"The Released" - Frontline Program - A MUST SEE! Click image below to view...
How To Increase Homelessness | Proposed MHA Facility | Eastside Long Beach
10/11/2012
The following are excerpts from the book, "How To Increase Homelessness" written by Joel Roberts, a homeless advocate committed to finding an answer. He is CEO of The PATH Partners (people assisting the homeless). He cares deeply for the homeless and understands the dynamics of homelessness.
"Grab a map of your community and place push-pins where the community services are located. The free health clinic is here and the homeless shelter is there, the mental health program is in that neighborhood and the employment training is over there. They are spread out all over the landscape, tossed about like a bunch of jacks on the floor with no connection other than bus lines.
We place services all over the community so that access for people on the lowest rung of the economic ladder is limited. Then we make them walk or travel on public transportation as they trek through neighborhoods in which they could only dream of living. We dangle much needed services in front of them, but then spread the services all over the community so they're difficult to access.
A director of a human service department in a California city once told me that he tried to experience this shuttle-bus system of providing services. So he jumped on a bus to travel throughout his city to see how long it took to access different service agencies. He said it was not only time consuming, it was confusing. If it's confusing for a well-paid, social service expert, imagine what it means for a scraping-the-bottom-of-the-barrel low-income person desperately hurting for services.
Thankfully, there is actually a perfectly good solution to this system of madness.
What is the trend for most customer-based institutions during this time of cutthroat business competition? It is providing better access to potential customers by building Super-Store centers, ala Wal-Mart and Best Buy, or construct mega malls where buyers can flock in droves with access to every consumer good they can dream of purchasing.
So why don't we do the same for people in need of social services? Ask all the service agencies in the community to locate their services in one place, so pe0ple without homes need only to travel to one location rather than all over the city.
Deny a person access to services (by spreading the services throughout a city) and a community increases homelessness. Provide every service that a person needs under one roof and the dream of ending homelessness becomes closer to reality."
By approving a mentally ill homeless facility on Burnett Street and Grand Avenue our City Council will increase the homeless population in the City of Long Beach. Access to the facility will require mentally ill homeless individuals to ride the bus over five miles across town and back again.
Eventually, the homeless will realize that it is easier to stay in the area of the MHA facility on Burnett Street. Alleys, parks, freeway underpasses will become their homes. (If one checks with the homeless count just taken in our city, they will see that there is a very small homeless population living on the eastside at the present time.)
Once the homeless population begins to grow in the Fifth District, churches and other well meaning organizations will begin to feed the needy. Thus, starting the cycle of expansion and attraction of a new homeless population.
Below is a close up map of the proposed location on Burnett Street and Grand Avenue as well as a map of this location relative to the other city services like the Multi Service Center:
The following are excerpts from the book, "How To Increase Homelessness" written by Joel Roberts, a homeless advocate committed to finding an answer. He is CEO of The PATH Partners (people assisting the homeless). He cares deeply for the homeless and understands the dynamics of homelessness.
"Grab a map of your community and place push-pins where the community services are located. The free health clinic is here and the homeless shelter is there, the mental health program is in that neighborhood and the employment training is over there. They are spread out all over the landscape, tossed about like a bunch of jacks on the floor with no connection other than bus lines.
We place services all over the community so that access for people on the lowest rung of the economic ladder is limited. Then we make them walk or travel on public transportation as they trek through neighborhoods in which they could only dream of living. We dangle much needed services in front of them, but then spread the services all over the community so they're difficult to access.
A director of a human service department in a California city once told me that he tried to experience this shuttle-bus system of providing services. So he jumped on a bus to travel throughout his city to see how long it took to access different service agencies. He said it was not only time consuming, it was confusing. If it's confusing for a well-paid, social service expert, imagine what it means for a scraping-the-bottom-of-the-barrel low-income person desperately hurting for services.
Thankfully, there is actually a perfectly good solution to this system of madness.
What is the trend for most customer-based institutions during this time of cutthroat business competition? It is providing better access to potential customers by building Super-Store centers, ala Wal-Mart and Best Buy, or construct mega malls where buyers can flock in droves with access to every consumer good they can dream of purchasing.
So why don't we do the same for people in need of social services? Ask all the service agencies in the community to locate their services in one place, so pe0ple without homes need only to travel to one location rather than all over the city.
