LIFO PAGE:  NEW STUFF AT TOP.

July 12, 2010:  Homeless Action Team suggested more toilets near trolley stops, as the handicapped are having problems right now.  Also, the West side of Old Town Transit Center needs toilets, as the ones on the east side of same are too difficult for the handicapped to get to.  It was also suggested that 24-hour toilets are needed at 12th and Imperial.  (Typical homeless person shown.)

July 6, 2010, Ocean Beach town council  meeting, to deal with hate crimes and intolerance of the homeless:

As I say on Home Page, I was threatened on the way home, missing the last bus, and having to walk to Old Town (4 miles) and then spend the night there with no blankets.  I will get it typed in when I find a working computer.   Photo at right.  The Town Hall meeting:  www.nz9f.com.  Scroll down past the header & wit phrases.  It's under the date July 8, 2010.

Missed the Homeless Action Team (HAT) meeting Monday, due to a priestess having an emotional problem.  Bishop duties.  Consensus among the members I talked to is this:  1.)  HAT has become a therapy group, not an action group; 2.)  It slows down our progress, radicalism, and accomplishment; 3.)  It's under huge pressure to force us to accept its way and programs, rather than devise our own. 

So, it seems like a very nice, kind, misplaced, and useless gesture.  It seeks to change the beliefs of homeless people, organizing them into fighting past battles that have not worked.  It's been helpful in pointing out how City Redevelopment works, under the corrupt provisions of Proposition 13, and how that must result in more homelessness.  Gentrification is built into the tax system now, at the State Constitution level. 

HAT also showed me the San Diego County Grand Jury Report on the Homeless, reprinted below with links to the original government website for verification of its authenticity.  This report has been hidden by all the local news media, which all refuse to even acknowledge that this official government document EXISTS! 

So, the Homeless Action Team of the Third Avenue Charitable Organization has done some good.  Mostly, though, it's been a red herring, a counterproductive distraction from the work we need to accomplish.  I intend to keep in touch.  Ninety days until a million homeless descend upon San Diego!  That can still be prevented.

Coming attractions:  Editorial on 211 San Diego, the info site competing with this one.  Now Available at www.nz9f.com/M, in the right column.

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San Diego City Actions:  Praise.

Thanks to a fine Mayor and City Council, the new library has been approved.  The City must spend its Prop 13 money in the form of new buildings, or give it back.  Thousands of construction jobs will result, and 400 new computers.  The convoluted "two tier" system of Prop 13 gives millions for new buildings, but almost no money to run the government.

Perhaps, because of the Recession or Depression, Prop 13 should be repealed.

A new City Hall will be another use of such "buildings only" money, as will the expansion of the Convention Center.  Both of those will either save the City rent money, or help take in cash from tourism.  Good ideas.

San Diego has been cleaning the downtown streets and sidewalks, has installed a new toilet at 10th and C, and has just provided $400,000 to the Housing Dept. for temporary housing and motel vouchers.  Hotel and motel vouchers are currently available, to permit you to check in to a motel!  Visit www.sdhc.gov.

The City will be purchasing 8 new outhouses, but no word on whether or not we'll get toilet paper. 

Huge influx of violent ex-military homeless right now, with several arrests and shootings.  Not good for tourism nor selling condos.  Anyone see the insanity in teaching someone to kill, and then deciding you don't need them anymore, dumping them onto the sidewalk?  That's like saying this nation just doesn't care about those who served.

Thanks to XETV-6 for telling the truth about the numbers:  7 thousand on the sidewalks.  An article in the paper said 500.  We all wish!  I define homeless as including sex-housing, slavery-housing, 40 people in one small apartment, and more, so my definition of what the word means results in a total of 400,000 to one million homeless in San Diego County.  Hard numbers are available in the Grand Jury Report, reprinted below.

I can't get the media to reprint that official government report, but was able to persuade the Union-Tribune to run an editorial June 29 that promotes higher government spending and the use of the "D" word (Depression).  Best I can do.

When they get around to unemploying you, pull up a sidewalk and lay down with several physicians, engineers, and architects.  And an editor chronicling the whole event.

John Kitchin

☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻

Human Animal Shelters:  Since there are only 7 places for rent which have premium transit access, I’d like to see the City rent or purchase all 7 of these places to use for homeless housing:  635 C, 640 C, 1040 7^th, 1043 6^th, 1045 6^th, 6+C, and 1014 5^th. Ultimately, the California Theater Building , across the street from City Hall, makes the most long-term sense.  And, City Hall itself, once a new one is built.  Thanks for the new outhouse on 10^th and C.  Keeping the two potties at 12^th and C stocked with toilet paper has been an impossible task.

Important Homeless Action Team (HAT) Meeting, Mon., July 5:  Meeting every Monday, including holidays, at 3 PM, the Homeless Action Team invites all homeless or somewhat homeless individuals to the First Lutheran Church , library room, 3^rd and Ash, Downtown San Diego.  Dinner is provided.  Press, media, philanthropists, politicians, invited.  Transit note:  Most transit systems are on the Sunday schedule, so there is no bus service in most of Chula Vista , Alpine, etc.

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An open letter to The Black, religious goods store on Newport Ave. of San Diego's Ocean Beach community:

6-25-10.  Here's the problem:  If you get to call a homeless person a bum, then I get to call you a kike-nigger-faggot.  Fair enough?  Even the word "homeless" has too much negativity.  How about "Real Estate Victim".  Not giving money to the dope addicts pretending they need food is a good idea.  Any money given is used to buy dope, not food.  If you offer them food, they won't take it.  I suggested a food token, good at fast-food restaurants, which can be given in lieu of money, plus safeguards to prevent those tokens from being traded for dope or cigarettes.  Details are on my Solutions Page (S) at www.nz9f.com/S.

In the meantime, I call for a boycott of your store, possibly with picketing, as being defamatory to both  Ancient Judaism and Modern Wicca, both religions that you sell religious supplies for.  These articles include the Star of Solomon, which I wear as a Pagan Bishop.  You have offended Yahweh, Zeus, and God The Father.  They will deal with you, not us.  I call for no harm to you nor your store, except a boycott anticipating a public apology.  And, if it was all just a publicity stunt, well, that's business.

Bishop John Schlitz

PS:  Barring your apology, there will be a political solution.

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Excellent editorial on Page M, http://nz9f.com/M , regarding the news media telling lies about the situation!

In Ocean Beach, a store called "The Black" is selling signs that say "Don't Feed Our Bums".  Well, that store needs to be boycotted by the Wiccans and Ancient Pagans as being defamatory to God and reasonable empathy!  They do sell religious supplies.  How about we start a brand-new enormous homeless camp on the sidewalk outside that store on Newport Ave?  OB also shut down the free meals offered by Lupe, 5 PM Mondays, http://nz9f.com/B.

If you haven't seen the San Diego County Grand Jury Report on the Homeless, which the news media have been HIDING, here's a reprint, plus a link below it to go to the government website yourself, if desired.  Some solutions to problems appear on the Solutions Page, S, including a few solutions proposed for homelessness.  http://nz9f.com/s

This is the San Diego Grand Jury Report on Homelessness, an official government document:

HOMELESS IN SAN DIEGO
INTRODUCTION
The San Diego County Medical Examiner (Coroner) reports that in the past ten years, 774 homeless individuals have died on the streets of San Diego. Homelessness in San Diego County has reached the tipping point. Not only is the problem a blight on our community, it is a blight on our humanity. The 2009/2010 San Diego County Grand Jury understands that homelessness is a complex issue further complicated by the current economic climate, returning military veterans, and early release of prisoners. We believe that the citizens of San Diego have the capacity and the heart to correct this problem. If the residents of San Diego County expect to have decent animal shelters, then let’s expect decent, shelters for homeless people.
The 2009 Regional Task Force on the Homeless report, Point in Time Count Summary, counts 7,892 homeless people of whom 44% are chronically homeless in the County of San Diego (County), excluding children. Some experts believe the number to be significantly higher. Homelessness is a serious issue that is detrimental to the homeless themselves. Homeless is defined as sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation (streets, culverts, abandoned buildings, etc.) or living in an emergency shelter.
Chronically homeless individuals:
1)
are homeless for more than one year or more than four episodes in the first three years and
2)
are not living with a child eighteen or under and
3)
have a long term disabling condition (physical, mental, emotional, developmental, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome [AIDS], substance abuse)
The homeless population in San Diego has an unfavorable influence on tourism, businesses, and local residents. Substantial costs for supporting the homeless are passed on to San Diego residents in the form of increased fees and reduced services. Some examples of these costs are:

Emergency hospital care

Paramedic health services

Mental health counseling and care

Court and incarceration costs

Police and fire department responses to incidents involving homeless persons that reduce their availability for other types of calls
Homelessness can be substantially reduced. The Grand Jury report addresses the following interventions necessary to reduce homelessness and associated problems:

Cooperation of the eighteen cities within the County of San Diego and other stakeholders working together on solutions

Interim and permanent housing with service support
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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
Protection and care of homeless persons and their property

Additional outdoor toilets in downtown San Diego

Additional cleaning of the sidewalks and streets in downtown San Diego
During the course of this investigation, the Grand Jury found not only a need for permanent housing and services throughout the San Diego metropolitan area, but found a crucial need for on-going, year-round temporary housing and services for the homeless. Studies have shown that public costs are substantially reduced by providing supportive housing. Supportive housing includes medical care, mental health support, substance abuse counseling and other related case management services.
INVESTIGATION
To arrive at this report the Grand Jury:

Interviewed thirty-two City and County government employees at appropriate levels of responsibility and decision making

Interviewed twenty-seven homeless advocates

Interviewed six homeless service providers and toured their facilities

Interviewed a cross section of homeless individuals

Toured the Alpha Project and Veterans Village of San Diego winter shelters

Reviewed costs of homelessness to the community including reports provided by healthcare organizations, police, sheriff, fire departments, and detention facilities

Analyzed major metropolitan studies and reports evaluating the costs of homelessness to their communities

Reviewed San Diego media reports on the homeless
The Grand Jury reviewed the following specific reports:

The New York/New York Agreement Cost Study, The Impact of Supportive Housing on Services Use for Homeless Mentally Ill Individuals 2001

The Lewin Group, Costs of Serving Homeless Individuals in Nine Cities, Chart Book No. 367376, 2004

Plan to End Chronic Homelessness (PTECH) in the San Diego Region 2006

San Diego Regional Task Force on The Homeless, Point in Time Count 2009

Where We Sleep – Costs when Homeless and Housed in Los Angeles 2009

Project 50 – 1 year Progress Report (LA) 2009

Hearth, Inc. Ending Elder Homelessness: The Importance of Service – Enriched Housing (Boston) 2009

Home & Healthy for Good – A Statewide Housing First Program, Progress Report, 2009

Building for Success-Second Chance Program

A Street Is Not a Home, Judge Robert C. Coates, 1990
The following metropolitan studies outside the San Diego area examine the treatment of the chronic homeless and the cost savings to their communities (see Table 1):
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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1.
In 2001, The New York/New York Agreement Cost Study concluded that a mentally ill homeless person consumes an average of $40,449 of publicly funded services annually. Once placed into service-enriched housing (affordable housing supported with clinical and social services) the average homeless cost of services is reduced by $12,145 per year per person, which covers 95% of the cost of housing.
2.
A nine city study completed in 2004 by the Lewin Group determined the cost of housing a homeless person. The study indicated that supportive housing was the least expensive solution in a majority of cities, as compared to other housing options, such as jails, prisons, shelters, psychiatric, and other hospital Housing Cost Estimates San FranciscoSan FranciscoSan FranciscoSan FranciscoSan FranciscoSan FranciscoColumbusColumbusColumbusColumbusColumbusColumbusPhoenixPhoenixPhoenixPhoenixPhoenixPhoenix$0.00$500.00$1,000.00$1,500.00$2,000.00$2,500.00SupportiveHousingJailPrisonShelterMentalHospitalHospitalCost per Day per PersonData Source: The Lewin Group
3.
The 2007 Cost of Homelessness Study in Portland, Maine, determined that per person, average homeless services cost before and after permanent supportive housing, decreased from $28,045 to $14,009 annually. The largest savings were in mental health and psychiatric hospitalization, which more than covered the cost of providing housing.
4.
The 2009 Massachusetts Study, Home and Healthy for Good, determined the projected annual savings before and after permanent supportive housing was $9,261 per chronically homeless person. The savings came from Medicaid, shelter, and incarceration costs. Additionally, the average annual health care cost for individuals living on the street was $33,327 compared to $8,598 for individuals who obtained housing.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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5.
The 2009 Los Angeles Public Costs Study, Where We Sleep, showed the annualized cost of services before housing at $34,764 and the cost of services with housing at $7,260, a savings of $27,504. The only outlay of providing housing was General Relief vouchers to pay rent. One conclusion of the Los Angeles Public Costs Study was to make increasing use of state and federal block grant funds, to develop affordable housing.
Cities that provide service-enriched housing to the homeless show an annual cost savings and improved use of services when housing is provided. Although the homeless study groups differed in their areas of analysis, from chronic homeless to mentally ill, all the reports showed savings when the following services provided:

Medical care

Mental health evaluation and hospitalization

Substance abuse programs

Employment training and placement
The following chart summarizes the cost per homeless person per year:
Table 1 – Other Cities
Major StudiesCost of Serviceswithout HousingCost ofServiceswithHousingCostReductionwith HousingAverageCost ofHousingNet Savingswith HousingNew York/New York (Mentally Ill)$40,449$28,304$12,145$13,570($1,425)Massachusetts (Chronic homeless support)$33,327$8,598$24,729$15,468$9,261Greater Portland(Homeless) costs$28,045$14,009$14,036$13,092$944Los Angeles (Homeless) *$34,764$7,260$27,504 study doesnot includehousing data study doesnot includehousing data *Annualized
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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The Grand Jury summarized chronic homeless costs reported as a sampling of police, sheriff, fire, and hospital agencies in San Diego County.
Table 2 – Police Costs
Police
2008
2009
Location
Number of incidents
Cost ($)
Numberof incidents
Cost ($)
Chula Vista
1,387
145,202
1,204
135,287
El Cajon
1,635
207,359
1,912
225,238
San Diego*
12,112
1,771,012
12,271
1,763,434
Total
15,134
2,123,573
15,387
2,123,959
* The San Diego Police Department does not identify all of their homeless contacts
Table 3 – Jail Costs
Sheriff
2008
2009
Location
Number of incidents
Cost ($)
Numberof incidents
Cost ($)
County of San Diego*
2,934
401,919
2,934
401,919
* The number of incidents and costs are the average of two years totals
Table 4 – Fire Department Costs
Fire
2008
2009
Location
Number of incidents
Cost ($)
Numberof incidents
Cost ($)
San Diego
4,001
1,951,896
4,706
1,787,979
Escondido
299
173,884*
329
193,091*
El Cajon
261
336,951
276
356,316
La Mesa
59
11,800
61
12,200
Total
4,620
2,300,647
5,372
2,156,495
* Two year cost provided, prorated into years by number of incidents
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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Table 5 – Hospital Costs
Hospitals
2008
2009
Name
Cost ($)
Cost ($)
Tri-City
762,008
1,151,061
Sharp
16,130,510
17,155,477
Total
16,892,518
18,306,538
Table 6 – Costs Summarized
2008 Cost ($)
2009 Cost ($)
Grand Total
21,718,657
22,988,911
The tables illustrate the sizeable financial impact of homelessness to the community. Some of the largest hospitals and government agencies did not specifically track their homeless costs. Below is a summary of the organizations that did not provide responses to the Grand Jury’s inquiry or had incomplete data on homeless cost numbers:

Three large health care organizations
o
Palomar/Pomerado Health
o
Scripps Health
o
UCSD Medical Center

