Eurefreeka asks Lucinda Jackson, Kati Moulton, Dot Jager-Wentworth, Tamar Shirley…
Homelessness in Eureka
What, if any, ideas do you have to work on alleviating the houseless problem in Eureka? 2nd street has filled with encampments since March, the Library is seemingly a permanent place for a small tribe of homeless and where to watch a junkie shoot up in broad daylight.
Not only is it an issue for those not housed but also for the community at large. Railroad avenue by 5 p.m. is a car campers haven. Many storefronts become a cubby for the night. The beaches lined with broke down out of area campers & trailers. This is a problem that needs addressing, not building more gates to ‘keep them out’. Are you willing to engage the difficult conversation of what to do? And to move on it by taking action, not just proclamations?
— Eurefreeka
Responses
Lucinda Jackson
Homelessness, drug addiction, and mental illness are series issues facing Eureka. Below is my position on homelessness and rehabilitation.
HOMELESSNESS AND REHABILITATION
Issues
· The City of Eureka has a swelling homeless population overtaken by addiction and mental illness.
· The City of Eureka does not enforce law and order for the homeless population, but instead implements a catch and release program.
· The City of Eureka funds ineffective public services and programs that fosters drug addiction and mental illness, and overwhelms programs and services beyond capacity.
Solutions
· Develop a conditional social services model that requires sobriety and regular drug testing, job coaching and employment programs, and ongoing monitoring.
· Develop a conditional program and service model that immediately discontinues providing illicit narcotics to drug addicts, invests in necessary psychological treatment for the mentally ill, and requires mandatory drug rehabilitation for repeat drug offense offenders.
· Work with community partners (such as Redwood Teen & Adult Challenge, Eureka Rescue Mission, and New Directions) that strive to restore the mind, body, and spirit to increase long-term drug rehabilitation program capacity and enable people to become contributing members of our community.
· Enforce law and order for criminal offenses.
For more information about root issues Eureka is facing, please visit my website at https://lucindajacksonekacitycouncil.squarespace.com/rootissues.
Kati Moulton
When I was working as a community health outreach worker for the Youth Service Bureau’s RAVEN Project, I got to know first hand the people you find on the streets of Eureka. Mental illness, physical disability, and drug addiction are a big part of the picture. Also in that picture, but less visible are LGBTQ youth who have been driven out of their homes, whole families living in a vehicle because they were one paycheck away, travelling workers of all races moving up the coast in search of seasonal jobs.
With so little funds available in the city budget, I believe the most effective thing our local government can actually do is to coordinate the efforts of agencies and existing community resources. I’ve been impressed with Eureka’s efforts to protect unsheltered people during shelter in place. According to Mayor Seaman’s statement, their team is actively calling service groups who are working directly with the homeless like St. Vinnie’s, Betty Chin, and the Mission.
The city’s CSET team is listening to what is most needed, and working towards connecting resources, and finding solutions. They are building bridges, and improving efficiency across agencies. That’s a smart use of limited funds. Though this effort was made to meet the current health crisis, I think we can build on it into the future.
← Follow