LOCAL: Templeton Residents Oppose Needed Mental Health Facility

*****UPDATE 3/7/2016: Hello to Mental Wellness supporters in SLO County,

Transitions-Mental Health Association needs your help to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our community are able to get the mental health treatment they need in San Luis Obispo County!

We are reaching out to you regarding the behavioral health hospital being proposed for Templeton, across the street from Twin Cities Hospital.  The SLO County Planning Commission has approved this project unanimously after two hearings with much public comment.  However, there is a very vocal opposition group of Templeton area folks called “Concerned Citizens Preventing Unintended Consequences” which is pushing back very strongly against this project being built in their town.  They have filed an appeal , hence the matter will be decided by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, March 15 at 9am.  

While we are happy to have such a facility ANYWHERE in SLO County, the reality is this is the ONLY project being proposed.  If we lose this project, the long passed over need for mental health treatment beds in our county will be set back years.  

We are calling on medical doctors, psychologists, therapists, counselors, nurses, mental health advocates, teachers/professors, persons living with mental illness, your families, and anyone affected by mental illness – we need your help!

Our County Supervisors must hear the voices of those who see the obvious need.  (If you are a professional who has sent patients out of our county for hospitalization, your voice is especially potent.)

There are many ways to get involved and show your support for this important facility:

·        SPREAD THE WORD and forward this email to someone who supports the cause.

·        SIGN THE PETITION and submit to the project developers by Friday, March 11.

·        WRITE A LETTER or EMAIL in support of this facility and send it to the County Supervisors or your local newspaper.  Feel free to use the form letter we’ve attached, or write your own. 

·        CALL your County Supervisor and let them know you support the Templeton behavioral health hospital and encourage them to approve the project.

·        ATTEND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING AND SPEAK during public comment.  The agenda will posted on the county  website by Wed, March 9.  Check here.

Board of Supervisors’ meeting is Tuesday, March 15 starting at 9am

Corner of Santa Rosa and Monterey Streets, first floor

Please arrive early to submit a Public Comment speaker’s request and/or get a seat.

We’ve attached all the forms and contact info you need to show support:

·        Petition, Project Fact Sheet, and Contact info for Supervisors and local papers, from developers Harvey and Melanie Billig (retired Templeton Ophthalmologist  and former SLO Mayor).

·        A sample letter idea from TMHA.

·        A link to the public comment card here: “Board Appearance Request Form”.  You can print this out in advance and submit at the meeting.  We’ve been told by one Supervisors office that they plan to honor all speaking requests. You have 3 minutes to speak.  

We thank you for your timely consideration of this important issue.  

- Jill Bolster-White, President and CEO, Transitions-Mental Health Association

*****ORIGINAL ARTICLE: 10/13/2015: A proposed 91 bed mental health hospital in Templeton is being strongly opposed. You can read more about it in the Tribune by clicking here. 

Once again, NIMBYism is destroying what is needed for the "common good". Currently there is only a single 16 bed mental health facility to serve the entire county of San Luis Obispo. However, if you have private insurance, like most do in SLO County, then you cannot use that facility. It's only for the low income on Medi-Cal and the like. Instead, you have to travel out of county. Because of this, many skip mental health services altogether...that can't be healthy, can it?

Above: CHP Rescue Helicopter, which came to the rescue of one of our hikers, who fell and cut his head open and could not hike out. Has nothing to do with mental health, except that we call these hikes "Death Marches", which means we might be a little crazy!

SLO: Progress Made in Reducing Homeless Head Count - Yeah!

On Oct 2, 2015, at 4:28 PM, Ashbaugh, John <jashbaugh@slocity.org> wrote:  

You’re receiving this email because you’ve previously corresponded with me about homeless issues, or because I happen to know about your interest through one or more of the many meetings and events that I’ve attended over nearly seven years on the SLO City Council. 

This just in: The County’s Homeless Point-in-Time survey has just being released, and it shows a 31% drop in our overall population of homeless persons. From 2,186 in 2013, the count has declined to 1,515 this year. The decline in our census of homeless veterans is even steeper, showing a 44% drop in: From 250 in 2013, the count of homeless veterans declined to 130 this year. For additional detail, you may download and view the news release or the Point-in-Time reports attached as “pdf” files here. 

There are, of course, more extensive data available in this report. Many people involved in homeless services throughout this county will be debating the significance of these trends as we move forward. Clearly, we still have a large population of homeless persons and homeless veterans. The trend line is headed in the right direction, however – and in my opinion, the credit belongs to the many agencies and individuals who are working with our homeless population in “rapid rehousing” strategies, case management, supportive services, and emergency shelter. 

