HomeMy WebLinkAbout102725 - Moving forward with the sweetALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Dear JC BoCC,
In light of recent news that many residents of the Evans Vista encampment have already been dispersed, I write today with deep concern. While the camp was not formally permitted, for
many it was the closest thing to home—a fragile network of safety, mutual care, and stability in a system that has too often failed them. The dismantling of the encampment has left
many of our unhoused neighbors, especially those living with mental health challenges and substance use disorders, in crisis. Displacement disrupts medications, treatment plans, and
fragile connections with outreach workers. For some, it has meant losing every belonging, including identification and vital supplies. These are not minor setbacks; they are life-threatening
disruptions that deepen trauma, isolation, and despair.
If we are genuinely committed to the health and safety of all residents, the City and County must turn toward repair—rebuilding trust and ensuring that no future action leaves people
more vulnerable than before. Repair begins with acknowledgment: recognizing the harm caused and communicating openly with affected residents and service providers about available supports.
Behavioral health, harm-reduction, and peer outreach teams should be mobilized to locate and re-engage displaced individuals and help replace lost medications, IDs, and supplies. A
coordinated post-sweep care team—composed of behavioral health providers, lived-experience leaders, and nonprofit partners—could track and support those displaced, rebuilding relationships
through consistency and respect.
Looking ahead, we must invest in low-barrier, Housing First options such as sanctioned encampments, pallet shelters, or motel programs with on-site peer and case management. Sobriety
or treatment should never be preconditions for shelter; stability must precede recovery. Expanding trauma-responsive, street-based behavioral health and harm-reduction services will
allow providers to meet people where they are and sustain engagement without punishment. The City and County should also develop bridge programs—wellness hubs where people can rest,
eat, and access voluntary supports in a safe, judgment-free space. Finally, people with lived experience of homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance use should be meaningfully
involved in future planning through a compensated advisory group that guides equitable housing and outreach policy.
The dismantling of Evans Vista should mark a turning point. We cannot undo the harm, but we can take responsibility and do better. Homelessness, addiction, and mental illness are not
moral failings—they are public health and human rights challenges that demand continuity, compassion, and courage. Meeting people where they are is not permissive; it is how healing
begins.
Best regards,
Tonia Burkett (Sh <https://pronouns.org/> e/Her/They <https://pronouns.org/> )
Dreamer, Facilitator, & Consultant
https://usawaconsulting.com
(503) 395-8262
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