San Diego Police Department

San Diego County Sheriff’s patrol contacts
During the investigation, the Grand Jury determined that the police, sheriff, and the hospitals need to develop data systems to track homeless costs in the future.
FACTS—Set One
A San Diego regional authority can assist in solving the homeless problem.
Fact: In September 2006 the Plan to End Chronic Homeless (PTECH) in the San Diego region was published. The PTECH plan was organized by the United Way with the cooperation of leaders representing all areas of the County of San Diego. The PTECH plan is a collaborative effort recommending solutions for homelessness in San Diego.
Fact: The PTECH plans to establish a Homes First/Housing Plus (first provide the homeless with shelter, then add social services including medical care, mental health and employment counseling.) The PTECH model has limited public and private funding.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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FINDINGS
Finding #01: Homelessness in San Diego County is a region-wide problem that calls for region-wide solutions.
Finding #02: Homelessness in the City of San Diego is an ongoing issue in the downtown area and is most apparent in the East Village neighborhood.
Finding #03: The PTECH report identified many of the homelessness problems and their solutions; however, the lack of an ongoing source of funding has limited the implementation of the Housing First/Housing Plus Plan.
Finding #04: The San Diego region has numerous resources to reduce the impact of homelessness in the community. It is necessary for San Diego governments, homeless service providers and advocates, religious groups, business leaders, and citizens to work cooperatively.
RECOMMENDATIONS
A regional homeless authority is needed to streamline the facility planning and construction, to coordinate the public and private social support services, and to pool funding for a Homes First/Housing Plus Model. A regional authority will require the assistance of a consortium of community leaders in order to be successful.
The following recommendations outline two options for setting up a regional authority:
1. A Joint Powers Authority (JPA) led by the City and the County of San Diego
2. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)
The 2009/2010 San Diego County Grand Jury recommends that the Mayor of the City of San Diego, the City Council of the City of San Diego, and the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego:
10-24: Form a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) and enlist the support of leaders in other cities in the County to develop a regional approach to manage and fund programs to moderate chronic homelessness.
The 2009/2010 San Diego County Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Directors of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG):
10-25: Develop and implement a plan to end chronic homelessness in the San Diego region.
FACTS—SET TWO
There is a need for a San Diego regional homeless consortium with strong leadership to support the Joint Powers Authority (JPA) or San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) plan. SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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Fact: There are approximately 4,014 unsheltered chronically homeless persons living on sidewalks, in doorways, river beds, parks, canyons, and other undeveloped areas in San Diego County.
Fact: It is estimated that there are approximately 200 homeless service agencies that provide services including housing, mental health, job training, shelter, and other forms of assistance.
Fact: Studies conclusively demonstrate that providing supportive housing first for homeless persons reduces public costs.
FINDINGS
Finding #05: Many chronic homeless in San Diego County do not have shelter at night.
Finding #06: A multitude of homeless service providers exist in San Diego County.
Finding #07: A need exists for permanent intake facilities with supportive services.
Finding #08: Year-round, temporary homeless shelters with supportive services are critical until permanent facilities are operational.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Time has come to reduce the number of homeless persons on the streets. The homeless population is most evident in the downtown and East Village areas. Evidence obtained during the course of this investigation demonstrates that permanent housing is a priority. Nevertheless, permanent housing alone is not enough. Support services (medical, mental health and substance abuse counseling, educational training and job placement) are paramount and necessary to reunify the homeless population into the main stream of society. It is the obligation of society to intervene and assist in relieving homelessness. San Diego needs a regional consortium of key stakeholders who will have a role in reducing homelessness. A suggested name for the future consortium is “Homeless and Human Services Council.” Additionally, consortium members should select a Director and an Executive Board to support the efforts of their “Homeless and Human Services Council”. The following is a recommended list of consortium participants:

Hospitals and health care facilities

Homeless service providers

Homeless advocates

Religious organizations

United Way of San Diego

Non-Profit Social Services Organizations

San Diego Redevelopment Agencies

Chambers of Commerce

Downtown San Diego Partnership

Public Defenders

Law Enforcement Agencies

Fire Protection Agencies
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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
San Diego Homeless Court

Housing Commissions

A Judge of the San Diego Superior Court

San Diego Health and Human Services Agency

Major San Diego foundations

Homeless representatives

Additional persons or agencies as required
The 2009/2010 San Diego County Grand Jury recommends that the Mayor of the City of San Diego, the City Council of the City of San Diego and the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego:
10-26: Organize a consortium of the leaders in the San Diego region to meet no less frequently than monthly to determine the direction on reducing homelessness in the San Diego region. This consortium shall work in concert with the regional authority that is formed based on Recommendations 10-24 and 10-25.
FACTS—SET THREE
Destruction of personal property of homeless persons
Fact: The City of San Diego Environmental Services Department with the assistance of the San Diego Police Department, on September 22, 2009 at 10:30 AM, used a trash compaction truck to destroy personal property left unattended on the sidewalk as the homeless attended church services at God’s Extended Hand in the East Village area.
Fact: The abatement notice of the removal was posted, but apparently the posting was removed; most of the homeless persons were unaware their belongings would be seized.
Fact: People were not allowed to retrieve their belongings.
Fact: The following items from nine homeless individuals were destroyed:
1.
Three pairs of Levi pants, shirts, socks and two pairs of shoes
2.
Ice chest, sweaters, and socks
3.
A radio, three blankets, comforters, gas grill, three changes of clothes, a three- piece suit, two pairs of shoes, and one study bible
4.
Blankets, personal hygiene items, clothes, shoes, and medications
5.
A basket filled with personal belongings
6.
False teeth, (estimated replacement value of $4000), boots and other personal items
7.
$120 cash from one individual’s savings to pay rent
8.
Blankets, a pillow, medications, socks, shirts, and a bike
9.
Bedroll, blankets, a sweater, and the only remaining picture of the homeless person’s father.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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FINDINGS
Finding #09: The City destroyed the personal property of homeless people who were attending a religious service. There was no personal contact by the police with the homeless persons or homeless agencies prior to the destruction of their belongings.
Finding #10: The San Diego Police officers on the scene would not allow anyone to retrieve their personal belongings.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The 2009-2010 San Diego County Grand Jury recommends that the Mayor of the City of San Diego and the City Council of the City of San Diego:
10-27: Direct the San Diego Police Department and Environmental Services Department to develop policies and procedures regarding notification and the protection of homeless persons’ property when removal is ordered.
10-28: Direct the San Diego Police Department and Environmental Services Department to publish these guidelines to the homeless service agencies and the media.
FACTS—SET FOUR
A permanent intake facility for the homeless has been proposed by the City. A Homes First/Housing Plus model with supporting services was recommended in the “Plan to End Chronic Homeless (PTECH)”. The City and the San Diego Housing Commission, following the PTECH model, requested bids in December 2008.
Fact: Neither the City nor the County of San Diego operates a permanent homeless intake center.
Fact: In December 2008, San Diego Housing Commission and the City Council issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) asking for bids on a “one-stop service center” with emergency and permanent shelter accommodations.
Fact: A major source of funding for the proposed acquisition and rehabilitation of the permanent facility is the City’s Redevelopment Agency/ Center City Development Corporation (CCDC).
Fact: Service providers’ responses to the permanent intake facility were submitted by June 22, 2009.
Fact: The Land Use and Housing Committee of the City Council is scheduled to hear the selection committee’s recommendation for a permanent homeless intake facility on April 21, 2010.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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FINDING
Finding#11: An eleven-member committee was established to review the responses for a Homes First/Housing Plus facility and to recommend a provider and a potential site.
RECOMMENDATION
The 2009-2010 San Diego County Grand Jury recommends that The Mayor of the City of San Diego and the City Council of the City of San Diego:
10-29: Finalize the plan, funding, and establishment of the year-round homeless intake facility.
FACTS—SET FIVE
Interim year-round temporary shelters
Fact: Approximately 1,868 unsheltered homeless exist in downtown San Diego and the East Village areas.
Fact: The City of San Diego funded two winter shelters through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and Emergency Shelter Grants and provides supportive housing relief for some people living on the streets.
Fact: The City set up two temporary winter shelters that were opened from December 1, 2009 to April 1, 2010.
Fact: The winter shelters were funded to house a total of 370 homeless persons.
Fact: The winter shelters give preference to veterans, women, handicapped, and the elderly.
Fact: Families with children are mainly housed at Cortez Hill, Father Joe’s Villages, The Rescue Mission and also accommodated by the County voucher program.
Fact: Many of the unsheltered chronically homeless males in the City of San Diego are not accommodated at the winter shelters.
Fact: Presently no temporary shelters are operated or funded by the City of San Diego from the beginning of April to the end of November.
Fact: The County of San Diego does not operate a temporary shelter.
Fact: Many of the residents and business owners of the East Village area object to the continued placement of the shelter in their neighborhood.
Fact: The San Diego City Council and the Mayor delayed their selection of the location for the downtown winter shelter.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
11
Fact: Due to the efforts of Veterans Village of San Diego and the Alpha Project for the Homeless, the East Village winter shelter was set up on schedule in spite of the delay in the selection of the location.
FINDINGS
Finding #12: The City needs to select the locations for downtown winter shelters earlier in the year to allow for community input and more time for the setup of the structures.
Finding #13: The current winter shelters, because they are seasonal, do not adequately support the chronic homeless living on the streets in San Diego.
Finding #14: Many of the homeless sleep on the sidewalks and in doorways throughout the City.
Finding #15: A need exists for year-round shelters.
Finding #16: To effectively address the human needs of these individuals, on-site social services must be provided at homeless shelters including medical care, mental health counseling, employment counseling and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medi-Cal enrollment support.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Temporary homeless shelters should operate year-round until permanent homeless intake facilities can be constructed. It is imperative that the temporary homeless shelters be set up with the goal of accommodating the majority of the chronic homeless in the City. The current location of the winter shelter, at 450 16th Street, is paved and has the utility connections necessary for showers, toilets, and tents and could be expanded to accommodate additional homeless. Another option would be to use vacant existing buildings in the City to house temporary shelters. The Veterans Village of San Diego winter shelter, at 2801 Sports Arena Blvd., is a good example of an ideal location and should remain on this site. Service providers would have to be selected. Based on the current expenditures for the existing winter shelters, the year-round temporary downtown shelters’ projected annual budget would be approximately three million dollars per year. The temporary emergency shelters could utilize funding such as:

Formation of a special district tax base

Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) increase

HUD Community Development Block Grants and Emergency Shelter Grants

Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63)

Homeless service providers

Private donations
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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The 2009/2010 San Diego County Grand Jury recommends that the Mayor of the City of San Diego and the City Council of the City of San Diego:
10-30: Establish a downtown year-round temporary shelter, patterned after the 2009-2010 winter shelters, to house approximately 1,000 to 1,200 homeless persons.
10-31: Consider the establishment of additional temporary shelters in other parts of the City to accommodate the balance of the homeless persons in those areas.
The 2009-2010 San Diego County Grand Jury recommends that the San Diego County Board of Supervisors:
10-32: Instruct the Director of the Health and Human Services Agency to provide services when the year-round shelters are established, to support the following:

Medical care

Mental health care

Substance abuse counseling

Assistance in enrolling persons in federal programs such as Social Security Income (SSI) and Medi-Cal
FACTS—SET SIX
Due to a limited number of outdoor toilets downtown, additional sanitizing of the sidewalks and streets in both the downtown and the East Village areas is imperative. One solution is to use automatic public toilets that are mechanically self-cleaning and have a limited time usage prior to sanitizing taking place. The automatic public toilets are more sanitary than temporary toilets and are safer due to automatically controlled time limits for persons using the toilet. This decreases the potential for criminal activity. The need for automatic public toilets was recommended by the 2004-2005 San Diego County Grand Jury, “Automatic Public Toilets in the City of San Diego.” Funding for public toilets could include the City’s Redevelopment Agency/Center City Development Corporation (CCDC) for initial installation and construction. The long term solution is to provide permanent structures and automatic public toilets in parks and other City owned properties. In the interim, portable toilets should be installed in strategic locations such as selected commercial parking lots and City owned property in the downtown area. Two examples of locations of City owned property that could be utilized for outdoor toilets are the PETCO Park tailgate parking lot and the proposed public library vacant lot. The rental cost of two portable toilets, including the cleaning and content removal, is approximately $400 per month. Funding solutions for permanent outdoor toilets should include the possibility of utilizing Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). Commercial advertising on automatic public toilets could generate funding for ongoing maintenance.
Fact: Fecal deposits and urine odors in the East Village create a public health hazard.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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Fact: The Downtown Partnership, through the Clean and Safe Downtown San Diego program, perform street and sidewalk cleaning.
FINDINGS
Finding #17: Adequate permanent outdoor toilet facilities in the downtown and East Village areas do not exist.
Finding #18: Additional portable, automatic, and permanent toilets would reduce the fecal deposits and urine odors in the downtown and East Village.
Finding #19: An outbreak of illness caused by unsanitary conditions in the downtown and East Village areas could result in liability to the City.
Finding #20: Additional sidewalk and street cleaning equipment is necessary to reduce fecal matter, urine deposits, and odors in the downtown area to ensure the protection of the public’s health and safety. Many of the East Village residents and businesses have to clean up fecal waste.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The 2009/2010 San Diego Grand Jury recommends that the Mayor of the City of San Diego and the City Council of the City of San Diego:
10-33: Review Downtown Partnership’s Clean and Safe program with the objective of increasing the cleaning and sanitizing of the sidewalks and streets in downtown San Diego.
10-34: Provide funding for outdoor toilets in the downtown and East Village areas to reduce public health hazards.
FACTS—SET SEVEN
There is a need to improve the facility at the Neil Good Day Care Center.
Fact: The Neil Good Day Care Center (NGDC) is located in the East Village area and is a day center for homeless persons.
Fact: The facility needs to ensure that all areas are in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements concerning accessibility to bathrooms, showers, and paths of travel.
Fact: The City is required to maintain the showers at the NGDC per its contract with Father Joe’s Villages.
Fact: Contract with the City limits the shower usage at NGDC to ten persons per day.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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Fact: The current hours of operation for the NGDC are:

Monday - Friday 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Saturday - Sunday 6:00 AM to 2:30 PM
Fact: Approximately 150 homeless persons can be accommodated at the NGDC during the day.
Fact: There is no sun and rain protection for people in the outside areas of the NGDC.
Fact: The 17th Street side of the NGDC is unsightly.
FINDINGS
Finding #21: The NGDC requires necessary improvements to be in compliance with ADA requirements.
Finding #22: The NGDC requires repairs to the facility which will cost approximately fifty to one hundred thousand dollars.
Finding #23: The appearance of the NGDC requires landscaping to improve the appearance from the street side of the facility.
Finding #24: NGDC showers are limited to disabled persons only by Father Joe’s Villages.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The 2009/2010 San Diego County Grand Jury recommends that the Mayor of the City of San Diego and the City Council of the City of San Diego:
10-35: Provide funding to improve the functionality and serviceability of the Neil Good Day Care Center, specifically:

Insure that the facility is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Maintain the showers, washing machines and clothes dryers.

Install a covering on the outside areas to provide shade and protection from inclement weather.

Expand the Neil Good Day Care Center operating hours from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily to reduce the incidence of homeless people being arrested by the San Diego Police for illegal lodging enforcement.

Expand the usage of the showers to include all homeless persons.

Consider the Neil Good Day Center site as a location for a year-round temporary shelter.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS
The California Penal Code §933(c) requires any public agency which the Grand Jury has reviewed, and about which it has issued a final report, to comment to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the agency. Such comment shall be made no later than 90 days after the Grand Jury publishes its report (filed with the Clerk of the Court); except that in the case of a report containing findings and recommendations pertaining to a department or agency headed by an elected County official (e.g. District Attorney, Sheriff, etc.), such comment shall be made within 60 days to the Presiding Judge with an information copy sent to the Board of Supervisors.
Furthermore, California Penal Code §933.05(a), (b), (c), details, as follows, the manner in which such comment(s) are to be made:
(a) As to each grand jury finding, the responding person or entity shall indicate one of the following:
(1) The respondent agrees with the finding
(2) The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding, in which case the response shall specify the portion of the finding that is disputed and shall include an explanation of the reasons therefor.
(b) As to each grand jury recommendation, the responding person or entity shall report one of the following actions:
(1) The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary regarding the implemented action.
(2) The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future, with a time frame for implementation.
(3) The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and the scope and parameters of an analysis or study, and a time frame for the matter to be prepared for discussion by the officer or head of the agency or department being investigated or reviewed, including the governing body of the public agency when applicable. This time frame shall not exceed six months from the date of publication of the grand jury report.
(4) The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not reasonable, with an explanation therefor.
(c) If a finding or recommendation of the grand jury addresses budgetary or personnel matters of a county agency or department headed by an elected officer, both the agency or department head and the Board of Supervisors shall respond if requested by the grand jury, but the response of the Board of Supervisors shall address only those budgetary or personnel matters over which it has some decision making authority. The response of the elected agency or department head shall address all aspects of the findings or recommendations affecting his or her agency or department.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2009/2010 (filed May 17, 2010)
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Comments to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court in compliance with the Penal Code §933.05 are required from the:
Responding Agency Recommendations Date
Mayor, City of San Diego 10-24, 10-26 through 10-31, and 8/16/10
10-33 through 10-35
City Council, City of San Diego 10-24, 10-26 through 10-31, and 8/16/10
10-33 through 10-35
Board of Supervisors, County of 10-24, 10-26, and 10-32 8/16/10
San Diego
San Diego Association of 10-25 8/16/10
Governments (SANDAG)

Lupe, sponsor of the 5 PM Monday meal in OB.

There are many other resources than these listed here, on other web pages. http://nz9f.com/b

Fight Sidewalk Humanure!

The City wouldn't let us provide poop bags for people, so we put pictures of dogs up!

Don't Make Us America's Swinest City!Use a blue People-Bag, supposedly fordogs.

