Latest news with #outreach
CBS News
an hour ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
San Francisco mayor proposes 2-hour parking limit for RVs, expansion of homelessness outreach
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie unveiled a new proposal Tuesday to restrict long-term parking by recreational vehicles to two hours and expand outreach to unhoused persons living out of their vehicles. Lurie's plan would restrict parking for large vehicles to two hours city-wide, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The legislation he proposes would also offer interim or permanent housing to individuals and families sheltering in vehicles, earmarking $13 million over two fiscal years for rapid rehousing, a vehicle buyback program, outreach, and enforcement. The legislation would also allow homeless persons in RVs a short-term permit to remain parked beyond the two-hour limit if they are actively engaging in the services offered by the city. "No child should grow up in San Francisco forced to live in a car, and no parent should have to raise their child in those conditions. Under my administration, we are going to give families better options, and we are going to give our communities and small businesses safe and clean streets," said Lurie in a prepared statement. "This legislation combines compassion with accountability, offering a clear path to housing while restoring safety, cleanliness, and accessibility to our streets and public spaces." Last month, the city conducted an audit of vehicular homelessness and identified 501 large vehicles parked on the streets, with 437 used for dwelling, the Mayor's Office said. In a press release, the office said the city's interagency response to vehicular homelessness, combining outreach, expanded services, and parking enforcement, would restore public spaces while prioritizing the dignity and well-being of people living in their vehicles. Under the proposal, large vehicles without a "refuge permit" would be cited and potentially towed away. The operations would begin in what the city called "high-impact areas" led by neighborhood street teams led by the city's Department of Emergency Management. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and Police Department would enforce the parking restrictions when towing services are needed. The SFMTA will introduce companion legislation to its board on the parking enforcement, contingent on the city's Board of Supervisors' passage of the legislation, the Mayor's Office said. "For far too long, neighborhoods across San Francisco have borne the impacts of unregulated RV encampments - illegal dumping, blocked sidewalks, and public safety concerns," said Rafael Mandelman, Board of Supervisors president in a statement. "This legislation creates a humane pathway for current RV residents to find stable housing, while making it clear that new RV encampments will not be allowed and our streets will not continue to serve as shelter of last resort." In December, supervisors voted to reverse a ban on RVs from parking overnight on public streets. Critics said the ban would allow authorities to tow RVs and other large vehicles at the agency's discretion, and that the city doesn't have enough housing available for people who are living out of their vehicles. The ban had been proposed by former Mayor London Breen and approved by the SFMTA in October. It expanded what the city defined as a large recreational vehicle to include mobile homes, box trucks, and other large campers. "There should be a more comprehensive plan of how to address the fact that so many people, especially families, are forced to live in RVs because they can't afford apartments in San Francisco," Supervisor Dean Preston said at the time.
CTV News
7 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Sudbury homeless crisis hits record high amid warmer weather
Greater Sudbury's homeless population hits a record 300 nightly, with people living in 34 encampments accross the city and shelters full. The number of people living in encampments in Greater Sudbury has surged, with local charities and city officials reporting unprecedented demand for services. Go-Give homeless The Go Give Project, a mobile outreach charity assisting the homeless, says it is now helping close to 300 people nightly – the highest number in its history. The organization's programs manager, Ali Farooq and exectutive director, Evie Ali, are shown standing next to the office's exterior sign. (File photo/CTV News Northern Ontario) The Go-Give Project, a mobile outreach charity assisting the homeless, says it is now helping close to 300 people nightly – the highest number in its history. 'This has been a very big jump and a very quick jump,' said Ali Farooq, the Programs Manager for the Go-Give Project. 'Last year, we were seeing just under 200 people. One of our busiest nights was just over 200, but this summer there has been a boom in individuals that we have been serving.' During daytime operations, outreach workers report more than 150 daily interactions with homeless individuals on the streets and in encampments. 'A general lack of places where our unhoused folks can congregate and spend the day,' Farooq said. The City of Greater Sudbury confirms a 34 per cent increase in encampment residents compared to last year. 'We are aware of 200 people actually living in encampments across 34 locations in the City of Greater Sudbury, and that is an increase of 34 per cent over last year at this time,' said Gail Spencer, the coordinator of shelters and homelessness for the city. Shelters are at capacity, but Spencer said outreach workers help connect people with available resources. 'We certainly encourage people to use all the public spaces that are available to them,' Spencer said. 'The Samaritan Centre is open during the day for access to washrooms and food and showers and water and things like that and just to get out of the sun.' The Go-Give Project also operates the Welcoming Streets program, which responds to non-emergency calls about social disturbances downtown. Farooq said calls have increased, exacerbated by addiction issues and a lack of basic amenities. 'Given the combination of drug use as well as addictions, it does intensify the interactions,' Farooq said. 'Also, access to bathrooms, access to clean drinking water – it's a constant need and a need that needs to be fulfilled.' The city said client navigators distribute reusable water bottles, and downtown water fountains are available. However, with rising temperatures and more people living outdoors. The Go Give Project is appealing for bottled water donations.