Deny a person access to services (by spreading the services throughout a city) and a community increases homelessness. Provide every service that a person needs under one roof and the dream of ending homelessness becomes closer to reality."
By approving a mentally ill homeless facility on Burnett Street and Grand Avenue our City Council will increase the homeless population in the City of Long Beach. Access to the facility will require mentally ill homeless individuals to ride the bus over five miles across town and back again.
Eventually, the homeless will realize that it is easier to stay in the area of the MHA facility on Burnett Street. Alleys, parks, freeway underpasses will become their homes. (If one checks with the homeless count just taken in our city, they will see that there is a very small homeless population living on the eastside at the present time.)
Once the homeless population begins to grow in the Fifth District, churches and other well meaning organizations will begin to feed the needy. Thus, starting the cycle of expansion and attraction of a new homeless population.
Below is a close up map of the proposed location on Burnett Street and Grand Avenue as well as a map of this location relative to the other city services like the Multi Service Center:
View Proposed MHA Facility in a larger map
Here is one man's opinion:
"With a goal of improving the lives of the mentally ill homeless population, it is surprising that such a short sighted, inconvenient proposal of placing a mentally ill homeless facility at Burnett Street was submitted to HUD for approval.
Most services for the mentally ill homeless are located downtown or on the west side of Long Beach. In fact, the proposed Burnett Street location is more than five miles away from the City's Multi-Service Center, which offers important assistance to the homeless.
The mentally-ill homeless population is dealing with a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week crisis in their lives. To require these most unfortunate individuals to struggle with transportation or bus transfers across town for a brief meeting in the Mental Health America of Los Angeles day facility for evaluation, drug prescription and a shower will only create complications in the lives of these individuals who are already treatment resistant. The City Council's plan requires moving these individuals miles away from their support systems, comfort zone and friends.
For the homeless to stay at an overnight facility, they must check-in to a location on the Westside or downtown Long Beach. The proposed Burnett Street facility is for day use only! Offering services from 9am to 2pm. This leaves the mentally ill homeless struggling miles away from overnight facilities.
City council's plan will add complications and stress to the lives of these unfortunate individuals by placing this facility at the Burnett Street location. The location of this facility does not speak well for a sustainable city model.
City Council should change the proposed location of the mentally ill homeless facility to where it is easily accessible by the individuals they say they are trying to help!
In addition, City Council will empower residents of Artcraft Manor to make their own decisions about priorities in their neighborhoods!
"With a goal of improving the lives of the mentally ill homeless population, it is surprising that such a short sighted, inconvenient proposal of placing a mentally ill homeless facility at Burnett Street was submitted to HUD for approval.
Most services for the mentally ill homeless are located downtown or on the west side of Long Beach. In fact, the proposed Burnett Street location is more than five miles away from the City's Multi-Service Center, which offers important assistance to the homeless.
The mentally-ill homeless population is dealing with a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week crisis in their lives. To require these most unfortunate individuals to struggle with transportation or bus transfers across town for a brief meeting in the Mental Health America of Los Angeles day facility for evaluation, drug prescription and a shower will only create complications in the lives of these individuals who are already treatment resistant. The City Council's plan requires moving these individuals miles away from their support systems, comfort zone and friends.
For the homeless to stay at an overnight facility, they must check-in to a location on the Westside or downtown Long Beach. The proposed Burnett Street facility is for day use only! Offering services from 9am to 2pm. This leaves the mentally ill homeless struggling miles away from overnight facilities.
City council's plan will add complications and stress to the lives of these unfortunate individuals by placing this facility at the Burnett Street location. The location of this facility does not speak well for a sustainable city model.
City Council should change the proposed location of the mentally ill homeless facility to where it is easily accessible by the individuals they say they are trying to help!
In addition, City Council will empower residents of Artcraft Manor to make their own decisions about priorities in their neighborhoods!
Newest Update on Mentally Ill Homeless Facility from 4th District Councilmember Patrick O'Donnell's Office
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2012
O’Donnell Statement on Schroeder Hall:
Service Provider Backs Out of Efforts to Protect Neighborhood
Protracted Battle to Move Homeless Center May Be Over
Behind-the-scenes efforts, which may have moved a mentally ill homeless facility away from eastside neighborhoods, have been halted due to a service provider’s unwillingness to move forward.