Other Resources: Housing on top, and Healthcare at bottom:

HOW TO QUALIFY FOR SSI: Almost everyone suffers from Bipolar Disorder in our present society, so try to get an appointment with any ordinary doctor to ask for a referral to a psychiatrist. Lists of clinics are below, near the bottom:

Internet Access:

San Diego City and San Diego County Public Libraries are listed on the page at this click here: http://nz9f.com/d

San Diego Housing Commission has vouchers good for housing, if you are disabled, elderly, a domestic violence victim, a family, and are currently homeless. Go online to www.sdhc.org, and click on the link "Update Your Waiting List Application". Select the "Project Based Voucher Program". Source: San Diego Housing Commission, 1122 Broadway, Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Note: These housing units are owned by local community agencies that provide support services other than housing. They charge 30% of your income, typically $308 for someone on SSI.

SRO (Single Room Occupancy) Hotels in Downtown San Diego with rent at $410 a month or less: Lincoln Hotel, 536 Fifjth Av., 619-702-2720. $45 application fee, shared bathrooms, no drugs or alcohol. $325 to $378 per month. New Palace, 1814 Fifth Av., 55+ age, 6 months minimum lease, $406 per month. 619-235-2323.

The Salvation Army CARS program stands for Coordinated Assistance to Residential Stability, and permits adults who are homeless, including couples, who recently lost their employment, or recently just arrived in San Diego, or had an unaffordable rent increase, to get housing and also become employed. You must be capable of doing 40 hours a week of work, and be clean of drugs and sober at least 6 months. No felony convictions. What you receive: Private room at a hotel, 40 to 60 days, plus transportation, clothing, food vouchers, and basic services such as medical. To apply, contact Kathy Almendarez at (619) 699-2214, and ask for a CARS interview.

For Black persons with HIV, Integrated Services Center offers Counseling, Therapy, Substance Abuse Treatment, Case Management, Client Advocacy, and Support Groups. Call (619) 876-4462 or e-mail haroldc@fhcsd.org.

For those seeking sobriety, and who have drinking problems, A Better Way provides a safe and sober living environment. Contact Tyrone McGhee, 9-5, M-F, at (619) 456-1258.

Employment is one way to get housing. Help is at http://nz9f.com/E

San Diego Rescue Mission Emergency Shelter on First and Elm is at 120 Elm St., 7 blocks north of the Civic Center Trolley on nearby 1st Ave.

Uptown Faith Community Service Center provides mail, FAX, and phone calls to homeless and near-homeless clients. Funds permitting, bus passes and tokens, and assistance obtaining ID cards. Also provides emergency food, HIV tests, veterans' outreach, and disabilities. No age limitations. Phone (619) 281-8411.

St. Vincent de Paul Village, one of Father Joe's Villages offers services at 15th and Imperial and 299 17th St. Services include: Resource Room (computer use and job searches) 8-4 M-F; TB testing Tues. 3 PM;Medical Clinic, M-F 8:30-5 and also Mon. and Thur. till 9 PM; Dental Clinic, Mon. 12:30-9 and Tue. thru Fri., 8:30 to 5 pm.

Legal aid, Mon, Tue, and Thur, 9-11:30 AM and 1-4 PM; Homeless ID Badges, 8:30-4 Mon thru Sat, exc. 11:30 to 12:30 lunch break.

Travel Assistance, first ten people only, 1 PM, M-F.

Veterans Assistance Reps, Wed. 8:30-10:30 AM.

Family Shelter Placements, 8:30 AM, M-F.

Showers, 7-10:30 AM and 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, Seven Days a Week.

Most services are closed on Sat/Sun.

Case Management Services: Many resources are funded by Ryan-White, and these are the approved case managers for those services:

Being Alive, 4070 Centre Street, San Diego, 619-291-1400

Comprehensive Health Center, 1855 First Ave., San Diego, 619-235-0305

North Park Family Health Center, 3544 30th St., San Diego, 619-515-2446

CASA (Coordinated Assistance Services Advocacy), 4004 Beyer Blvd., San Ysidro (Mexican Border Area), 619-662-4192

CCRC (Community Connection Resource Center), 4080 Centre St., San Diego, 619-260-6348

Note: The first and last ones are on the same city block.

Medical and Dental Healthcare: Telephone Area Codes are 619 unless stated.

Logan Heights Family Health Center, 1809 National Ave., San Diego, CA 92101. Medical 234-8171 Dental 515-2394 Mon thru Sat at 8:15 AM Also, every day except Sun and Fri at 1:30PM

Comprehensive Health Center, 3177 Oceanview Blvd., San Diego 92113 231-9300 Tooth extractions by appointment

San Ysidro Health, 4004 Wl. Beyer Blvd, 92154 428-4463 Standby services without appointment at 8 AM and 1 PM At the Beyer Blvd. trolley stop

Escondido Community Health 760-737-2018 401 E. Valley Pkwy., Escondido. Standbys

North County Health, 150 Balpreda Rd., San Marcos 760-736-6794 By appointment only

North County Health, 217 E. Earlham, Ramona 760-789-1233

Children 5 to 18 ONLY, with Medi-Cal or similar plans: Emergencies only, Share The Care, 692-8858.

General Healthcare for the Homeless: Telephone Area Code 619 unless indicated.

Logan Heights: 1809 National Ave., Jesenia S. at 515-2495.

Downtown: 1145 Broadway, Lily C. at 515-2417. Crisis: Margaret A. at 515-2398.

Appointments: 515-2300.

Homeless Veterans Healthcare:

8810 Rio San Diego Dr., #2200, 400-5157. Mon, Tue, Wed, 8-10 AM. Thur, 9-11 AM.

550 Washington St., #B, Escondido (760) 489-6380. Tue. 8-10 AM, Wed. 10:30 -12:30.

2459 Market St., San Diego, 232-2753. Tue. 9-11 AM.

1501 Imperial Ave., San Diego, 233-8500. Wed. 8:30-10:30 AM

8790 Cuyamaca #D, Santee, 449-5513. Wed. 10-1.

3260 Production Ave., Oceanside, 760-439-1244. Wed. 7:30-8:30 AM.

Healthcare Advocates:

Assistance in getting Medi-Cal, psychiatric help, County Medical Services, other:

Neil Good Day Center, 17th and K, Downtown San Diego, Wed. 9-12. 471-2687 or toll-free 1-877-734-3258. Mary Jo.

Other Medical and Dental Services: Logan Heights: Medical= 234-8171, Dental= 515-2394. Times: 8:15 AM and 1:30 PM, except Friday afternoons, and all Sundays.

Father Joe's Villages Medical Care Offices:

Medical Case Managers, extension 1411, 1434, and 1425. MWF 9-11 AM, and Th 5:30-6:30 PM.

Dental Managers, M 12:30 to 9, TWThF 8:30-5.

Lab Ext. 1423

Prenatal Ext. 1421

TB Testing 3 PM MTW, LGBH Only, 1-3 MW

Nurse Mon PMC Floor 2, 9-10 AM T BMC 9-10 AM T JKC 9:30-10-45 AM W Neil Good 9-10 AM W Clinic 3-4:30 PM Th PMC Floor 3, 3:30-4:30 PM F Clinic1-2 PM

Make appointments and pickup medicines: 10:30-11:30 AM, MTWThF 3:30-4:30 PM, MTWThF 6:30-8 PM MTh

Tuesday, 4-25-10

Two new charities on the Donations Page, B4: The Third Avenue Charitable Organization, TACO, operates the Homeless Action Team at First Lutheran Church, 3rd and Ash, Downtown San Diego. Also, Tresh, the premium volunteer-organizer for many of the meals, is listed now too. Her ministry is called So Others May Eat, Inc. Like myself, Tresh has met God in-person and one-on-one. And, like myself, she became involved with feeding the hungry and homeless in San Diego immediately. Hers are some of the best meals on the whole Page B list!

Pressed for computer time today, so I will recap the Homeless Action Team meeting tomorrow. Promised eveyone a web-link to Homeless in San Diego, the Grand Jury Report on the Homeless Situation in San Diego City and County: Click here: http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/grandjury/report09_10.html

Thursday, 4-20-10

Missed Monday's Homeless Action Team meeting, but asked if anything needed publication, and a leader said no.

Homeless News: Problems with Foresty Rangers at the Southwest Homeless Camp, in the Otay River Regional Park, southeast corner of the harbor salt flats. They've been ticketing innocent daytime visitors, just for visiting every day. Hey, this place (Palm Ave. Trolley Stop, follow the bike path north) has been a Homeless Camp ever since the Great George W. Bush Depression began, on September 11, 2001! It's similar to the 1930's Homeless Camp at the Hotel del Coronado!

Several handicapped homeless are calling for the removal of the Suicide Dots, the yellow ramp surfaces covering various streetcorner ramps, and similar in appearance to those which line the edge of the Trolley. Suicide Dots cause wheeled handicapped devices to overturn, and also cause people using walkers to fall. Handicapped wheels need smoother surfaces. The City will probably be sued by people falling and becoming injured by its Suicide Dots.

