HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-06-24 Public Comment - T. Goebel - Homelessness and Tenants Right to CouncilFrom:Tia Goebel
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Homelessness and Tenants Right to Council
Date:Tuesday, August 6, 2024 10:07:54 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear City Commissioners,
My name is Tia Goebel and I live at 1140 N Pinecrest Dr, Bozeman, MT 59715. I am writing
in support of Tenants Right to Counsel, and want to take a moment to speak to thisinnovative program currently before the commission and the broader crisis of homelessness.
I have lived in Bozeman for 10 years. In that time, I have worked alongside manyorganizations and groups dedicated to serving and empowering people facinghomelessness. I have nearly faced homelessness myself. As a renter, I have lived in 10places, one time moving 3 times in a year. I was, and still am, one lost job or emergencymedical bill away from homelessness. The majority of us are in this position, closer to
homelessness than home ownership. We must remember that our government serves thepeople, the regular, working people of our community, not the millionaire and billionaire
class. Tenants and people experiencing homelessness contribute so much to our community.We raise children, wait tables, cook food, pour beer, remove trash, guide rivers, teach
children, provide healthcare, clean facilities, and so much, much more. And yes, peopleexperiencing homelessness do all this without a reliable place to shower, use the bathroom, do
laundry, store clean clothes, take their medications, sleep, and decompress after a long day.
The first thing we can do to fight homelessness is keep people in the homes they alreadyhave. Tenant Right to Counsel programs have shown to be extremely effective at doingthis across our country. And to the landlords begrudging this program, I have onequestion: why are they afraid if they are following our laws? It is clear we have a housing
crisis in our community, and Tenants Right to Counsel is one of the most cost-effectivemeasures we can take to fight homelessness and advance human rights.
Ordinance 2147 is cruel and unpopular, no matter how kind and well-meaning the citystaff implementing it. Fining and uprooting poor people is systemically violent.Period. Handing out fines to people is not going to help them improve their lives. With
limited resources, we must invest in solutions and efforts that swim upstream of the problem,that prevent this crisis from worsening.
I fully support moving the money from enforcing 2147 to Tenants Right to Counsel, orotherwise disbanding 2147 and finding other funding to get Tenants Right to Counsel offthe ground. On a more nuanced note, I see the value of providing bathroom and garbage
services to areas where people are parking campers. This, at least, is part of treating ourneighbors humanely. Above all, please listen to poor- and working-class voices when making
decisions and considering solutions on this issue. We have the life experience to tell you whatis going to help, as we understand these problems firsthand and have the most to lose or to
gain.
Thank you for your dedication, service, and consideration. This is hard work and I appreciate
all you do.
Sincerely,-Tia Goebel
--
Tia Goebel
2024 NBCCF Minority Fellowship Program - Addictions Counseling Fellow
Department of Counseling Student
Montana State University
pronouns: she / they
Cell: (605) 440-1452