For the last several years, the Long Beach City Council has been debating a proposal to open a treatment center for the mentally ill homeless adjacent to eastside neighborhoods. Councilmember Patrick O'Donnell has been a strong opponent of the project, believing that placing it near a residential neighborhood was "not a good fit," in his words. The proposal resulted from the City's planned acquisition of the nearby Schroeder Hall Army Facility and a correlating requirement that the City provide a homeless accommodation as an in-lieu payment for the Army property. The Council voted, with O’Donnell dissenting, to move forward with the process of siting a facility on City land near the Stearns Park area. Behind the scenes discussions had taken place in which the service provider, Mental Health America (MHA) would receive cash in lieu of the property. The City Council has been apprised that the discussions have been brought to a halt by the service provider, effectively ending efforts to place the facility elsewhere.
In response to MHA’s recent actions, O’Donnell has released the following statement:
"The proposed location is not fair to the nearby residents and not fair to the homeless. We all have a duty to help our fellow man, but this proposal was not thought out from the start. I am very disappointed that efforts to move this facility away from people’s homes has not been successful. The service provider has changed their minds about protecting our community.”
October 3, 2012
O’Donnell Statement on Schroeder Hall:
Service Provider Backs Out of Efforts to Protect Neighborhood
Protracted Battle to Move Homeless Center May Be Over
Behind-the-scenes efforts, which may have moved a mentally ill homeless facility away from eastside neighborhoods, have been halted due to a service provider’s unwillingness to move forward.
For the last several years, the Long Beach City Council has been debating a proposal to open a treatment center for the mentally ill homeless adjacent to eastside neighborhoods. Councilmember Patrick O'Donnell has been a strong opponent of the project, believing that placing it near a residential neighborhood was "not a good fit," in his words. The proposal resulted from the City's planned acquisition of the nearby Schroeder Hall Army Facility and a correlating requirement that the City provide a homeless accommodation as an in-lieu payment for the Army property. The Council voted, with O’Donnell dissenting, to move forward with the process of siting a facility on City land near the Stearns Park area. Behind the scenes discussions had taken place in which the service provider, Mental Health America (MHA) would receive cash in lieu of the property. The City Council has been apprised that the discussions have been brought to a halt by the service provider, effectively ending efforts to place the facility elsewhere.
In response to MHA’s recent actions, O’Donnell has released the following statement:
"The proposed location is not fair to the nearby residents and not fair to the homeless. We all have a duty to help our fellow man, but this proposal was not thought out from the start. I am very disappointed that efforts to move this facility away from people’s homes has not been successful. The service provider has changed their minds about protecting our community.”
Map of Long Beach Homeless Services & Proposed New MHA Facility
2/25/2011
Mentally Ill Homeless in Long Beach
A proposed mentally ill homeless facility should not be framed as East vs West
Neighborhoods. That rhetoric does not serve the homeless population, it only creates
divisiveness.
John Joel Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of Path Partners, a well known homeless
advocate, wrote “How to Increase Homelessness.” A book that is based on the absurdities
of homeless in America. Roberts supports the centralizing of homeless services within a
city. Scattering of the services throughout a municipality only places a hardship on the
homeless population and creates more homelessness.
Our Multi-Service Center, the “Hub” of our City’s homeless program, is located at 1301
West 12th Street. Any new facility for the homeless should be as close as possible to that
location. Constructing a facility for the mentally ill homeless on Burnett Street and Grand
Avenue will only place a hardship on the mentally ill homeless and encourage more
homelessness within our City!
Mentally Ill Homeless in Long Beach
A proposed mentally ill homeless facility should not be framed as East vs West
Neighborhoods. That rhetoric does not serve the homeless population, it only creates
divisiveness.
John Joel Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of Path Partners, a well known homeless
advocate, wrote “How to Increase Homelessness.” A book that is based on the absurdities
of homeless in America. Roberts supports the centralizing of homeless services within a
city. Scattering of the services throughout a municipality only places a hardship on the
homeless population and creates more homelessness.
Our Multi-Service Center, the “Hub” of our City’s homeless program, is located at 1301
West 12th Street. Any new facility for the homeless should be as close as possible to that
location. Constructing a facility for the mentally ill homeless on Burnett Street and Grand
Avenue will only place a hardship on the mentally ill homeless and encourage more
homelessness within our City!
