and Hailey Dolcini was pitching. Arcata lost, but with Boo pitching, she held her own and kept Arcata in the ball game, preventing a 10-run rule loss by Dolcini and the FHS team, which was a Fortuna standard at the time! As her career progressed, Boo was recruited to play softball for Mendocino College, but COVID impacted her first year of playing there so she decided that she would attend College of the Redwoods and play there instead. The following year she was able to return to Mendocino and play, where she earned Bay Valley Pitcher of the Year.

As Boo got older her love for cars began to more thoroughly showcase itself. At the age of 4, she could be found trying to pull fenders off of spare cars for the races because she wanted to get out and race just like her parents. Her family’s love for cars led her to work at John’s Used Cars and then to Lithia Motors. While she was there, she met her soulmate and love of her life – Nick. It didn’t matter what they were doing, as long as they were together.

Makayla is survived by her parent, Stacy Minnick and Glenn Bernald, sister- Mariah Smith (Skyler) brother- Logan Minnick (Kayla), nephews- Damien, Aiden & Sawyer Lee, her soul mate – Nick Pezzoli and the children of her heart Anna & Jax Pezzoli, grandmother – Carol Ramsier, aunts – Terry Kester, Letty Frakes, Elena Shannon, uncles – David Ramsier, Todd Buller, Doug Ford, and numerous cousins. Boo is also survived by her second family, Eric and Kelly Helms (Faith Olivia, Autumn Lexi, and Maya Rose) and the entire Softball Community.

She is preceded in death by her grandfathers Neil Buller, Gary Ramsier and Val Bernald; grandmother Mary Bernald; and aunt and Susan Holbrooks.

There will be a celebration of Boo’s life on Sunday, March 26, at 11 a.m. at 1645 Elbutmo Ranch Rd McKinleyville.

If you wish to help the family with any expense there is a GoFundMe set up: https://gofund.me/23922a2c

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of MaKayla Bernard’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Robert E. Kerr passed away suddenly on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at the age of 49. He died among his lifelong friends at Providence St. Joseph Hospital where he had worked for over 31 years. A loyal and honest man, he could always be counted on and always showed his lifelong work ethic.

Born in May 1973, Robert was the son of Richard “Dick” Kerr and Marilyn Green Kerr. He was born and raised in Eureka and graduated from Eureka High School.

Robert was a dedicated and faithful Catholic man and was a member of St. Bernard’s and Sacred Heart Church. Robert will be missed by his Church community and his second family at Providence St. Joseph Hospital.

Robert was a dedicated Boy Scout and achieved the highest rank of the Scouts, an Eagle Scout. He was also an adult leader for many years at Troup 27 in Eureka. Robert loved being outdoors, especially hiking and camping, and for many years attended the annual Scouts camping trips.

A lifelong multi-sport athlete, Robert was active in Special Olympics, competing in basketball, softball, bowling, bocce ball, and track and field, among others. A loyal participant in the annual local Relay for Life and Bowl for Kids’ Sake events, Robert enjoyed tapping into his passion for sports to benefit local charitable causes.

Robert was a music lover, especially jazz, and looked forward to the annual Redwood Coast Music Festival in Eureka. He was a follower of Tom Rigney and had all his albums. He was gifted with a remarkable memory and knew hundreds of songs and all their lyrics.

Robert is proceeded in death by his parents Richard “Dick” Kerr and Marilyn Green Kerr. He is by survived by his stepmother, Nancy Hary Kerr; his sister Diane Kerr; step sisters-in-law Selene Hary, Norma Howells, Karen Favre; step brothers-in-law Randy Favre, Peter Hary, and Bonafacio Gabriel; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, and his trusty canine walking companion, Raja.

Robert’s best friend was Randy Favre. Randy and Robert talked daily, and Robert considered Randy his mentor and confidant. Robert’s supervisor at Providence St. Joseph, Bonnie Benson, was a very good friend who always provided kindness and support and kept a watchful eye out for Robert. Robert also had a wonderful companion and supportive advocate in Ryan, his dedicated HCAR case worker, as well a supportive team at Redwood Coast Regional Center.

A funeral mass will be celebrated by Rev. Fr. Sudhakar Mannam on Friday, March 24 at 2 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Eureka, with reception to follow on-site. Interment will follow at St. Bernard’s Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Boy Scouts of America, 3039 Hanley Rd, Central Point, OR 97502, or the Special Olympics: Area Director Joseph McKinzie: humboldt@sonc.org, 707-633-8449.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Robert Kerr’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

HUMBOLDT TODAY: The Bear River Rancheria has filed a lawsuit against the county and state. A new warming center has opened in Eureka. Plus, your latest weather updates. Those stories and more on today’s newscast with John Kennedy O’Connor.

