MARCH 22, 2024 WINTER SHELTER It feels like déjà vu To be frank, it felt like a serious case of déjà vu and in reality it was. Those were the words that I used when given an opportunity to address the Board of Commissioners during the Washtenaw County’s Board of Commissioners and Working Session Meeting held on March 6. Those who were gathered at the meeting expressed a variety of concerns during public input, but most centered around the lack of millage funding for critical needs facing both the unhoused and those who live with mental illness in the County. The intersection of the two was obvious and it became clear that there was a need for increased funding for both to reach the critical needs of the people they are designated to serve. Mental health advocates’ voices ranged from anger to disbelief that a majority of funds from the voter-funded Community Mental Health and Public Safety millage used by the County Sheriff’s office were crippling the efforts of those working on the levels of community engagement services. Those on the frontlines of the homeless crisis know that anything other than year round shelter is only a thin bandaid; they have been imploring the Washtenaw Commissioners for years to open up its coffers so that no one is vulnerable to the elements in any season. The seasonal timeline of the winter warming center dates are LIT KURTZ Groundcover vendor No. 159 meeting before the Commissioners walked away. An article that I penned that ran in the 2014 June issue of Groundcover News states, “…Our delegation listened in dismay as the commissioners closed the door on any further discussion, announcing that they were pleased with the current role that Delonis has played to provide shelter to the homeless community.” Undoubtedly, it was that abrupt dismissal of further communication ten artificial and do not reflect the frequent fluctuating temperatures in cold climates. But for some of us, March 6 was a replay of a similar meeting held a decade earlier on April 2, 2014, when what MLive referred to as a delegation representing the Delonis Center Warming Center approached the Board of Commissioners. During the meeting a decade earlier we requested that Warming Center hours not only be extended for another month from to the end of April, but that year round shelter be in place. So in 2014 after bickering and debating well past normal meeting hours, the Commissioners agreed to keep the shelter open that year by funding another 30 days. They also agreed to meet with our delegation throughout that year to develop a plan for year round shelter. There was only one years ago with those of us who were then experiencing this crisis that has allowed the problems at Delonis to fester and brings forth a new set of people grappling with the same fundamental issues of safety and year-round shelter. Nathan Bagget who is currently sheltering at the Delonis Warming Center gave insight into the conditions now. He said that since the Center removed drug testing, there has been a noticeable increase in crime. As has always been the case, shower access is limited and it is virtually impossible to do laundry based on the limited slots. The proverbial band-aid can no longer offer the solutions needed for those in need. Unless the commissioners commit to listening to those embroiled in this crisis, there will be no solutions. It is my hope that it will not take another decade to do so. APPROVED: A resolution extending winter sheltering activities through April 30, 2024 What does this mean? At the time of publication, logistics of what winter sheltering activities will be extended through April 30 have not been worked out or announced publicly. Many winter sheltering services utilize seasonal locations and employees that may not be available after March 31. Stay tuned on Groundcover News Facebook and Instagram for details on these service extensions. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 7
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