LBReport.com Extended Coverage of Wed. 2/16 Meeting with Video:
Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske's Meeting at the Water Treatment Plant in Long Beach on February 16, 2011
Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske's Meeting at the Water Treatment Plant in Long Beach on February 16, 2011
By: Joe Sopo
You wouldn’t know it from the Press Telegram’s article on Friday, February 18, 2011, however, the previous Wednesday nights meeting at the Water Treatment Plant; 2950 Redondo Avenue was quite successful in addressing the Schroeder Hall property and the homeless accommodation required by the Federal Government.
Long Beach has positioned itself to receive 4.75 prime acres of land across from the Grand on Willow Street just west of Lakewood Blvd. The Federal Government is divesting itself of the property and is following the guidelines set forth in Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC Commission). The City of Long Beach will receive the property and is obligated to provide a homeless accommodation.
For sometime Long Beach has been seeking a new location for the Police Department’s Eastside Substation. Due to budget constraints that idea was only a dream. The present eastside location on Los Coyotes Diagonal is like a small bikini on a fat elephant. The police have been busting out of that location. There are police cars parked up and down the streets, the officer’s labor within cramped locker space and there are only two urinals for over 80 men; Yuck! The new location and facilities will provide the police with needed space to be more effective, raise moral and send the message that we value their service. I am 100% behind this move for our men and women in blue!
Where the contention from the neighborhoods enters this wonderful opportunity for the City, is the placement of the homeless accommodation. It is true that the City of Long Beach did follow the letter of the law in notifying the public about the proposed project by posting notices in the local papers. The City did mail postcards to residents in a 250 foot circumference around the proposed project site, of an up coming vote at a City Council Meeting. The problem is 250 feet is not very far. Since that mailing, the City has increased its mailing distance to 750 feet. I personally saw one of the advertisements in the Press Telegram, but the ad was in a section I rarely read, the small letters all ran together and it did not register with me that my City planned on moving a mentally ill homeless population into an area that does not presently have a homeless population.
In January of 2008 I attended the first City Council Meeting of the year on an entirely different matter. At that meeting I learned that the council had voted to place a mentally ill homeless facility near homes on the eastside. I did not believe it! Paul De Young and I cornered my Councilwoman, Gerrie Schipske, to get to the bottom of this rumor. The Councilwoman’s response to us was; she had been told by City Staff not to discuss the issue with the public, since the City was in negotiations with the Federal Government about Schroeder Hall. She said she could not comment further. Paul continued to probe and argue with the councilwoman. I walked away not believing that this was the same person that I had endorsed for 5th District Council.
Shortly after my futile conversation with Councilwoman Schipske I placed a freedom of information request into the City concerning Schroeder Hall and the mentally ill homeless facility. After scrutinizing the information provided to me by the City, I found one very interesting tid bit. In November of 2007, before the council voted to place the mentally ill homeless facility on the eastside of town, Gerrie Schipske received a written thank you note from Amy Bodeck, who was and still is employed by the City of Long Beach. Bodeck thanked the Councilwoman for finding the location. Apparently, the City had forgotten that they owned that parcel of land. The City was looking in all areas of Long Beach and the Councilwoman reminded the City of it’s ownership of that property. So my Councilwoman was waist deep in this issue and chose to lie to Paul De Young and me about her involvement.
I went online to watch the council meeting of December 2007 and I received another shock. Bonnie Lowenthal, Councilwoman for the 1st District at that time made the motion and Gerrie Schipske seconded the motion for the City to move forward on the Schroeder Hall issue and to place the homeless accommodation site in the 5th District.
Let’s fast forward to today and our most current public meeting where we discussed Schroeder Hall and the homeless accommodation at the Water Treatment Plant. Numerous times we heard from Councilwoman Schipske and City Staff that the mentally ill homeless facility had to be placed on Burnett Street near Grand Avenue because there was no other appropriate location in the whole City of Long Beach. They stated numerous times that they had searched and searched and they could not find another location.