FURTHER READING: 

• Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria Sues County, State for Discriminatory Treatment of Tribal Youth
• Arcata City Council Adopts Revised Budget, Approves Agreement With HWMA for Composting Organic Waste
• Eureka Announces New Warming Shelter for Homeless Citizens, to be Based at Lifehouse Church in Myrtletown

HUMBOLDT TODAY can be viewed on LoCO’s homepage each night starting at 6 p.m.

Want to LISTEN to HUMBOLDT TODAY? Subscribe to the podcast version here.

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A local Native American tribe is suing Humboldt County and the State of California, alleging that government employees have routinely cut off foster care benefits to young tribe members prematurely, depriving them of access to housing, education, medical treatment and other necessities.

The suit, which was filed on behalf of the Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria by the law firm of Jenner and Block and the California Tribal Families Coalition, says young tribe members have often been excluded from foster care benefits after turning 18, despite the fact that they remained eligible for those benefits until leaving foster care or aging out of California’s Extended Foster Care program at age 21. 

“These eligible American Indian youths are already a vulnerable population and Defendants’ actions stripping them of much needed programs have exacerbated that vulnerability,” the suit says, adding that tribe members who’ve aged out of foster care are at increased risk of homelessness, unemployment, low educational attainment and early or unintended pregnancies.

A young Bear River Tribe member named Madison Fisher is named as a plaintiff in the case. According to the complaint, Fisher applied for extended foster care benefits when she turned 18 and was initially told that she was eligible. 

However, a few months after moving into county-managed housing, the suit says, “Humboldt County changed its mind unilaterally and stripped Plaintiff Fisher of her eligibility for the 18 and Over Program due to her receipt of tribal distributions.”

As with many tribes, enrolled Bear River members receive financial distributions (e.g., gaming or trust funds) after turning 18, and according to the suit, the county determined that these payments rendered Fisher ineligible for foster care benefits.

Her attorneys say that determination was improper and illegal. They point to federal legislation called the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 and a 2012 state bill called the California Fostering Connections to Success Act, both of which say that young people who remain in foster care shall not have their eligibility questioned or re-assessed simply because they turned 18.

And yet in 2013, the California Department of Social Services [CDSS] issued an “All County Letter” telling local governments that “Indian youth must still meet the financial Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) eligibility requirements.”

“As a result,” the lawsuit says, “CDSS regularly conducted redeterminations of eligibility on non-minor youth of the [Bear River] Tribe entering the 18 and Over Program even though they had never left the foster care program.”

Fisher was one such youth, and the suit says she “suffered tremendous loss” that was exacerbated by having her foster care benefits improperly cut off. 

“As she turned 18, without ever having left the foster care program, Plaintiff Fisher continued to need additional support, including financial and emotional support that under federal law was guaranteed,” the suit says.

She was given a week to vacate the housing that had been arranged for her by the county, and the county then “threatened to remove her by force using a police escort if she did not leave her home,” according to the suit. “At the time of this eviction, she had nowhere to go and could not bring necessities with her.”

Fisher’s tribal distribution payments also made her ineligible for food assistance, and after her eviction she struggled to find housing and pay her bills with her savings and unemployment benefits.

“Plaintiff Fisher faced significant substance and mental health issues at this time,” the lawsuit says. “The abrupt eviction and elimination of her primary income left Plaintiff Fisher vulnerable to depression, homelessness, and relapse given her history of substance abuse. She even made an attempt to end her life.”

According to the complaint, the state has acknowledged the error of its ways and vowed to issue new program guidance to county governments, but the California Department of Social Services has made only “nominal efforts to re-enroll American Indian youth who remain eligible” and has taken “no steps” to redress the harm suffered by youth who lost years of benefits to which they were entitled.

The suit, which names as a co-defendant Connie Beck, director of the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services, seeks damages in an amount to be determined at trial, plus attorneys’ fees, declaratory relief and corrective actions. 

Asked for comment, county spokesperson Catarina Gallardo sent the Outpost the following statement:

The Department of Health and Human Services cares deeply for all children and youth it serves. These matters are important issues for the county, and we take them very seriously. However, this is now a legal matter, and we want to preserve the integrity of that process. As such we will not be able discuss this further with the press at this time.

Earlier today, the plaintiffs issued the following press release:

With pro bono support from Jenner & Block, the California Tribal Families Coalition (CTFC) and Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria filed a lawsuit this week against Humboldt County and the State of California for discriminatory treatment of tribal foster youth.

