HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-06-19 Public Comment - J. Riggs - HRDC Warming Center SiteFrom:Jeff Riggs
To:Agenda
Subject:HRDC Westridge Warming Center Overflow
Date:Wednesday, November 06, 2019 4:31:56 PM
Hi Bozeman!
I am writing in response to the HRDC warming center overflow site proposal on Westridge. My kids
go to Morningstar School and my family lives in a south side neighborhood adjacent to the proposed
site. Many people have written letters about this proposed site, and most agree that this is not an
ideal location for a warming center overflow. But honestly, where is a good location for a homeless
family? Industrial area? Their car?
I support the HRDC’s decision to put the warming center in our neighborhood because the warming
center is for women and families. It is for families with children who attend school with our children.
Right now, these children are living in cars…at best. So it really doesn’t matter if our neighborhood is
not an ideal location- what matters is that there are HOMELESS CHILDREN who need help. That’s it.
That is all that matters.
It is with tears in my eyes that I read the comments posted online and submitted to the city. I see
friends, neighbors and co-workers objecting, raising concerns and pooling resources to keep ‘these
people’ out of our neighborhood. Some claims are outlandish, like “...30 people smoking cigarettes
at 8, 9, 10 PM every night...” (these are predominantly families- I’m not sure how many of the 5-
year-old kids in there will be smoking), to “HRDC is not going to vet anyone sleeping in the house”
(did I miss the part where we vetted all our friends and neighbors before they moved here? Or are we
just vetting poor people?), or my personal favorite, “the HRDC is being sneaky” and “If HRDC had
been more transparent...shed a little sunlight on their intentions instead of operating in the dark,
this may have unfolded much differently” (There is a special place in heaven for the HRDC staff and
all the work they do for our community literally nothing about their organization is sneaky). Other
claims are more heartwarming. People saying they volunteer for people of need...Just not in my
neighborhood. People speaking of compassion...Just not in my neighborhood. People saying there is
such a need for housing for the homeless...Just not in my neighborhood.
Lastly, in all the letters, comments and concerns I’ve read, no one has offered solutions. Where
should these humans go? How should the problem of homeless children and families be handled?
Here is my solution. Let’s pool the current resources that are being used to delay/deny this project
(lawyers, time, money, etc.), and pivot to welcoming our new neighbors with some baked goods,
warm clothes for the kids, lunches, and some high fives. At the same time, with our unstoppable
organization, we can work with the HRDC and find more ways to assist the women, children and
families who need our help at probably one of the worst and most stressful times in their lives.
Because after all, it's not all about us. It's about embracing the humans in our community regardless
of whether or not they look like us, or live like us. We are lucky. We are privileged. It is critical that
we model (for our children) true compassion, and accept and support the warming center overflow
site on Westridge.
--
Jeff Riggs