Addicted to Religion? Jesus Anonymous can help you overcome addictions to bibles, Jesus, religion, and holy communion.

I am sorry to hear of the indictment of Father Joe, and his morning brunch, showers, computer room, and Neil Day center are much needed by all.

Thursday, 4-13-10

Homeless News: Currently one person in 8 in the US receives food stamps. That's 12.5% of the population. In other news, Nancy Graham, former head of San Diego's CCDC (Central City Development Corporation) is currently charged with 34 ethics violations and faces fines of up to $170,000. She resigned from that group, which oversees projects involving the homeless, In July 2008. Her alleged ethics violations concern her relationships with Real Estate developers.

Tuesday, 04-11-10:

Yesterday's Homeless Action Team (HAT) Meeting discussed the need for making the Neil Good Day Center a 24-hour facility, because of the need for showers to treat itches, flea bites, scabies, and similar. Also needs related to menstruation and incontinence. There would then also be a 24-hour laundry there, which is much needed, and there was the suggestion of installing microwave ovens, like at the SDSU Aztec Center. Concept: 24 hour toilets, laundry, showers, microwave ovens, and minimal medicines, drinking water, shavers, adult diapers.

The meeting also quoted news sources as saying that there are currently 65 million homeless in the US, out of a 330 million US population, so that means 20% of all US Americans are homeless at this time, or one person out of five!

It was explained how property taxes work, in terms of who gets how much money (the City gets almost nothing), and how Redevelopment Money is what runs cities at this time, along with Sales Taxes. The CCDC (Central City Development Corp.) is the Downtown redevelopment agency, which just got its budget increased from $2 billion to $6 billion, as I understand it. It can also use that money for renting SRO's (Single Room Occupancy, essentially motel rooms), so it looks like the homeless problem may actually get some workable solutions! The voters have also indicated homelessness handling as one of the primary issues to determine their vote!

Friday, 04-07-10:

500 dogs and cats were euthanized in animal shelters last week. How long before they start euthanizing people in shelters? No shelters? Precisely my point: We treat animals better than people when it comes to some things. Where's the Humane Society For People? Lots of us would like to check in!

Today there are new Homeless Solutions on the Solutions Page, http://nz9f.com/s

From Home Page blog: Monday's Home Action Team meeting finalized a new brochure. I had my objections to one of the free meal listings, but was overruled.I suggest that the correct format for a homeless meal is Vinnie's on Sunday (9:30 AM Sunday listing on Page B1) or the 9 AM Friday meal at First Lutheran: Basically a lunch, as opposed to breakfast, at 8 or 9 or 10 am. I'd like to see Father Joe's regular lunch move to 9:30 to 11 AM instead of its current 11 AM to 12:30. Same food, though: Lunch. Why? Well, when the homeless order food in the morning at a fast food place, they order hamburgers and fries, not typical breakfast food. Burger King complied, offering the full menu early.

It was mentioned in the meeting that I'm not a big fan of God's Extended Hands, due to past problems which continue. I don't like the San Diego Rescue Mission, either, for similar reasons. None can be discussed herein.

New from John Schlitz: In that day and age when most of the homeless (now called Real Estate Greed Victims) were drug abusers, criminals, and/or mentally ill, faith-based rescue programs were in order. Now that three-quarters of all homeless have none of these problems, and are merely unemployed for having different political views, that whole line of thinking needs to be re-evaluated. This is particularly true because faith-based ministries do not work very well upon gnostic individuals, and our current homeless are well-over 50% gnostic.

The HAT meeting was all gnostics, representing 4 religious traditions, including Islam. Most of the discussion was on the differences between those traditions. I explained that in the religion business, we need to know how much each person participating knows, and this can be accomplished by telling a few jokes that are on different levels. These jokes are told by an accomplice, who is someone that a group has never met before, will never see again, and nobody knows that he or she is in on the test. If people smile at a joke, or even get upset, it tells what they know.

Also at the HAT meeting, some of the authors compared notes on web censorship.

Fri., Sat., Sun., 4-30 thru 5-2-10, from my daily blog on Home Page:

Composing some satirical songs for a page on humorous homeless songs. Will start out in D-Section, and move elsewhere. After speaking to the City Council I was then attacked in food lines or public transportation 8 days in a row. Now, there are groups of people trying to label all homeless as sexual deviates or such. People have been charged with Indecent Exposure for attempting to urinate as privately as possible, in public. Another tack I ran into yesterday on the Trolley. On the way to the Padres baseball game, a woman accused me of staring at another woman's breasts.

She caused a big scene, andtransit security responded. People told the truth, that this was all in this woman's head. Just harassment of a homeless person, or perhaps a Pagan, or both. Don't know, but her boyfriend was extremely abusive, so I felt better when the trolley guys showed up. Here's the formula: When harassed on the trolley, do not leave same when people demand it. Let them punch or kick you, then call the police and press charges. This is extremely important!

HAT Meeting, 4-26-10:

Suggestions by committee members: First, the Bots Dots (parking and highway stripe pasted-down reflectors) are causing concern for the handicapped, as they routinely overturn wheelchairs and grocery carts.

Secondly, suggestion to place rolls of toilet paper on the "doggie poop bag" dispensers, with a sign "TP for humans only. Keep Downtown Clean!" Perhaps adding the idea that many people care more about their pets than their fellow humans.

Third, it was suggested we start a line of picture postcards featuring homeless San Diegans.

Fourth, more than one person suggested we convert the Pep Boys abandoned building on 11th and Market into a Community Center. First aid, geriatric diapers, rest rooms, a few things like blankets, possibly pay $1 per night to sleep inside the building.

Fifth, the homeless people didn't like any of the new development plans, such as PATH. The staff members did. There are supposedly plans in Seattle, Boston, and San Francisco that work. We had proposals from Father Joe's Villages and PATH. Nobody in our homeless community who's been in their other cities liked what they did there, basically. There are compliments about other programs all the time, but not these two.

Sixth, I am to invite San Diego Mayor Sanders to our meetings, but nobody really expects him to show up. Maybe if he can make a good media photo-op out of it. Some of the downtown businessmen are really pissed off about the problem, and they have money. We would be just as happy to be off the sidewalk as those businessmen would.

$30 million for a project is nuts. How many motel vouchers will that buy? One million, at $30 a night each? The mainproblem is that it diverts money from Alpha Project and Neil Good Center, and those are currently the only programs in SanDiego that work!

Proposed Homeless Housing Bill of Rights:

1.) You have a right to live alone, without any roommates, in a choice of many diverse locations. All will be free from noise, and very secure.

2.) You have a right to cook food in your room, which will contain a sink, microwave oven, refrigerator, range/oven, and color TV.

3.) You have a right to one storage room, access 7 days a week, extremely secure, at least 8 feet by 8 feet by 12 feet in size.

4.) You have a right to enter and leave your room at any time, 24/7.

5.) You have a right to freedom from government, religious, media, and NGO (nongovernmental organization) advertising and propaganda. (The "Thought Police" are prohibited.)

5 plans currently formulated, but need details.

Meeting with the City: 4-21-10

Costing my lots in expenses, that I don't have, such as photocopies, haircut, and having to eat in a restaurant or two, just to be able to meet with the City today. I'm wearing a nice Crisis House (Page F) business suit, from the Salvation Army (also Page F). My black eye looks so bad that I'm using makeup. Takes me back to my days on-air on TV. Haven't worn a suit since then. Never wrote about that in my bio, but I will.

The meeting turned out to be a committee meeting, but most of the City Council was present. I spoke addressing the issues of us homeless, and asked for a part-time job mediating the problem and suggesting general money-saving solutions for the City.

I wore a suit, a huge red glass "ruby" (purely ornamental), and had to get (and pay for) a haircut for this meeting. We homeless do not like to conform to dress codes, and political forced behavior. It is the only thing that we all share in common.

The City wants to spend $30.4 million on a 225-bed Homeless Reservation facility near City Hall. It would not satisfy the Court Order that the City get 2500 new beds for us, plus the homeless would refuse to live there, so the motion was eventually tabled, after much comment. Why don't we just give each homeless person $1,000 to go away and not come back?

30 million dollars divided by 30,000 homeless is $1,000 each. Less than the $2,000 San Francisco had to pay each of us, and they still have to comply with the requirements of all the new beds! I'm going to come up with half a dozen competing plans that deal with all issues. My plans will bear a United States Patent, and you guys can argue over who pays my royalties. How's that for an Outside-The-Box solution to my money problems?

