SAN LUIS OBISPO: "In Camp" Humanitarian Services

INTRODUCTION: After years of talking to elected officials, committees, and regular old citizens like me, many still do not get it. We talk about "low income housing", "workforce housing", "affordable housing" — even "low low low income housing" (yes, that's a "thing"!) - what we don't talk about is what to do about the 100's (or even 1,000's) of homeless people living in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County encampments, where they (unfortunately) live like animals. 

Since homelessness in California is getting worse, and we have proven that we cannot or will not get them into housing, it is time to provide services where they are in their homeless camps. These are located primarily in creek beds and under concrete overpasses throughout SLO county. 

This movement has already begun, started by Ann Gillepsie (agillespie@co.slo.ca.us - office 805 781-5259) of the SLO County Stormwater Program Coordinator. In mid to late 2019, Ms. Gillepsie spearheaded the so-called "Blue Bag Partnership", a homeless camp trash pick up "Pilot Program" that was tested for 4 weeks in September 2019. Read the Ms. Gillepsie's Final Report here: https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Public-Works/Forms-Documents/Press-Releases/Blue-Bag-Partnership-Pilot-Final-Report.aspx

Initial Humanitarian Services can be implemented one at a time in the following order. This is based on a combination of the most needed services and the least expensive. 

STEP 1. Homeless Encampment weekly trash pick up. 
- The "Blue Bag Partnership" proved the effectiveness of this step.
- Benefits both the environment and the health of the homeless campers.
- Trash pick up at my home in SLO is $15 per month - this should be an inexpensive service, when partnered with nonprofit homeless advocacy organizations.

STEP 2. Porta-potti and hand sanitizing station.
- Prevents feces, urine, and toilet paper from entering the environment and the creek.
- Provide health benefits through modern sanitation.
- Homeless people would be tasked with providing security at these sites to prevent vandalism.

STEP 3. Mobile Shower Trailer and Clean Clothing.
- Regular bathing reduces illness and disease caused by dirty bodies and clothing.
- There are already 2 nonprofit shower trailer services in SLO County, with more expected.
- The shower trailers can operate completely "Off Grid" and provide 20 to 30 showers at a time.

STEP 4. Permanent lockable secure strorage stations.
- Homeless people live in unsecured camps where their vital supplies are frequently stolen.
- They care HUGE HEAVY backpacks around town with their needed personal belongings, preventing their theft.
- Yet, theft still occurs. I am often called upon to replace these stolen items.

OPTIONAL but highly desired services.

O1. Coping services, such as counseling, mental health services, job training, etc. Often referred to as "Case Management". Note that in this space, I have recommended 2 level of Case Management, that I have dubbed Case Management I (CMI) and Case Management II (CMII). CMI would be the "traditional" case management that we have now, while CMII would be a milder but still impactful version for those with a greater range of living, coping, and management skills.

O2. Community work space, such as communal work activities, communal gardens for raising food items, etc.

O3. Battery powered transportation, such as eBikes and eScooters. Could include onsite solar and wind farms to make the site as energy independant as possible. These ePower facilities could be the source of employment for those living there with engineering type skills.

CONCLUSION: I kept this as simple as possible. Maybe more people will "get it". We have to ask ourselves - "are we our brothers keeper?" - I think we are. Peace.

NOTE: This shortened article is a rewrite of a much longer article that once occupied this space. Like this shorter article, the longer article was also ignored in its entirety by those who have the power to make these things come about (i.e. our elected government officials).

CALIFORNIA: A Life Lived "Under the Bell"

La Purisima Mission Bells - 200 Year Anniversary

By Tim Waag

This article was written for Mission La Purisima Concepcion de Maria Santisima, in celebrating of the 200th year of their "Manuel Vargas" mission bell, cast in Peru in 1818. There is a special display in the Mission's visitors center commemorating this anniversary.

Many things about California’s mission life are taken for granted - like the timeless sounding of the mission bells. Digging deeper, there is always a greater depth of knowledge and understanding to be had. La Purisima Mission State Park is proudly celebrating the 200th anniversary of it’s 1818 Manuel Vargas-cast bell from Peru. Let’s probe a little further into the historic mission bells.

The bell-maker’s name and date were often cast into the bell, and sometimes even the mission’s name. The La Purisima bronze bell is inscribed with “Manuel Vargas Me Fecit, Año 1818, Misíon de la Purísima de la Nueva California” (translation of inscription: “Manuel Vargas made me, year 1818, Mission La Purisima of New California”). The Vargas bell was found at Mission Santa Inés in the 1930s, and returned to Mission La Purísima. Interestingly, at neighboring mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, their “Joy Bell” and “Gloria Bell” have the same inscription (including the same year 1818) — just swap “Misíon San Luis Obispo” for “Misíon de la Purísima”.

Above: Mission La Purisima Concepcion, where I am a volunteer docent, and play a Franciscan Priest during "Mission Life Days".  http://www.lapurisimamission.org

We know that the first mission bells in California were transfers from Spanish missions in Baja California, beginning in 1769. They were brought here by Fr. Junipero Serra O. F. M. (religious founder of the first California missions) and Gaspar de Portola, recently appointed Governor of the Californias. We also know that conversion of the indigenous peoples of California to Catholic belief and lifestyle was enhanced by the mythic powers of seemingly magical items unfamiliar to them. Playing a primary role were the metal mission bells with their glorious clanging that could be heard from miles away.

Resources were scarce at the new “Alta California” missions, and often, wooden bells were hung in the belfries (or companarios) until a metal bell could be procurred. Often, the wooden “placeholder” bell was all there ever was in a given slot in the bell tower. The padres at the various missions had limited budgets to procur religious objects, and had to make judicious trade-offs between acquiring religious art, vestments, beads, tools, livestock and other items.

