www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 1-7, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 About one month after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson granting more power to local governments to clear homeless encampments, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an order on July 25 stating that all state agencies must remove encampments from stateowned properties while simultaneously respecting the dignity of their residents. The order only applies to state agencies, but he encouraged counties and cities to follow suit. “There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part,” Newsom said. In Monterey County, two of the state agencies charged with following the order are Caltrans and State Parks, but they cannot do it without help from local agencies—including the County of Monterey, cities and nonprofit agencies—to provide outreach services to displaced residents and, if available, shelter beds or hotel vouchers. The county’s homeless services director, Roxanne Wilson, says she is still sorting out what the impacts of the order will be. “Ultimately, having guardrails in place to help us determine when an encampment requires services, what types of services should be provided, and even if an encampment cleanup is warranted, is not necessarily a bad thing,” Wilson says, referring to the procedures and protocols required by Newsom’s order, already in use by Caltrans. Those protocols include determining in advance whether an encampment poses an imminent threat to health and safety, giving residents as much notice as possible, or at least 48 hours notice, contacting service providers to request outreach services and collection and storage of personal belongings for at least 60 days. Wilson says she’s reviewing them to see if there are any that can be incorporated locally. “But more than that, now we actually have the push to reevaluate our systems: Do outreach teams have the tools that they need to perform the appropriate services for people who are unsheltered?” she says. The City of Salinas has already been using many of the same protocols, says Sophia Rome, the city’s community relations manager. Several years ago the city created the Salinas Outreach and Response Team, or SORT, to build relationships with people living on the streets and encourage them to seek services. There are now two teams that go out ahead of encampment cleanups to prepare residents at least two weeks in advance. No promise of funding to pay for services came with Newsom’s order other than encouraging local governments to apply for competitive Proposition 1 grants focused on behavioral health services. “We still lack the amount of resources necessary to serve the population,” Wilson says, adding the county and partner agencies need to look at resources that already exist, as well as whether there’s a pathway for displaced encampment residents to shelter beds and other services. No Camping Gov. Newsom’s order to clear encampments means more work ahead for local governments. By Pam Marino An encampment cleanup in Salinas’ Chinatown in 2021. The city plans “health and safety days” when officials determine if there is a hazard to either encampment residents or the wider community. NEWS “We still lack the amount of resources necessary.” DANIEL DREIFUSS LOCATED BEHIND THE PORTOLA HOTEL & SPA | COMPLIMENTARY PARKING (831) 649-2699 | PETERBSBREWPUB.COM 18 HDTV’S | HAPPY HOUR 4PM TO 6PM & 9PM TO 10PM ENJOY WATCHING THE SUMMER GAMES AT MONTEREY'S FAVORITE SPORTS BAR PETER B'S BREWPUB DRINK SPECIALS STARTING AT $7 THE OLYMPIAN ANGUS BEEF MELT $15 Welcomes pacificvalleybank.com as Vice President/Branch Manager HELEN DUNSTON (831) 771-4319 Please join us in welcoming Helen Dunston to the Pacific Valley Bank team. I am proud to be back in my hometown and working for a locally owned and managed community bank. My passion for community involvement and serving my clients makes Pacific Valley Bank a perfect fit! - Helen Dunston
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