RNZ News
7 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Is it better to give someone who's homeless cash or food if they ask for help?
"I think many of the people on the street feel rejected, feel outsiders, that they're being looked down on." Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin People working in top jobs at charities responding to poverty say the choice of giving food or money to those asking for help is tough and they often feel conflicted. Many communities are seeing a spike in homelessness, with a steady rise in the number of people living in cars, parks or on the streets. That included Auckland, where there were more than 650 living rough on the streets according to the last count in January, and outreach workers expected that to rise over winter. Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson said giving is a personal decision. "For some people giving money is okay for some it isn't, for some it is giving money to an organisation, for some it's shouting someone a feed or offering to buy someone a pie or a drink while they're in the shop," she said. "For others it's really striking up that conversation and encouraging them to access services like the mission." Robinson said she often feels conflicted about what to give. "There are times when I have given them money and there are times when I haven't, which is ironic for me as the Auckland City Missioner that I say both of those things," she said. "I'm just conscious that sometimes $5 is the difference between someone having some food. It's a tangible expression of I actually genuinely care for what's going on for you in this moment." Hustling or begging at traffic lights was against the law and she urged people to consider theirs and others' safety in such situations. Robinson said a human response was needed and it's important not to ignore those living rough - she encouraged compassion. Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge agreed. "I have a belief that the best possible thing we can do is greet them as you would anybody else, so say hello, make eye contact, engage with them, ask them how their day is," he said. "I've been doing that for a number of years because I heard directly from one of them that one of the biggest challenges they faced is that people wouldn't make eye contact." Edridge said he takes that approach and prefers to buy someone lunch or something they need rather than give cash. He said the mission is seeing a rare level of poverty in its 120 year history. "We're facing some huge social issues and my encouragement to government, to decision makers, to policy setters, to local councils and to leaders in our community is that we need to pay attention to this because if we don't then we all lose." Edridge has been the city missioner for seven years and said he felt privileged to be in a position to help others. "There's no downside to helping people get on and have an improved life, in fact the benefit that accrues to each one of us is huge." Ian Hutson works as a mission officer for the Salvation Army and said the question of what to give people on the street is not straight-forward. "In my case I often don't give but refer to agencies that can help but occasion you get the feel that it's fine to give." He said people need to feel part of society, regardless of their circumstances. "People are often somewhat frightened or fearful of people on the street and sometimes I think a certain amount of engaging and acknowledging them but without necessarily giving anything is at least one thing," Hutson said. "I think many of the people on the street feel rejected, feel outsiders, that they're being looked down on." He said individuals, groups and churches all need to help those in need. The missioners and Hutson said people experiencing homelessness should not be blamed for their circumstances, which often include challenges such as addiction or illness. Robinson is urging people to write to their local MP. "Contact your local representative and say to them that enough affordable housing is really important to you as a citizen, to use your power to communicate to our politicians how important it is to you because your view then enables them to shape their view." She said a lack of affordable housing is driving up homelessness and that needs to change.
CBC
23-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
City looking for new group of outreach workers to help vulnerable people
The City of Winnipeg is looking to hire a group of outreach workers to help with vulnerable people. The mayor says whoever takes on this contract must be aligned with the province's Your Way Home strategy.
CBC
23-05-2025
- CBC
Residents' group accuses outreach organization of helping people set up encampment
A group dedicated to helping end homelessness is being accused of helping people set up a riverside encampment. It comes after a Point Douglas resident says he watched outreach workers haul supplies to the waterfront.