(Since I had dealt with the City of Long Beach on other issues, I knew the City told little white lies when it was convenient for them. So earlier that day on a hunch, I drove by 1675 Sante Fe Avenue on the west side of Long Beach. It was a location that showed promise as alternative site for the mentally ill homeless facility two years ago. I had found it at that time and thought it would be perfect. It had much going for it; it was a large vacant lot, butted up next to another private facility for the mentally ill homeless, it was near public transportation, it was right in the area where there is a mentally ill homeless population and best of all; it is .6 miles from the Multi-Service-Center. The Multi-Service-Center is the “Hub” of our City’s programs to assist the homeless. A perfect location! Two years ago, I mentioned this location to our City Manager, Pat West; he told me at that time it had sold to a private investor. As I drove by it last Wednesday morning it had a welcome sign on it. The sign said “AVAILABLE.”)
I could not wait to share this information with all in attendance at the Wednesday night meeting, but I had to wait that evening until the Councilwoman and City Staff repeated a half a dozen times more, that there was no other location in the City of Long Beach.
If you had attended the meeting that evening you would have seen Gerrie Schipske’s mouth fly wide open as she scowled at the City Manager and he turned to me to say that the property fell out of escrow and he would check on it….
At this point and time Mental Health America of Los Angeles are not the bad guys. They provide an important service to the mentally ill homeless and should be applauded. We will deal with them after the City of Long Beach gets off of its duff and identifies an appropriate location for the mentally ill homeless facility.
One group we should not overlook in this search for a new location; is the mentally ill homeless. The location should serve that population!
Multi-Service Center Videos of 1675 Santa Fe Ave. proposed alternative site:
By: Joe Sopo
You wouldn’t know it from the Press Telegram’s article on Friday, February 18, 2011, however, the previous Wednesday nights meeting at the Water Treatment Plant; 2950 Redondo Avenue was quite successful in addressing the Schroeder Hall property and the homeless accommodation required by the Federal Government.
Long Beach has positioned itself to receive 4.75 prime acres of land across from the Grand on Willow Street just west of Lakewood Blvd. The Federal Government is divesting itself of the property and is following the guidelines set forth in Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC Commission). The City of Long Beach will receive the property and is obligated to provide a homeless accommodation.
For sometime Long Beach has been seeking a new location for the Police Department’s Eastside Substation. Due to budget constraints that idea was only a dream. The present eastside location on Los Coyotes Diagonal is like a small bikini on a fat elephant. The police have been busting out of that location. There are police cars parked up and down the streets, the officer’s labor within cramped locker space and there are only two urinals for over 80 men; Yuck! The new location and facilities will provide the police with needed space to be more effective, raise moral and send the message that we value their service. I am 100% behind this move for our men and women in blue!
Where the contention from the neighborhoods enters this wonderful opportunity for the City, is the placement of the homeless accommodation. It is true that the City of Long Beach did follow the letter of the law in notifying the public about the proposed project by posting notices in the local papers. The City did mail postcards to residents in a 250 foot circumference around the proposed project site, of an up coming vote at a City Council Meeting. The problem is 250 feet is not very far. Since that mailing, the City has increased its mailing distance to 750 feet. I personally saw one of the advertisements in the Press Telegram, but the ad was in a section I rarely read, the small letters all ran together and it did not register with me that my City planned on moving a mentally ill homeless population into an area that does not presently have a homeless population.
In January of 2008 I attended the first City Council Meeting of the year on an entirely different matter. At that meeting I learned that the council had voted to place a mentally ill homeless facility near homes on the eastside. I did not believe it! Paul De Young and I cornered my Councilwoman, Gerrie Schipske, to get to the bottom of this rumor. The Councilwoman’s response to us was; she had been told by City Staff not to discuss the issue with the public, since the City was in negotiations with the Federal Government about Schroeder Hall. She said she could not comment further. Paul continued to probe and argue with the councilwoman. I walked away not believing that this was the same person that I had endorsed for 5th District Council.
Shortly after my futile conversation with Councilwoman Schipske I placed a freedom of information request into the City concerning Schroeder Hall and the mentally ill homeless facility. After scrutinizing the information provided to me by the City, I found one very interesting tid bit. In November of 2007, before the council voted to place the mentally ill homeless facility on the eastside of town, Gerrie Schipske received a written thank you note from Amy Bodeck, who was and still is employed by the City of Long Beach. Bodeck thanked the Councilwoman for finding the location. Apparently, the City had forgotten that they owned that parcel of land. The City was looking in all areas of Long Beach and the Councilwoman reminded the City of it’s ownership of that property. So my Councilwoman was waist deep in this issue and chose to lie to Paul De Young and me about her involvement.
