*****6/26/2014: I've tried explaining this to the SLO PD but to no avail:
The Problem: People experiencing homelessness often receive citations for public nuisance offenses and then fail to appear in court. Homeless defendants fail to appear in traditional courts, not because of a disregard for the court system, but due to their status and condition. For many homeless people, their day is consumed with a search for food, clothing and shelter. Most homeless persons are not in a position to fight the procedural or substantive issues a case presents.
People experiencing homelessness are aware that the court requires a decent appearance. Not wanting to make a bad first impression, a homeless person with poor hygiene or without a place to store belongings may choose not to appear in court at all. Many homeless people are reluctant to attend court given the uncertainty of court proceedings and the threat of custody. Unresolved legal issues can ultimately preclude homeless people from accessing desperately needed services such as employment, housing, public assistance and treatment programs.
I "borrowed" the above italicized quote from the annual San Diego "Taking the Court to Stand Down" which you can read more about by clicking here.
Below: For these dry boring blog posts, I always take the chance to add some color to them. A recent Kayak Adventure at Port San Luis with some of my favorite girls. click to enlarge.
*****6/20/2014: CAPSLO Update. Just got a notice from CAPSLO who operates the Maxine Lewis Memorial (Homeless) Shelter (MLMS) here in SLO, as well as operates the logistics for the Homeless Shelter Overflow. I will summarize their June 2014 notice (note that these are my words in summary):
Over the last few years, some funding for the MLMS has dried up, which CAPSLO attributes to the shift in funding from "Emergency Sheltering" to a "Housing First" model. Therefore, MLMS and the Prado Day Center (both run by CAPSLO) is shifting to adopting a sobriety-based service model that promotes jobs and permanent housing for the clients.
These changes are occurring because (1) limited funds must serve those who seek jobs and permanent housing (again, my words), and (2) those seeking alcohol and drug abuse should get in line behind those who are sober.
Note that I agree with this "shift", given limited funding. Note that on these pages in the past I have supported the "Housing First" model for the medically disabled, but did not take a stand on the same approach for the homeless. Note, of course, that there is significant overlap between the 2 (homeless and mentally disabled).
Mini-update on 7/11/2014: After the first week of serving at the homeless shelter overflow, I have observed the results of this policy: a young couple and their 3 year old daughter got booted from the overflow for 30 days because one of the adults allegedly "failed" their breathalizer test. I do not know the exact alcohol testing policy being used (frequency, randomness, alcohol level for test failure, etc.), but will attempt to find out.
Related to this is the issue of "Case Management" (CM) at CAPSLO. Though I believe that Case Management is indeed necessary for getting the homeless back to work and in housing, I have long maintained that there should still be a lower level of Case Management for those who are less hospitable to the authorities or have just "given up hope".