I technically represent Homeless Action Team of the Third Avenue Community Organization, plus a large assortment of "underground" churches and clergy. 3 conventional clergy attended, too. Didn't have the heart to tell anybody that one reason "faith based" homeless solutions are failing is that most homeless are gnostic. How do I know? Some of my "Bite Me!" humor is gnostic, and can separate out who is. Everybody else just doesn'tget it. So, I suppose we would like to giveyouHoly Communion. Okay? There is a ministry in El Cajon City that teaches gnostic homeless to become ministers.

The radio station idea is not to be used before this winter. Last resort. The reason a democracy cannot have large amounts of unemployed and homeless is that we're too mobile: We can all move to San Diego, register to vote, and take over the entire political process. What's keeping you in Chicago? The job you don't have? The homeyou don't have? Must be the below-zero temperatures and five feet of snow.

Do you think cold-weather cities like Denver, Chicago, and Philadelphia would be willing to pay the costs of exporting their homeless here? It's just for the winter, but most of them would never go back, and those cities know it. Wasn't it better to have a selection of cheap hotels downtown? Now we have a much larger problem.

Minutes of the Homeless Action Team, 04-20-10: We received printouts of the rest rooms that are supposedly open Downtown, and will be checking the accuracy of same. This is a resource, and will be posted in B-Section, so that anyone who wants or needs a copy of that can get it on the web. There is a new prototype "handout" sheet, too, with a logo or two on it. It is obvious that the Social Welfare interns are taking quite a bit of heat on this project, but that's what interns do!

Restroom discussion: With the "greying" of America (more elderly people) there is an increased need for toilets everywhere. Many people, such as myself, now need to use the restroom every 20 minutes. I once wanted to come up with an MTS (trolley & transit) toilet guide, showing each one. Info I need to know.

I want to see a list of homeless resource websites, for a search engine right here. I have such a thing for food resources on my Donations Page, www.nz9f.com/help .

My vision for San Diego: Reputation for doing the most good while using the least taxpayer money. Model programs for the other cities, so they all send people here to see how it's done. A conservative city-management think-tank.

Concerns: Many will not take SSI, afraid to go onto the "hospital hit-list" wherein they die if ever sent to a hospital. Many are concerned about "homeless reservations", much like Indian Reservations. The City choosing PATH over Father Joe is probably a good idea, as Joe is overextended by taking on Neil Good, and (they say) not doing very well there as a result.

Many say they lost their job and then housing due to politics. They registered for a different political party, signed a petition, etc. In some cases, their boss told them exactly what petition they signed got them fired and/or evicted! Sounds a lot like the Bathe and Communist party tactics (or the Nazis) to me. The Nazis identified people and tagged them for elimination.

I'm going to ask the City for a minimum-wage part-time job tomorrow, and I might as well tell them how to cure the infamous airborne City Hall Disease. I am, after all, an air conditioning engineer!

Editorial April 17, 2010: To the San Diego Mayor and Council:

I'd welcome the involvement of the Red Cross, as opposed to churches, in helping with the problem of homelessness. They already help with people made homeless by disasters. This disaster is economic, the Depression. I volunteered many years with the Red Cross as a ham operator, providing emergency communications. That's where I learned to help homeless people.

Churches have ulterior motives, related to ministry, socialization, love, and promoting their views. They are looking to change people. Homeless are such because they have a different perspective on how housing should be administered. We don't tolerate forced belief. Employment and housing that are rigged to force a particular appearance, beliefs, religion, and political mind-set is wrong, yet used today as a method of control.

When you apply to rent housing, or apply for a job, your application gets sent to the "Godfather", who issues a ruling, based upon how much you kiss ass. I'm so black-balled right now that I could probably never even make it out of a hospital alive, or at least not without picking up a handicap merely by being there!

Control helps, and is necessary, but the control exerted today approaches Nazi fascism. We need more independent small businesses, and super-small businesses, and independent landlords. We need more diverse religions, too. All that, along with a fair wage and a huge Middle Class are what made the USA great and the world's best nation. Let's not lose what we've got.

Most Rev. John Kitchin, Homeless Bishop

This week's comment that I received 04-15-10 went something like this: "Only the Alpha Project works, and everything else is garbage. Neil Day Center used to work ok, but now that it's part of Father Joe and St. Vincent's, it doesn't work anymore." Not being familiar with these two, I need to find out more.

Saturday morning, April 3, 2010, United Methodist Imperial Beach (5th and Palm Ave.) 6-10 AM breakfast:

I announced the formation of HAT, the Homeless Action Team, at First Lutheran Church, 3rd and Ash, in Downtown San Diego, and invited everyone to the Monday 3 PM meetings. I also solicited ideas on how to improve the situation. Responses:

One man said we needed waterproof jackets, sleeping bags, backpacks, and handicap items. He was a very sour disgruntled veteran, admitting that he's intentionally asking for expensive things, expecting to be turned down, so that he can be more angry.

Other suggestions:

More shower and laundry facilities

Psychological counseling

Instead of bailing out banks, bail out people

Longer winter shelter times

Jobs. Put people to work

Reform the banking system

Legalize dumpster diving for recyclables

Legalize marijuana for tax purposes

Pay-to-use public showers for bicyclists

Legalize tent cities, like they have in Rancho Cucamonga: Designated homeless areas, with grocery vending trucks coming thru daily.

Require fast-food restaurants to distribute unsold food, rather than dumping it.

Next, I conducted a sidewalk survey of the Salvation Army morning senior meal, 825 Seventh Ave., Downtown San Diego. Monday, April 5, 2010.

The ideas: Several would not talk, saying they had better things to do, and all this was a waste of time.

Several said that we need permanent, affordable, all-year transitional shelters, and only the Alpha Project comes anywhere near understanding the problem, PERIOD. I disagreed. There's gotta be some other group, too, that has an understanding.

Dr. Johnson Newbeck, M.D., said that the State of California is full of shit, and should never have revoked his license for coming up with the first methadone program, in general use today. He said that a church is a street gang with gang leaders and hit-men. They're into money-making, nowadays. (I've known several professional killers who worked for churches.)

One said we need to end crooked city government.

One said that the homeless need a kick in the pants and not being fed for a few days, to stimulate them to find work.

One said we need immediate housing, like in Seattle, where a group of commercial buildings is used as a homeless camp.

Someone said that we need clothing appropriate for seeking jobs.

Another said we need car owners to donate vehicle trips for seeking jobs.

One said not to write any shit down. You're not gettin nothin from me. They been trying all that Homeless Action shit for 20 years and have accomplished nothing at all. Huge waste of time. And these fucking churches are just pushing asshole bible-crap, pure bullshit from Jesus. Churches are here to make money for rich people, and brainwash us poor bastards into being more and more confused.

Another quote: I have a life, asshole. Take your motherfucking opinion polls and shove them up your ass, Mormon cocksucker. Eat shit. You kike fuckheads stop taking surveys and asking questions and start doing something.

One said: We need to give all the homeless people assault weapons, so we can tear a big enough hole in the government's asshole that it will actually do something, for the first time. (This drew applause from the whole group.)

The meeting of HAT, Homeless Action Team, 3 pm Monday 04-05-10:

I learned that HAT is part of TACO, ThirdAvenue Community Organization, and has two social worker interns and two paid leaders. I presented some of the material on this web page, and introduced this website. I did mention that the doggie bags for poop are a really good idea, but we need people bags now, too.

My meeting suggestions were to have someone operate a coin-op shower business, where somebody who bikes to work Downtown can put in a few quarters and take a shower, washing off the sweat from the bike trip. And, perhaps the homeless can be given a few shower tokens (or even use their own money) as well. A business for profit. Another possibility is a shower truck, that comes in late at night, and is gone by morning.

Showers would likely be vandalized, but if they are on trolley stops, the MTS has security there, plus cameras. The MTS bike patrons can get a shower, and the showers can be guarded by the MTS security, already there.

I didn't mention it, but I have editorials regarding the San Diego homeless situation on several web-pages, including some proposed solutions. Book Chapter (?), commercial editorials, plus Page M, public-domain editorials not-for-profit, plus Page S, general solutions to everyday problems. Here they are:

John Kitchin, Public Domain 2010.

1.) Homelessness Public Domain, 2009.

I did not volunteer for the job of spokesperson for the San Diego homeless, but wrote 5 editorials published by major newspapers regarding that problem. I also advised the Mayor and Police Chief of the City of El Cajon, a suburb. I seem to be the logical person, however, for a bunch of reasons:

Most help for the homeless is faith-based, and I am a minister. I was a Chief Operations Officer in small business for 35+ years, so I know how to deal with details. I have this website, dealing with resource information for the poor, including the food pantries and soup kitchens. I've been homeless for 2 years, and wrote a book years ago on how to do it. And, I write very well, being an author.

