Latest news with #BuiltForZero
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Santa Fe looks to new pallet community for homeless; public calls for new lease for Pete's Place
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The City of Santa Fe is looking to build more pallet communities to help get the homeless off the streets. However, the future of a well-known shelter may be in jeopardy. Wednesday's city council meeting focused on the homeless epidemic facing the city. One of the initiatives brought up was a proposal from Mayor Alan Webber to build a new micro-community to house up to 50 individuals living on the streets. Story continues below Entertainment: First-of-its-kind indoor pickleball facility coming to northeast Albuquerque Community: Albuquerque church leaning on faith after 2 members killed by their son Environment: What should New Mexicans do if they come across a raccoon? 'In the past, we have seen that these micro-communities are very well managed. They have 24/7 oversight and security, along with wraparound services and hygiene facilities. They work very, very well in cities across the country, and the one here at Christ Lutheran has been very successful as a pilot,' the mayor stated in an interview on Tuesday. The proposed micro-community would be located near Rodeo Road and Cerillos Road, modeled after the one at Christ Lutheran Church, which currently houses 10 people. Mayor Webber has emphasized the city's efforts to combat homelessness since joining Built for Zero in 2019—a national movement aimed at ensuring that no one is left without housing. However, there are growing concerns about the possibility of ending the current lease for 'Pete's Place,' a well-known shelter in Santa Fe that provides food, medical care, and other essential services. The shelter's lease with the city is set to expire in October. During the meeting, members of the public urged the city council to save Pete's Place, with many speaking to save it and provide it with more funding to either expand or find a different, larger location. The council then went into an executive session to discuss Pete's Place, but did not provide the nature of what was discussed in the executive session. Mayor Webber mentioned that the city is actively looking for more properties that could be used for micro-communities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What are the new camping-friendly zones being considered in Topeka?
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Officials in Topeka are eyeing some areas in the Capital City to serve as camping-friendly zones as part of a new strategy to end homelessness in the local area. 27 News reached out to the City of Topeka and city councilmembers to learn more about the plans under discussion this year to bring an end to homelessness. City leaders are currently implementing the new Built For Zero model which utilizes a four-phase approach to stopping homelessness in Topeka. Part of this model involves designating camping-friendly areas. City of Topeka spokesman Dan Garrett said there are ongoing discussions taking place this year on designating some areas in the city as being camping-friendly. These areas would be exempt from a restrictive local camping ordinance which prevents people from living in many areas in Topeka. Opening date released for new Topeka HomeGoods Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcalá told 27 News she is helping identify solutions to the current homeless issue in Topeka, including finding areas that would be exempt from the camping ordinance. These tightly regulated areas would factor into the Built For Zero strategy to gradually bring homelessness down in Topeka. 'The City of Topeka along with myself and Councilman Duncan are actively attempting to look for spaces for camping,' Valdivia-Alcalá said. 'We hope to have this information soon.' Valdivia-Alcalá said constituents in her district, which covers north Topeka and the Oakland neighborhoods, have raised concerns over the years about local homeless camps, including a new one that she spent months trying to get cleaned up. She recently worked with other officials in Topeka to clear a large homeless camp along the Kansas River under the expanded camping ordinance. 'Residents on both sides of the [Sardou] bridge have been very vocal for a number of years,' Valdivia-Alcalá said. 'The have concerns of fire too. What is happening with raw sewage and trash going into the river. They get concerned about gunshots many times heard in these areas.' Squatting could become a crime in Kansas with new bill District 8 City Councilman Spencer Duncan said he will be visiting the possible new camping-friendly zones to see if they align with the city's plans. He said the current camping ordinance, while strict, is necessary but ultimately won't solve homelessness in Topeka on its own. 'The goal is to find some locations that are workable for the unsheltered, but also do not pose any problems for neighborhoods, schools and other areas,' Duncan said. 'If we find some sites, then they will be presented to the Governing Body, and would have to be approved by them as 'exempt' areas from the current camping ordinance. This would also give the public ample time to weigh in with their thoughts on these locations, which is essential to the process. The goal is not pick too many sites, but just a few.' Duncan said the camping-friendly zones would not become permanent camping sites for homeless people. Instead, people who stay in these areas would have to abide by camping, nuisance and blight laws and would not be able to stay for more than 10 consecutive days. Homeless individuals using these areas would also not be able to build structures or leave trash behind. What is delaying the opening of the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka? 'However, these areas would give them [homeless people] a place to go if they are displaced from one location, and some time to get assistance from our departments or determine their next steps,' Duncan said. 'Right now, we don't really have those areas. But in no terms are these to be permanent encampment areas.' Topeka's City Council and other local officials are expected to continue discussions on this issue in the days ahead in their continuing efforts to reduce the impact of homelessness in Kansas' capital. Duncan invites people who have strong feelings on this issue to join the conversation and give their feedback to city leaders. 'It's a difficult issue, but we have to address it and find ways to reduce the homeless population and its impact in Topeka,' Duncan said. 'And there are many other efforts underway to continue to address the issue.' 27 News asked Duncan and Valdivia-Alcalá which areas are currently being considered as camping-friendly. However, they did not say what places are being examined at this time. New north Topeka diner specializing in smash burgers, reuben sandwiches to open next month For more information on homelessness in the Capital City, click here. You can view the results of the most recent Point-In-Time Homeless County in Topeka by clicking here. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