I went online to watch the council meeting of December 2007 and I received another shock. Bonnie Lowenthal, Councilwoman for the 1st District at that time made the motion and Gerrie Schipske seconded the motion for the City to move forward on the Schroeder Hall issue and to place the homeless accommodation site in the 5th District.
Let’s fast forward to today and our most current public meeting where we discussed Schroeder Hall and the homeless accommodation at the Water Treatment Plant. Numerous times we heard from Councilwoman Schipske and City Staff that the mentally ill homeless facility had to be placed on Burnett Street near Grand Avenue because there was no other appropriate location in the whole City of Long Beach. They stated numerous times that they had searched and searched and they could not find another location.
(Since I had dealt with the City of Long Beach on other issues, I knew the City told little white lies when it was convenient for them. So earlier that day on a hunch, I drove by 1675 Sante Fe Avenue on the west side of Long Beach. It was a location that showed promise as alternative site for the mentally ill homeless facility two years ago. I had found it at that time and thought it would be perfect. It had much going for it; it was a large vacant lot, butted up next to another private facility for the mentally ill homeless, it was near public transportation, it was right in the area where there is a mentally ill homeless population and best of all; it is .6 miles from the Multi-Service-Center. The Multi-Service-Center is the “Hub” of our City’s programs to assist the homeless. A perfect location! Two years ago, I mentioned this location to our City Manager, Pat West; he told me at that time it had sold to a private investor. As I drove by it last Wednesday morning it had a welcome sign on it. The sign said “AVAILABLE.”)
I could not wait to share this information with all in attendance at the Wednesday night meeting, but I had to wait that evening until the Councilwoman and City Staff repeated a half a dozen times more, that there was no other location in the City of Long Beach.
If you had attended the meeting that evening you would have seen Gerrie Schipske’s mouth fly wide open as she scowled at the City Manager and he turned to me to say that the property fell out of escrow and he would check on it….
At this point and time Mental Health America of Los Angeles are not the bad guys. They provide an important service to the mentally ill homeless and should be applauded. We will deal with them after the City of Long Beach gets off of its duff and identifies an appropriate location for the mentally ill homeless facility.
One group we should not overlook in this search for a new location; is the mentally ill homeless. The location should serve that population!
Multi-Service Center Videos of 1675 Santa Fe Ave. proposed alternative site:
East Long Beach Residents Push for Homeless Center Relocation
2/17/2011
After three years, Schroeder Hall plan still facing opposition
Source: Press Telegram article by Paul Eakins, Staff Writer http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_17409093?source=rss_viewed LONG BEACH -- Opponents of a proposed mental health facility for the homeless in East Long Beach are still holding out hope that it can be relocated.
In a repeat of similar meetings two years ago, a crowd of residents -- about 80 strong -- turned out Wednesday night at the Long Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant at Redondo Avenue and Spring Street to discuss the fate of the Schroeder Hall Army Reserve Center.
For the first time, a representative of Mental Health America of Los Angeles, which is to run the homeless facility, showed up to address the concerns of the vocal crowd.
Dave Pilon, president and CEO of MHA, told the crowd that they have many "misconceptions about mental illness and homelessness.".
Still, he said after the meeting that "MHA has always been willing to consider an alternative site." City officials say they just haven't been able to find a 1-acre location that fits the organization's needs.
With Schroeder Hall closing this year, Long Beach officials hope to acquire the building located at Willow Street and Grand Avenue for a new Eastside police substation. Federal law requires that when military properties are reused, new homeless services also must be provided.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice have already signed off on the plan to place the homeless service center across the street from Schroeder Hall next to the Department of Health and Human Services. The city is now awaiting the Army's OK, after which it can begin an environmental review and other steps that are expected to be completed next year.
Fifth District City Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske had planned the meeting to give an update on the project and to give Police Chief Jim McDonnell a chance to explain why he wants a new police substation. McDonnell described cramped conditions at the current Eastside police substation, with officers forced to share lockers and only two urinals available for more than 80 men. Residents said they support the police station, but Schipske and other city officials found themselves on the defensive as the crowd responded angrily to their explanations about the homeless facility.