So, I get to write about homelessness, from a first-hand perspective, and you might call me an expert, having written a published book about same. (Mama always said to obey the law, work hard, get a degree with good grades at a major university, do some graduate work, and someday you can live on the sidewalk in San Diego.) Not.

I will begin by giving a brief description of the problem: The homeless problem is primarily caused by the people dealing with it (ministers, counselors, social workers, politicians, etc.) having no real understanding nor knowledge whatsoever about homelessness. They read some bullshit taught in college, figure it's true, and now they can "help" these unfortunate people. Frustrating, isn't it? If you're an expert, how long have you been homeless?

It doesn't work that way? Yes it does. If your bank came to you and quintupled your interest rate, you'd lose your house, just like I did. Being homeless is literally a crime, so the word connotates criminality, and should be banned, such as the words "nigger" and "kike". The politically-correct term for a homeless person is Real Estate Greed Economic Victim, or REGEV. Abbreviated as Greed Victim. Don't call me a homeless, and I won't call you a spic or a wop. Fair enough? (Let's at least talk about a different name.)

A huge number of homeless will not admit same, and a lot of that has to do with the derogatory word used. Some is denial, some is pride, and some is anger. San Diego has a million homeless that do not appear on any census, and cause California to be cheated out of representation in Congress, and cheated out of federal funds as a result.

I worked a long time as a night taxicab driver in San Diego, and learned a lot about the problem. For example, thousands of young women, who would otherwise be homeless, live with rich older men in Pacific Beach and elsewhere, trading sex for a place to live. That's ok? Sure, but we're talking about 8 women living with one man. And, some are underage. Same thing in Hillcrest, only that's usually men and boys. Welcome to San Diego.

That isn't being homeless? Okay, then what about people who must move around, staying someplace else, with a different friend or temporary lover, every night? Many thousands of them, too. Obviously, not visible to a census-taker, especially the underage people.

So, what is a homeless person? The definition results in an answer of 40,000 who are on the street any given night, plus shelters, programs, sex-housing, and more. A million homeless. Homeless don't want to be found, stigmatized, or forced to work with the idiots who run our government. Opinion? Worse. Opinion of their de-facto representative. I didn't ask for the job. You (plural) did.

Are you homeless because your landlord tripled your rent? Because your real estate company sold your apartment? Because your lender quintupled your monthly home loan payments? Because the City tore down all the reasonably-priced housing to build million-dollar condos?

Substance abuse? Mental illness? Sorry to tell you, but the homelessness caused that, not the other way around. Homelessness causes people who have never used drugs to become drug addicts, mentally ill, and very dangerous. It causes a hatred for the police, government, and even the press. Is that what you want? San Diego has many hundreds of Ph.D.'s living on sidewalks. So much for the value of an education!

I suggested many permanent all-year shelters, in diverse places, paid for by a tax on vacant real estate. Most current "programs" are unacceptable to those on the street for a myriad of reasons. I attended the "Homeless Convention" at City Hall, and lots of services were offered, but how many were specifically asked for? I wanted storage space, transportation, and Section 8 housing. No dice on any of that.

I want to live in the City of El Cajon, near where I used to live (for 30 years). You want me to move to a different place? I refuse. People without housing can't be choosy? GO FUCK YOURSELF. I'm as human as you are. If you move me to Chula Vista, I'd still be homeless, despite having a nice home. It isn't home. People without housing are extremely fussy, and need to be. They/we also get very possessive over what little we have.

I predict that the confiscation of the tents and other needed equipment of the homeless by the police will result in a minimum of one or two dead officers. That's a serious problem. You needed to know that, and I hope I saved a cop's life writing this.

Homeless don't have a reason to live, and most do not believe in Godorthe Jesus-Shit brainwashing, either. It can be argued that life in prison is easier. Is that what your landlord or lender is sentencing you to?

The whole story will take thousands of pages, but this is the intro requested. I promise to accurately represent the truth as best I can, in the interest of solving a serious problem. The Great GeorgeW. Bush Economic Depression continues.

PROPOSED SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM:

Minimum Cost Homeless Solution:

Your Rights as a San Diego County Homeless Person:

1.) You get Food Stamp, EBT, or SNAP assistance within 24 hours, Mon. thru Fri., holidays excluded.

2.) You may apply for General Relief at the same time, although the process takes 30 days. SSI and/or Disability Assistance will automatically be requested from the USA.

3.) You have the right, one time only each year, to temporarily stay anywhere (public property) that you need to stay, 10 hours maximum. Warning ticket, no fine.

4.) You automatically get a free monthly trolley and bus pass, S/D/M, plus an ID card, at taxpayer expense. You will also be given a free bike locker at a trolley station. The usual bike locker rules do not apply to you.

5.) You get the keys to all the City portable toilets, which are port-a-potties located everywhere.

6.) You must register for all of these privileges. Your Transit ID, issued by MTS, will contain a symbol for your status as Homeless. It is a picture ID. (See #4).

7.) If you elect to stay in a rural area, instead of the city, your transit ID (with special Homeless symbol) will be accepted as full payment on any MTS Rural Bus. Thank you for getting out of San Diego!

8.) The Office of Emergency Assistance, San Diego County, will assist you further, if necessary. Dial "211" from any phone (no coins required).

End. John Kitchin Public Domain, 2010.

Homeless Food Tokens

This idea is copyright 2010, John Kitchin, and Patent Pending.

I propose a food token, good at fast-food restaurants. Because of political corruption, I need to demand the exact particulars of how all this works:

1.) Tokens are good only for specific items on the Dollar Menu. They may not be used for anything else. Other use constitutes fraud.

2.) Each token is valid as payment for one 99 cent item, including tax. No cash involved. Not all dollar menu items qualify, either, for nutritional reasons.

3.) The restaurant agrees to accept tokens, in accordance with these rules. Tax is included, or, possibly the transaction is tax exempt, as this is a charitable contribution.

4.) Tokens sell for $1.20 each, which is $0.99, plus $0.09 tax (approximately; varies by city), and an administrative charge of $0.12 per transaction.

5.) People looking to help homeless and other poor people without giving them cash (which could be used for dope or booze) can buy tokens and hand them out as desired. This gives 24-hour access to food.

6.) The only authorized restaurants are as follows: McDonald's, Burger King, Carl's Jr., Jack-In-The-Box, Taco Bell, and Del Taco. Under no circumstances may corrupt politics add a restaurant to this list!

7.) The only items which may be purchased are burgers, chicken, salads, etc. No beverages except milk or fruit juice (not fruit drink.) Specifically prohibited from token purchase are the following: Sweets, desserts, soft drinks (except as above), and/or fried vegetables, such as French fries or onion rings. Milkshakes are prohibited as "sweets".

8.) Tokens will be minted by a casino chip company. The cost is part of the 12 cent administrative fee. Some of that fee may also go to the seller of chips as a sales commission. I call upon the American Indian gaming casinos to sell these food chips, in cooperation with Native American Traditional Religion. The Old Religious Traditions of the Native American Nations provide for the feeding of neighboring tribes, if those tribes need help. Yes, that's Ancient Paganism. I lived a few years on the Quechan Nation Reservation, near Yuma, Arizona, and wrote a book about reservation life.

9.) Please do not even THINK about changing #6 or #7, as that took many years to establish as exactly the correct solution. We would be better off WITHOUT this idea, if either nutrition or participation get corrupted by idiot politicians. You'll cause the abuse of tokens, traded for cigarettes. Going to be some of that, minimal, but if you can't use chips to buy desserts, shakes, fries, colas, etc., their value will be low. Except to eat.

Homeless Survival Kit:

P38A Canadian Army canopener, plastic knife-fork-spoon, napkins, flashlight & batteries, dollar radio, ear plugs, pad of paper, 2 pens, one stamped envelope, 99 Cents phone card, plastic sheet, cigarette lighter, space blanket, dollar backpack, needle and thread, dollar perfume, and dollar umbrella or raincoat.

Patent Pending, Copyrighted, and All Rights Reserved, John Kitchin, 2010.

The HAT meeting on Mon., Apr. 12:

Melanie Stewart presented a newspaper article she recently wrote for the City Times (San Diego City College) newspaper. She said that the homeless are a diverse group that is currently being pushed out, much like the Native American Indians were once pushed out and marginalized. She said that there now exist "homeless reservations".

A handout sheet will be printed, giving resource information, in order to engage people in conversation, and get their opinions on how this group should proceed.

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