The litigation targets Humboldt County’s practice of improperly denying resources to tribal youth after they leave the foster care system at age 18. Tribal youth are the only group of foster youth being denied these resources by the County.

“Native children are already overrepresented in the foster care system in Humboldt County. Adding to this inequity, Humboldt County instituted an improper policy that specifically singles out and denies tribal youth the supportive services that other foster youth receive to help them transition to independent living when they turn 18 years old,” said Chairperson Josefina Frank of the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria.

“Humboldt County officials have ignored our communications for eight months seeking to reverse this discriminatory practice, leaving us with no option but to file a lawsuit to compel the County to provide tribal youth the support they have been promised,” said Kimberly Cluff, Legal Director for the California Tribal Families Coalition.

Studies show that former foster youth are at dramatically higher risk for suicide, homelessness, incarceration, substance abuse and pregnancy in comparison to non-foster youth. Social services agencies and advocates determined that abruptly cutting off support resources to foster youth when they turn 18 exacerbated these outcomes.

In response, California and other states created programs to provide ongoing resources to assist foster youth in their transition to independent living, which have shown to improve outcomes for this vulnerable population.

Humboldt County provides these extended resources to foster youth from other groups but has enacted a specific policy that improperly denies tribal youth access to these resources. The County’s action appeared to be based on an erroneous 2013 direction from the State of California, which was subsequently rescinded after the state determined it was discriminatory. However, the state has not taken action to require Humboldt County to follow the law and end this discriminatory practice.

The complaint was filed in Humboldt County Superior Court in Eureka, CA.

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DOCUMENT: Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria and Madison Fisher v. California Department of Social Services; Humboldt County; DHHS; Connie Beck and Does 1 through 25.

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The City of Arcata’s budget for fiscal year 2022/23 is looking pretty tight, with the City roughly $13 million above budget on its current expenditures according to the mid-year budget review that took place during Wednesday night’s Arcata City Council meeting. 

And though that might sound like a lot of money, Tabatha Miller – finance director for the City of Arcata – wanted to stress that she was “not too worried about it” and that incoming grant funding and the City’s reserves would be able to largely make up for the $13 million shortfall. 

Miller told the council that Arcata’s expenditures have been unusually high this year (roughly $79 million), but that is because of some of the city’s larger projects underway that are mostly being covered by grant funding. For example, $9.3 million of the deficit is for the conversion of two Valley West hotels into homeless housing, as a part of Project Homekey, a sum that will be covered by grant funding that the city recently received. 

Another large expenditure this year is the city’s Wastewater Treatment Facility, but that is more than covered by the total wastewater fund revenues. Some good news for the city’s budget, Miller said, is that the revenue from wastewater rate increases is $1.1 million higher than originally estimated for the 2022/23 budget. 

Some of the changes made to the budget expenses include $30,000 for funding extreme weather shelters, $30,000 that the city is reserving for the creation of a mural honoring David Josiah Lawson, $195,000 for the Carlson Park improvements (though that money will also be covered by grant funding) and $355,000 the city is setting aside for a new city street sweeper. The revised budget also includes $193,000 in utility increases, a result of unusually high gas prices and the unusually cold winter temperatures, Miller said. 

Though city staff has been working hard to secure grant money, the city has seen a significant increase in most of its other revenue sources and Miller said that this trend will likely continue for a while. Arcata’s sales tax is down 5.7 percent (Humboldt County has seen a nearly seven percent decline) and the city is losing a significant amount of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) that it would usually collect from local hotels. In addition to the two hotels converted into housing for the homeless, three other Valley West hotels will be used to house returning Cal Poly Humboldt Students next semester. 

Arcata City Manager Karen Diemer said that the city has been in discussions with Cal Poly Humboldt and that the university will likely be providing the City with some funding to offset the loss from the TOT tax. Diemer added that the hotels will still be open to visitors during the summer months and that during that time, the city will be able to collect TOT as usual. 

Following the presentation and a fairly brief discussion, the council voted unanimously to approve the amended 2022/23 budget. Councilmember Stacy Atkins-Salazar was absent, having left the meeting early due to illness. Councilmember Meredith Matthews read a note that Atkins-Salazar left before her exit, which said that the council and city staff had received a request from local nonprofit Black Humboldt, asking if the City could help fund some of the group’s activities. 

This prompted Matthews to point out that the council allocated $100,000 in ARPA funds to Arcata Main Street to help fund outdoor activities, and that part of the agreement was that the organization would specifically work with local groups including Black Humboldt and Queer Humboldt.  

Matthews and Mayor Sarah Schaefer both said that they have not received any update from  Arcata Main Street on how the $100K is being spent and requested that an update from the organization be placed on a future agenda. 

