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Safe Parking Program in Designated Areas for homleless with vehicles
Let your voice be heard!

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Councilman Bill Rosendahl
  Safe Parking Program in Designated Areas for homeless with vehicles
Let your voice be heard!

EDITOR'S NOTE: This came to me recently as a follow-up to a story we spoke of on "Community Matters" last week. The listener said, "Thought you might want to know about this and let your voice be heard.. Another chance to let the City hear your opinion!!" She forwarded the following letter from a Los Angeles City Councilman, Bill Rosendahl, who represents part of the West side.

from:

Councilman Bill Rosendahl

July 26, 2010

Dear Friends,

I am writing to share with you some news about the progress we are making on a groundbreaking program to deal with the issue of people living in their vehicles in Council District 11.

As many of you know, city agencies and I have been working very hard to develop a comprehensive strategy to come up with a solution that balances restricted parking and law enforcement with social services for those who need them.

Last month, the City Council approved amendments to an ordinance that will make it easier to restrict oversized vehicles from parking on our streets overnight.  At the same time, I have been working to create a Safe Parking program, which would create designated areas where economically disadvantaged people living in vehicles could sleep lawfully, obtain counseling and social services, and begin the transition to permanent housing.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the City-County agency charged with administering the program, has prepared a draft Request for Proposals (RFP), a legal document that solicits bids from social service providers to run the program.    The RFP provides a broad framework and foundation for the program; more specific details will be worked out with the community once LAHSA selects a service provider.
 

LAHSA will formally release the final RFP next month, select a provider in early fall, and launch the program before the end of the year.  In the meantime, I wanted to circulate the draft RFP and ask for your feedback.  I have also asked my staff to prepare, in consultation with LAHSA, a PowerPoint presentation, summarizing how the program was developed and highlighting some of its key elements.

The PowerPoint is HERE.  The draft RFP is HERE.

This proposed program is the result of months of collaborative effort by hundreds of people. This is s smart and cutting-edge program that builds on the successes of similar programs in other cities, and improves and tailors them for our community.  I hope to launch the program before the end of the year, concurrently with the implementation of the Oversized Vehicle Ordinance.

In a few weeks, I will be holding a Town Hall meeting to thoroughly discuss the program.  Prior to that, key members of my staff are available for meetings and briefings in smaller groups.   In the meantime, I welcome your comments and feedback.

Regards,

BILL ROSENDAHL
Councilmember, 11th District

This message was sent by:

Councilman Bill Rosendahl
200 N. Spring Street, Room 415
Mailstop 218
Los Angeles, CA 90012