"I think there is a feeling in the public that the city has not looked out for our best interest," said Barbara Shuler, 53, who lives near Schroeder Hall.
Neighbor Robert Casado and other residents said they are concerned that the homeless patients won't leave the neighborhood once they've gone there for mental health services.
"Mental illness doesn't take a break after 5 o'clock," Casado, 36, said.
Pilon said afterward that there isn't a plan to transport patients to and from the facility, as many residents have requested. Most of Long Beach's homeless services are located downtown and in the western half of the city.
"People come and go as they please and as they need," Pilon said.
Among a few in the crowd who voiced support for the plan and the needs of the mentally ill was Dean Farrar, who said he lives about a 10-minute walk from the proposed facility site.
"The well-being of the entire city will be served by people receiving treatment when they need it," said Farrar, a 61-year-old retiree.
Although city officials said they have exhausted their search for another site, Joe Sopo, vice-chairman of Neighborhoods First, a group that has led the charge against the Schroeder Hall, offered a solution. He noted that one site the city had considered before but dismissed because it was slated for development, at 1675 Santa Fe Ave., is on the market again.
City Manager Pat West said he hadn't been aware of this and that his team would check it out. Even if the property is useable, MHA would have to agree to relocate its planned services.
After three years, Schroeder Hall plan still facing opposition
Source: Press Telegram article by Paul Eakins, Staff Writer http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_17409093?source=rss_viewed LONG BEACH -- Opponents of a proposed mental health facility for the homeless in East Long Beach are still holding out hope that it can be relocated.
In a repeat of similar meetings two years ago, a crowd of residents -- about 80 strong -- turned out Wednesday night at the Long Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant at Redondo Avenue and Spring Street to discuss the fate of the Schroeder Hall Army Reserve Center.
For the first time, a representative of Mental Health America of Los Angeles, which is to run the homeless facility, showed up to address the concerns of the vocal crowd.
Dave Pilon, president and CEO of MHA, told the crowd that they have many "misconceptions about mental illness and homelessness.".
Still, he said after the meeting that "MHA has always been willing to consider an alternative site." City officials say they just haven't been able to find a 1-acre location that fits the organization's needs.
With Schroeder Hall closing this year, Long Beach officials hope to acquire the building located at Willow Street and Grand Avenue for a new Eastside police substation. Federal law requires that when military properties are reused, new homeless services also must be provided.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice have already signed off on the plan to place the homeless service center across the street from Schroeder Hall next to the Department of Health and Human Services. The city is now awaiting the Army's OK, after which it can begin an environmental review and other steps that are expected to be completed next year.
Fifth District City Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske had planned the meeting to give an update on the project and to give Police Chief Jim McDonnell a chance to explain why he wants a new police substation. McDonnell described cramped conditions at the current Eastside police substation, with officers forced to share lockers and only two urinals available for more than 80 men. Residents said they support the police station, but Schipske and other city officials found themselves on the defensive as the crowd responded angrily to their explanations about the homeless facility.
"I think there is a feeling in the public that the city has not looked out for our best interest," said Barbara Shuler, 53, who lives near Schroeder Hall.
Neighbor Robert Casado and other residents said they are concerned that the homeless patients won't leave the neighborhood once they've gone there for mental health services.
"Mental illness doesn't take a break after 5 o'clock," Casado, 36, said.
Pilon said afterward that there isn't a plan to transport patients to and from the facility, as many residents have requested. Most of Long Beach's homeless services are located downtown and in the western half of the city.
"People come and go as they please and as they need," Pilon said.
Among a few in the crowd who voiced support for the plan and the needs of the mentally ill was Dean Farrar, who said he lives about a 10-minute walk from the proposed facility site.
"The well-being of the entire city will be served by people receiving treatment when they need it," said Farrar, a 61-year-old retiree.
Although city officials said they have exhausted their search for another site, Joe Sopo, vice-chairman of Neighborhoods First, a group that has led the charge against the Schroeder Hall, offered a solution. He noted that one site the city had considered before but dismissed because it was slated for development, at 1675 Santa Fe Ave., is on the market again.
City Manager Pat West said he hadn't been aware of this and that his team would check it out. Even if the property is useable, MHA would have to agree to relocate its planned services.