Alright!  As if what to do about homelessness is not already contentious enough, the proposal to put a homeless shelter at the beach has brought it to fever pitch.

Groups are mobilized and this should be an interesting meeting.

Opponents of the project  are accusing the City of  bussing in supporters, fake survey results, and forcing this on Venice despite the citizen’s objections, to name a few.

Proponents of the project are accusing naysayers of NIMBYism, among other things.

It’s YOUR Venice – get involved!

• Meeting Date: Monday, July 30th, 2018
• Meeting Time: 6:00 PM
• Meeting Location: Oakwood Rec Center, 767 California Ave, Los Angeles, CA 

The Venice Neighborhood Council’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Venice by building community and to secure support from the City of Los Angeles for the resources needed to achieve our goals.

Here is the Venice Neighborhood Council’s Homeless Committee Agenda!

You can also click here to view agenda!

1. 6:00 pm – Call to Order and Roll Call

2. 6:00 pm – Approve Agenda as presented or amended

3. 6:00 pm – Approve Minutes of last meeting as presented

4. 6:05 pm – Chairman’s Report

5. 6:10 pm – Presentation: Resident Relief Foundation
Executive Director Tina Oswald.

Dealing with the challenges of helping today’s renter requires problem-solvers who bring

different perspectives and are willing to take risks. The founders of The Resident Foundation, Keith Wasserman and Damian Langere, have already created a billion

dollar real estate investment company, as well as an innovative financial product for renters with Domuso, Inc.

The last piece of their heart for renters is The Resident Relief Foundation. We help hard

working, responsible people who, if they are the average working person living in an apartment, are living paycheck to paycheck, have little to no savings and are spending more than 30% of their income on housing. They are also likely carrying credit card or other debt. Our criteria is limited on purpose. We help people who have not violated their lease or paid rent late in the past, to stay in their apartments. They must demonstrate

the ability to pick up where we leave off by having enough income to cover their monthly expenses. They must also agree to participate in an online financial education program to help their financial wellbeing after the crisis passes. Established in 2017, we are a 501(c)(3) public nonprofit driven by progressive ideas, bold actions, and a strong foundation of support. Join us as we help keep responsible tenants in their apartments during an unexpected financial emergency and also help them better prepare for future emergencies.

6. 6:30 pm – MOTION:
VNC SUPPORT FOR BRIDGE HOUSING & COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT

Whereas there is an unprecedented homeless crisis in the City of Los Angeles; and

Whereas the neighborhood of Venice has not only the highest population of homeless in District 11 but one of the most dense concentrations in the entire City of Los Angeles; and

Whereas it may take months even after a homeless individual is entered into LAHSA’s Coordinated Entry System (CES) to receive a housing voucher; and

Whereas Venice stakeholders have experienced extremely negative externalities due to the presence of neighborhood encampments; and

Whereas the current conditions on the streets are not sustainable for anyone, either housed and unhoused; and

Whereas there need to be real and immediate solutions to homelessness in Los Angeles; and.

Whereas Mayor Garcetti has proposed a temporary interim housing called the “Bridge Home” program as that immediate solution; and

Whereas Bridge Home will provide temporary housing for those homeless individuals registered in CES while they wait for placement in permanent housing; and

Whereas Mayor Garcetti has guaranteed millions of dollars in sanitation clean-ups for encampments in communities that support and execute Bridge Home to ensure the site of former encampments remain clear of future encampments; and

Whereas the community of Venice Neighborhood Council should be a partner with the city in discussing how this program shall be executed to maximize effectiveness and bolster the program’s success; and

Whereas the Venice community should expect guarantees from the City that create a safe and healthy environment for those living in the bridge housing facility as well as those who live around it;

Now, therefore be it resolved, the Venice Homeless Committee supports the concept of executing Bridge Home in Venice for no longer than three years and along with the execution of a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) between the neighborhood of Venice and the City of Los Angeles

May it be therefore resolved that:

1. Those in the CES system be prioritized for placement.
2. Only homeless from Venice be admitted.
3. Every six months or sooner a report is produced to outline the outcomes of
   individuals that have transitioned through Bridge Home.
4. A yearly public meeting is organized by the Mayor’s office to discuss the
   program’s effect on the neighborhood.

Finally may it be further resolved, the CBA contain and guarantees the stakeholders of Venice that agreed upon conditions will be binding and ongoing to hold the city accountable for certain agreed upon conditions through the term of the bridge housing’s execution. Included in this CBA the city should agree to ensure basic program elements such as these examples…a) security, b) sanitation, c) housing placement services, d) reunification, e) sober coaching, f) job placement services, g) green space/community garden, h) social enterprise, and i) specific commitments from LAPD HOPE team and a Senior Lead Officer from LAPD designated specifically for this facility.

7.  7:15pm — DISCUSSION: Venice Homeless Committee Town Hall Planning

8.  7:40pm – Old Business/New Business

9.  7:45pm — Public Comment for non-agendized topics.

10.  8:00 pm – Adjourn

PUBLIC INPUT AT NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEETINGS: The public is requested to fill out a “Speaker Card” to address the Public Safety Committee on any agenda item before the Public Safety Committee takes action on an item. Comments from the public on agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered. Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the agenda that are within the Public Safety Committee jurisdiction will be heard during the General Public Comment period. Please note that under the Brown Act, the Public Safety Committee is prevented from acting on a matter that you bring to its attention during the General Public Comment period; however, the issue raised by a member of the public may become the subject of a future [committee] meeting. Public comment is limited to 1 minutes per speaker, unless adjusted by the presiding officer.

POSTING:

In compliance with Government Code section 54957.5, non-exempt writings that are distributed to a majority or all of the board members in advance of a meeting may be viewed at Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd; Venice Public Library, 501 S. Venice Blvd; and at our website by clicking on the following link: www.venicenc.org, or at the scheduled meeting. You can also receive our agendas via email by subscribing to L.A. City’s Early Notification System at http://www.lacity.org/government/Subscriptions/NeighborhoodCouncils/index.htm. In addition, if you would like a copy of any record related to an item on the agenda, please contact [email protected].

RECONSIDERATION AND GRIEVANCE PROCESS:

For information on the VNC’s process for board action reconsideration, stakeholder grievance policy, or any other procedural matters related to this Council, please consult the VNC Bylaws. The Bylaws are available at our Board meetings and our website www.venicenc.org.

Venice Neighborhood Council PO Box 550, Venice, CA 90294 / www.VeniceNC.org

Email: [email protected] / Phone or Fax: 310.606.2015

DISABILITY POLICY:

The Venice Neighborhood Council complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and does not discriminate on the basis of any disability. Upon request, the Venice Neighborhood Council will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request.

For more Venice Neighborhood Council information, visit www.VeniceNC.org.