Mission San Luis Obispo - bell tower (companario)

Each California mission had two Franciscans assigned to them, and with the advice and counsel of the Alta California Mission Presidente, decisions were made about how many bells and other items (religious and otherwise) were to be acquired. Large mission bells were heavy and expensive, and prone to cracking and damage over time, so the trade-offs in deciding where to spend their mission budget was a difficult one.

Much information has survived from the mission era, but the internal discussions and trade-offs by the padres related to their mission and their bells seldom survived to the present day. We do know how important the missions bells were to the lives of the Franciscans, as they often described their life as “living completely under the bells”. Today, we are left with speculation and intuition as to the story of each of California’s mission’s bells. 

How to House the Homeless and Low Income Worker

The bottom line is that when it comes to the homeless, I am at my best, by far, as a "hands on" volunteer. Not a politician, or a policy wonk, or anything like that. However, I read about solutions to homelessness and how to provide low cost housing for low income workers in large volumes.

This page is dedicated to links to California projects to achieve these objectives that have (or are) being implemented, and could be undertaken with success here on the Central Coast, should there be the political will to do so.

Are they "perfect" solutions? No. Do "perfect" solutions exist? No. So what are these? Solutions that are working, and create housing for the homeless, and affordable housing for the low wage worker. Happy reading.

When the links may "disappear" over time, I have copied the article (in part) so that you will have some idea of its contents. Happy reading!

2018.01: Trailers for the Homeless in Downtown Los Angeles Lot
Los Angeles city leaders are planning to house dozens of homeless people in trailers on a city-owned downtown lot as a possible model for citywide temporary shelters.

Above: Large dog guarding a homeless camp in San Luis Obispo.

SAN LUIS OBISPO: How Can We Be So Cruel?

[NOTICE: THIS WOMAN IS NOW STAYING IN THE SHELTER IN SLO]. 

SAN LUIS OBISPO: I know this 74 year old homeless woman from volunteering at the homeless shelter. I recently saw her on the street, where I stopped to talk to her. She told me she had recently gotten kicked out of the Maxine Lewis Memorial (homeless) shelter in SLO. She didn't know why they kicked her out.

Above: 74 year old mentally ill women put out on the street. Sleeps in Train Station upright in a chair for 3 nights in a row. Falls asleep one night, and falls on her face, badly cutting her nose. Yes, we all threw her out on the street. Shame.

I dropped everything so I could help her. I brought her to my house, and I spent a few hours calling all the shelters I knew of in SLO county - they were all full, or said they would not take her. (Shame on these shelters for turning her away too - certainly, exceptions can be made for a kind elderly woman living on the street? Yes, I know, I'm naive — but at least I'm not heartless).

The previous few nights away from the shelter, she spent the night in the SLO bus or railroad station (she wasn't clear which one). She stayed at the station because it is too dangerous for her to stay in the unregulated homeless camps in SLO (I agreed with that decision).

While sleeping in a chair at the station, she fell forward and hit her nose on the floor, which is where she got that cut on her face the day before (see PHOTO).

After many hours and many phone calls, she was able to get back into the CAPSLO shelter that night. IMHO, its NEVER right to kick a 74 year old woman out of a homeless shelter, except in the most extreme situations. I was able to find out why she was not able to continue to stay at the shelter; IMO, the reason they gave was not justifiable.

WE MUST DO BETTER PEOPLE. I've known this woman for years - she is sweet and kind and never a bother to anyone. To kick her out onto the street is plain disgraceful. 

SHAME ON ALL OF US, INCLUDING ME, FOR ALLOWING US TO BE SO COLD AND CRUEL. 

We must demand more and better from ourselves, our leaders, and our society.

SAN LUIS OBISPO: Showers of Hope at UCC 9/9/2017

Saturday 9/9/2017 Showers of Hope Report: We operated our Hope's Village of SLO - Showers of Hope - Mobile Shower Trailer at United Church of Christ parking lot at 11245 Los Osos Valley Road in SLO. We had another relatively low turnout, but right now, its quality, not quantity. We have provided a high degree of services, allowing folks to get clean and walk away with food and wearing clean clothes. Thanks to our crew: Carley, David, Marcy, Becky and Barbara. http://www.hopesvillageofslo.com

Just for Fun! Chicago

Went to see Chicago at Vina Robles in Paso last night. Yes, they were that good. No, I have no excuse for not going to see them sooner. They were one of my favorite bands in High School during the 1970's. Sadly, I'll be missing my 40th high school reunion on 9/16 because Sue is having back surgery on 9/15. Oh well, that's life.

EDITORIAL: The Destruction of American History...Are there any Lines Left to Draw?

UPDATE 9/14/2017: The "Destroy American History" movement continues unabated. As I originally predicted in this article, it would not be long before the venerated Fr. Junipero Serra of Alta California colonial history would be the next to be destroyed. See the section in this article below titled "Spanish Colonial Era Worship Must End".  For more information on Mission San Luis Obispo, reference this article. On La Purisima Concepcion, reference this article. 

On September 12, 2017, the familiar statue of Saint Serra which appears at most of the 21 California missions has been decapitated and defaced with red paint, and sadly covered over with a black burka sack. You can read about the article in the SLO Tribune by clicking here. Most historical statues scattered around America have gone largely unnoticed by the public, until this criminal movement to destroy them got started. I hope that others love history as I do, whether deemed "good" or "bad", and want images of our past preserved. Otherwise, how are we different from the Taliban and ISIS, who destroyed ancient and amazing works of historical art during their brutal occupations, never to be seen again by the world? Those in the "destruction" business would not appear to have a moral compass to consult. Sad indeed.

Above: Putting in a new adobe floor at La Purisima in the "Master Weavers Quarters". What an honor for me to touch California history.