KTVU SANTA ROSA HOMELESS PARKING APPROVED - HELP HOMELESS full article
SOME EXCERPTS : The board approved a safe vehicle parking program that allows homeless people to sleep overnight in their cars in a parking lot at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa between Feb. 1 and April 30.
As many as 50 vehicles will be allowed on the site, and sleeping in vehicles is limited to between 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Catholic Charities of the Santa Rosa Diocese will operate the program, provide security through a private company and provide a morning meal.
The 2013 homeless count identified 444 vehicles that were used by 837 people for habitation in the county.....
Homeless advocates who spoke at the meeting praised the board for what some called its quick "decriminalization of homelessness."
Larry Hall of Sebastopol told the board he collected 2,000 signatures to "decriminalize sleeping." He asked the board members to imagine waking up one morning without a home or job.
Hall said the vehicle safe parking program was a small beginning and a short-term solution but an important one.
"This is kind of a 'pinch me' moment," Carolyn Epple said regarding the initiatives for the homeless before the board.
"We have to rescind ordinances that criminalize poverty and shift the mindset," said Epple, a retired Sonoma State University professor.
Epple invited community members to bring food to those sleeping in their cars near the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.
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CAN ANYONE REPORT IN? WAS THE PROGRAM A SUCCESS? HAS IT OR WILL IT CONTINUE? WE HOPE SO!
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