We must be doing something right. Let’s keep doing that, and let us continue to learn about what else we can do to further reduce our homeless population in the years ahead. 

Final note: Please let me know if you do not want to receive further email communications from me about this issue. 

Thanks,

John Ashbaugh 
Vice Mayor
Office of the City Council
990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249 
E jashbaugh@slocity.org 
T 805.781.7122 
C 805.550.7713 slocity.org

10/2/2015 at 4:36pm (Response from Tim Waag). 

Dear Mr. Ashbaugh,

That is very good news indeed. I appreciate that I am hearing the news from you, of all people. I know your heart is in the right place when it comes to the less fortunate in our community. The trend line is FINALLY headed in the right direction, and I am happy to be able to say that there is measurable progress on the 10 year plan to “end” homelessness. “End” in quotes because it will never end - there will always be homeless people, for a variety of reasons. 

A significant sign of “ending” homelessness would be that for every homeless person who asks “where can I sleep in a warm and safe place tonight, officer?” that we have an affirmative answer, no matter how messed up that person is.

Congratulations to you and to all who have worked so hard to get to this point. As you know, there remains much more to do. Seeing a continuing downward trend line at the next "Homeless Survey" count would be a good start.

Sincerely,

—Tim Waag

More information about the Homeless Census here:

The number of homeless people in San Luis Obispo County has declined by 31 percent over the past two years, but the length of time people are homeless appears to be increasing.

The Homeless Point-in-Time Census Report published every two years by the Homeless Service Oversight Council of San Luis Obispo County said the number of homeless in the county dropped from 2,186 people in 2013 to 1,515 in 2015. The number of first-time homeless dropped from 50 percent of all homeless individuals in 2013 to 33 percent this year.

As part of its plan to end homelessness, the county conducts a census of its homeless population every two years. A census of the number of homeless individuals was conducted, followed by a survey of 399 individuals that determined demographic information such as ethnicity, age and veteran’s status.

“The county receives just over $1 million a year from HUD, and it’s critical for us to provide permanent housing for folks, and that’s the impetus for doing this study every two years,” said Laurel Weir, county Homeless Services Coordinator.

An improving economy, improvements in law enforcement practices and the expansion of a federal housing program for local homeless veterans are several possible reasons for the lower number of homeless, Weir said.

“While it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact reason why the overall point-in-time numbers have so sharply declined, the decrease in homeless veterans occurred over the same period of time that we were able to house a large number of homeless veterans through the federal Veterans’ Affairs Supportive Housing program,” Weir said.

Weir does not expect the amount of federal funding to go down as a result of the new census results. “Our funding is based on a formula that does not include the number of homeless,” she said.
Additionally, the county began several new homeless assistance programs over the past year. These include the 50 Now program for the most chronically homeless persons and a program that provides rapid rehousing assistance to homeless families who are participating in the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program.

On the downside, the length of time people are homeless appears to be getting longer. In 2015, 66 percent reported being homeless for a year or more, compared to 47 percent in 2013.

The cause for this jump in the length of homelessness could be based on several factors including the low vacancy rate in homeless shelters and that fact that, because fewer people are becoming homeless, those that are homeless tend to be chronically homeless.

“This is something we are going to have to look into further,” Weir said.

The main cause of homelessness is the loss of a job or other source of income, listed by 23 percent of the respondents. Other causes were alcohol or drug use, divorce or other breakup of a relationship, argument with family or a friend and eviction.

At the behest of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, the county also used new guidelines to ensure that the census report is meeting the federal standards. The county hired a consultant to make sure it was complying with the new HUD standards.

The county Homeless Services Oversight Council is a panel of elected officials, representatives of homeless service agencies, homeless workers and formally homeless individuals appointed by the county Board of Supervisors who serve three-year terms. They advise the county on how meet HUD requirements, set priorities and oversee implementation of the county homeless services program.
Key findings of 2015 homeless census

The number of homeless veterans decreased by 45 percent from 247 in 2013 to 130 in 2015.

39 percent of homeless adults reported psychiatric or emotional issues.

63 percent of homeless veterans reported psychiatric or emotional issues.

41 percent of homeless adults reported using drugs or alcohol.

381 of the homeless were youths aged 18 to 24.

South County showed the largest drop in homelessness, followed by San Luis Obispo.
Homelessness along the coast generally remained the same while the number of homeless in the North County increased.

Tribune staff writer Cynthia Lambert contributed to this report.

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