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Homelessness in Petersburg – Part 2

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sherlockj
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Travel Inn was shut down by the ACE team in June. Courtesy Joyce Chu, Progress Index.

by James C. Sherlock

I wrote yesterday about the excellent investigative reporting by the Progress-Index about the knock-on effects of the renewal of fire and building code enforcement in Petersburg.

My position is that Petersburg must enforce its codes for public safety and the livability of the city.

But I also recognize the need to provide better solutions to homelessness in that city. I am pursuing a story on that subject.

But in the meanwhile, the Progress-Index’s Joyce Chu has posted her second article in that series.  I refer to

‘A fresh can of nowhere to go’: Health and stability stumble with fewer motel rooms for those on the edge”

It consists almost exclusively of the stories of those displaced with the closure of those motels.

It is powerful stuff.

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3 responses to “Homelessness in Petersburg – Part 2”

  1. Kathleen Smith Avatar
    Kathleen Smith

    As you pursue this, check into what happened with the pro pal to use the cottages at Central State Hospital, no longer being used as the facility has downsized considerably. There was a proposal on the table to use the 27 buildings for homeless. Not sure whatever happened. The Progress did follow this.

    1. James C. Sherlock Avatar
      James C. Sherlock

      I will. I have approached both local and state sources for background and comment.

  2. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    The Feds have been involved in homelessness for some time under the phrase “Continuum of Care”.

    Basically, it requires a local/regional coordinated approach to homelessness that has many pieces of parts that include health care.

    I like the approach. It encourages/incentivizes the various groups responding to homelessness to coordinate and collaborate as a federated body.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/feb8eb88f68584d01a43ead86562737aeccb6fc5e1897c1eccbf0d8a6ae63348.jpg

    https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/coc/regulations

    There is also a concept known as Housing First:

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8e7a897d20dbb55ac57efa4a576318f7bbc0bf5f1f5e7401f189ea0f59adc173.jpg

    https://endhomelessness.org/resource/housing-first/

    that is somewhat at odds with the concept of Homeless Shelters.

    My point is that there is an existing structure ongoing and it’s not going to get replaced by something else but it could well be changed/modified with better ideas and approaches.

    Petersburg:

    https://www.findhelp.org/crater-area-coalition-on-homelessness–petersburg-va–continuum-of-care-program/5623280745316352?postal=23805

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