HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-01-24 Public Comment - W. Baker - Comments on living in the ROWFrom:William Baker
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Comments on living in the ROW
Date:Thursday, August 1, 2024 12:21:50 PM
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Dear Commissioner:
I am responding due to your request for input regarding the upcoming meeting on August 6about homelessness and urban camping in Bozeman. I am a homeowner and live in the City of
Bozeman.
I do believe that this is a difficult situation and will require careful consideration. I did read
recently that the 3 Counties making up the Portland Metropolitan area spent over a total of 500million dollars just in the last year on the homeless situation and that there is no appreciable
effect with large numbers of encampments still present. So spending a large amount of moneyon this issue does not always result in a solution.
The first thing that needs to be done this together as much information as it is possible fromthe current homeless and urban campers. That is why I strongly urge that a permit system be
put in place by the city.
All campers must have a permit issued by the city. Permits should be applied
for in person so that ID can be verified. Information to be collected should
include all occupants of RV or camper, last address when housed, where are
you employed or are you unemployed, do you have substance abuse or mental
health issues that you need or want help with, and finally (most important) what
is your plan to get off the street and become housed again?
Last housed address needs to be obtained and checked out thoroughly.
Otherwise, a temporary worker or tradesman with a residence in Helena could
be living in a travel trailer on the street while on a 3 month job assignment
here. Or someone with a house in Gardiner could be living in a trailer on the
street in Bozeman during the summer while they use their house in Gardiner as
a short term rental. Also we need to find out how many homeless were last
housed in Bozeman and how many came here from somewhere else. If from
elsewhere, why come to Bozeman especially since housing costs here are very
high?
Campers should also have to move more often than every 30 days more like
every 2 weeks to discourage the erection of tarps, spillover into adjacent lots,
and other semi-permanent situations.
People operating generators all night should be subject to the city noise
ordinance and be cited and eventually lose their permit if non-compliant. Other
infractions such as trash and human waste dumping should also be addressed.
Assistance provided by the city to campers should be primarily for assistance in
obtaining housing and not as much for assistance in living.
Ultimately, all permits should have a defined expiration date that needs to be
fully disclosed to the person obtaining the permit. I think 6 months is
reasonable but not to exceed 1 year. In other words, if after a set period of time,
you have not obtained housing, your permit will expire and you will be
required to leave. After all, we all know how expensive housing is in Bozeman.
Homeless individuals who fail to obtain housing here would likely have a better
chance obtaining housing elsewhere in the state or country where housing costs
are much lower.
If the City of Bozeman doesn’t act to at least have some restrictions on people
living in the right of way, you can be sure that other localities in Montana will.
This will result in more homeless leaving those areas and coming here.
Thank you for considering my thoughts on this important issue.
William Baker