It has taken months for the respective orbits of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors and the Eureka City Council to align, but tomorrow they will finally sit down to discuss the estimated 844 people who sleep unsheltered in Humboldt County. The majority of those people are in Eureka, which has borne the brunt of […]
homelessness
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After Bitter Debate, Eureka Declares Shelter Crisis
Public comment was brief, compared to previous meetings on the subject of homelessness. Only around 30 citizens came up to the podium to address the city council about the proposed declaration of a citywide shelter crisis. The declaration, originally proposed by Councilmember Linda Atkins, was reworked by city staff before being put before the council […]
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City Council, Harbor District, Make Moves on Homelessness
As the Eureka City Council prepares to once again discuss declaring a city-wide shelter crisis on Tuesday, the Humboldt Bay Harbor District has moved forward with a plan to reinstall Porta-Potties near the PalCo Marsh. District Chairman Richard Marks, who spearheaded installation of Porta-Potties in the Bayshore Mall’s north parking lot last July, said that […]
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Eureka City Council Butting Heads With Staff & Each Other on Homelessness
The restless crowd packed into city council chambers Tuesday night gradually filtered out until only the most hardcore civics enthusiasts remained, as the Eureka City Council meeting was extended, then extended again, stretching until 10:30 p.m. The majority of the four-and-a-half-hour meeting was taken up by public comment on two contentious items: whether or not […]
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City Mulls Shelter Crisis as Activists Protest Police Presence in PalCo Marsh
Tomorrow evening the Eureka City Council will meet to discuss two items related to the city’s homeless: the feasibility of a temporary, sanctioned camp and whether or not the city should declare a shelter crisis. City Manager Greg Sparks said a site has been identified as a potential temporary camp, a city-owned parking lot at […]
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Arcata Bay Crossing Opens
Humboldt County’s newest and shiniest low income housing project is open for business, and it’s already full. The Arcata Bay Crossing, tucked between the freeway and South G Street, is a collaborative project by the Humboldt Bay Housing Development Corporation, the Rural Communities Housing Development Corporation and several local governmental and non-profit organizations. A robust […]
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Bigger Numbers or Just Better Data? Point in Time Count is Out
The Humboldt Housing and Homeless Coalition released a final draft of its Point in Time Count today, which you can find here. While the overall figures seem to indicate a jump in the number of homeless people in Humboldt, (1,319 people in 2015, up from 1,054 in 2013), organizers of the biannual tally say that […]
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Camp On, Camp Off
Police Chief Andy Mills denied Monday that his department is wholly scrapping plans to create a temporary city-sanctioned campsite for Eureka’s homeless. Instead, Mills said, the plan has been put “on a back burner.” “We ran into several issues with oversight and funding. Unfortunately, this is just one of those deals where it’s tough to […]
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Coffee with the Captains
A crowd of about 30 citizens, public officials and police officers squeezed into Vellutini’s Bakery in Henderson Center this morning for the Eureka Police Department’s first “Coffee With the Captains” — an informal sit down with local law enforcement. Suzie Owsley, with the city’s Problem Oriented Policing team (POP), said that this gathering was one of […]
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Eureka to Hold Special Meeting on Homelessness
Eureka city staff is seeking some direction on the issue of homeless encampments within city limits. Community members are invited to come weigh in tomorrow, December 16, from 4:30 to 5:40 p.m., just before the Eureka City Council meets. City officials will present various perspectives on homeless encampments in Eureka and possible solutions. Then, during […]
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AHHA Talks Housing for the Homeless
Every folding chair was filled at the Eureka Women’s Club last Saturday as politicians, activists, community organizers and concerned citizens gathered for the Affordable Homeless Housing Alternatives Forum. The forum, which was coordinated by AHHA (Affordable Homeless Housing Alternatives), featured a presentation on creating alternative housing villages followed by workshops and a call to action. Andrew […]
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Arkley vs. Bridges: Two Perspectives on How to Treat the Needy
The Bible has a lot to say about helping the needy, but we doubt that even the Holy Ghost saw this day coming. Good people of Humboldt County, we urge you to lock your doors, board up your windows and hide your canned food — because it looks like the meek got tired of waiting […]