The council also voted to remove any proposed improvements to council chambers from the budget and agreed that the council will need to brainstorm some additional ways to boost the city’s general fund in the future. 

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The council also took a step toward mandating citywide compost, unanimously approving amendments to a joint powers agreement with the Humboldt Waste Management Authority (HWMA) that places the agency in charge of deciding where organic waste will go after it has been collected.

The agreement is one of many steps necessary for Arcata and other parts of Humboldt to come into compliance with SB 1383, California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy, which requires cities to reduce the waste going into landfills, among other things. 

The HWMA agreement will need to be passed by the other involved governments (at least 70 percent will have to approve it) and then be adopted by the HWMA board or directors. After that, the Arcata City Council (and other local governments) will need to pass a resolution officially designating HWMA as the agency in charge of organic waste flow control.  

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PREVIOUSLY

• Humboldt Prepares for California’s Extensive Organic Waste Bill That Will Require Us to Start Composting, Among Other Things
• Arcata City Council Introduces Ordinance That Will Mandate Composting Your Food Scraps (By Yourself, or Through a Service) to Comply With State’s Organic Waste Bill
• TONIGHT at ARCATA CITY COUNCIL: Arcata Will Take Next Step in Rolling Out Citywide Composting by Approving Agreement with HWMA

Lifehouse Church and the City of Eureka just announced that they’ll be opening a new warming shelter for homeless citizens in times of extreme weather.

Cmdr. Lenny La France of the Eureka Police Department tells the Outpost that this new shelter — to be opened at the church’s campus on Hubbard Lane in Myrtletown — will have a little bit lower of a barrier to entry than existing facilities. There will be accommodations available to people with pets.

La France said that the program will include transportation to and from the facility, and will be operating in conjunction with programs run by the city and existing non-profits. If people are looking to shelter there in times of extreme weather, the best thing to do, La France said, would be to show up at the Free Meal facility in Old Town on the day, to connect with staff at the Betty Chinn Center, or else to call the Eureka Police main line at (707) 441-4060.

The program won’t interfere with the kids’ sports programs that currently take place at the church, La France said.

The push for a new Eureka shelter for times of extreme weather came in the wake of a couple of deaths in the homeless community in recent months, including that of 57-year-old Jestine Green.

Press release from the City of Eureka:

The City of Eureka in collaboration with the Eureka faith-based community will be opening a low barrier, Extreme Weather Overnight Warming Center at Lifehouse Church to ensure those most vulnerable in our community have a warm place to be during inclement weather. Inclement weather can include times of high winds, significant rain, and freezing temperatures. UPLIFT Eureka, Crisis Alternative Response of Eureka (CARE), Eureka Police Department Community Safety Engagement Team (CSET), along with other community partners, will be conducting outreach within the community to directly connect individuals to the warming center. When open, the warming center will operate between 6 p.m. to 7 a.m., be staffed by members of the faith-based community, and supported by UPLIFT Eureka, CARE, and EPD CSET personnel.

According to Eureka City Manager Miles Slattery:

I want to thank Lifehouse Church for their tremendous compassion and generous offer of support for our community. Once solicited by Chief Jarvis for a request of assistance, it was only a matter of hours before receiving a response. I’d like to not only thank the Lifehouse Church, but all of our faithbased community as we have received offers of assistance from other churches and look forward to working with them to continue supporting those most vulnerable within our community.

Lifehouse Church Senior Pastor Willy Bowles said:

Lifehouse Church is excited to be partnering with the City of Eureka in providing an extreme weather overnight warming center. We have already had many volunteers sign up to help, and we know many more will help us in this endeavor. Thank you to Eureka Police Chief Jarvis and Commander La France for all their hard work. Also, thank you to Pastor Andy Broese Van Groenou of Harvest Church in Eureka. Your kindness and care for the community are always an inspiration. Lastly, thank you to the City of Eureka for all of their hard work as well. We have a GREAT community here in Humboldt. When asked if we would consider being a warming center, my answer was an immediate “yes.” I had questions about logistics, volunteers, finances, and I knew I had a church board that needed to approve this before it could go forward. However, I said “yes” anyway. Part of the reason I could say “yes” was because of the men and women on our board. I know their hearts, and I know their love for people and our community. When I approached them with this request, like me, they gave an immediate “yes.” Opening up our building to be a safe place for men, women, and children to come in times of severe weather is a no-brainer. Nobody should ever freeze to death in Humboldt County. That is simply not acceptable. We are excited to be able to do something practical and hands-on. Opening our doors for people to sleep in a safe, warm environment will make a difference in people’s lives. If this isn’t the work of Jesus, then I don’t know anything that is.