By Scott Unger • Of the News-Register • 

Increased RV towing leads to security issues at impound lot

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Comments

TroyProuty*

First let me start that according to U.N. policy, housing is a right.



https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Publications/FS21_rev_1_Housing_en.pdf



The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) was adopted in 1966 and has been ratified by 153 States. It is the most important instrument at UN level that enshrines the right to housing. Article 11 (1) is the most comprehensive provision in this context. It states:

"The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international cooperation based on free consent."



Martin v. Boise (full case name Robert Martin, Lawrence Lee Smith, Robert Anderson, Janet F. Bell, Pamela S. Hawkes, and Basil E. Humphrey v. City of Boise) was a 2018 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in response to a 2009 lawsuit by six homeless plaintiffs against the city of Boise, Idaho regarding the city's anti-camping ordinance.[1] The ruling held that cities cannot enforce anti-camping ordinances if they do not have enough homeless shelter beds available for their homeless population.[2][3] It did not necessarily mean a city cannot enforce any restrictions on camping on public property.

The decision was based on the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

In 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the case, leaving the precedent intact in the nine Western states under the jurisdiction of the Ninth Circuit (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_v._Boise




TroyProuty*



Luckily, we have some guidance which can help.



https://www.wwallianceforthehomeless.com/



I think we can expand on this to include not only a place to sleep, but services like restrooms, showers, laundry, work opportunities through “Labor Ready” and others, mental health and addiction counseling, grooming, health, eye and dental care, community garden, café, recycling center, library, and repair shop.



There are several reasons for homelessness. We can’t expect to treat them all the same, nor can we lie to ourselves and believe it will help everyone. It won’t.



There are some countries showing strong success as well we can learn from.

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2023/rpt/pdf/2023-R-0109.pdf

We are the wealthiest nation in history and yet we struggle with homelessness, healthcare for everyone and higher education affordability, why? Because we have failed to prioritize it like we should have.



John Rawls once described his principles of justice are meant for individuals to work top down, but communities must work them bottom up. Unless we begin working bottom up, instead of top down, we will never accomplish what is needed on any of these.



We have homeless people with mental health issues, addiction issues or both, we have people that have given up, people with a criminal history, and those that just got dumped for a variety of reasons.



When I look at Walla Walla, I want to double the size, but not the “staying” size, I want to put more energy in services and security. Similar to Walla Walla, we are a wine region that can use auctions and dinners to help fund some of this project. We can seek grants and put in request to organizations like “Gates Foundation” as well.

Otis

Maybe we need to try something else. How about creating an RV park community that's specifically geared to the needs of the homeless? Austin TX is having success with this program:

Mobile Loaves and Fishes:

https://mlf.org/

This idea in Austin is worthy of consideration.

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