|
REGULAR MEETING December 10, 2018
<br /> thoughts. One(1)of the things we may have debated on different issues and at times have disagreed
<br /> on different things,but one(1)thing that I like about the City of South Bend is that we are the only
<br /> city in this area and the governmental unit that I know that has been talking about homelessness
<br /> and those issues. I have not heard that from my other colleagues and one (1) part of the resolution
<br /> invites them to join in on the discussion and work along with us. This is not just a City of South
<br /> Bend issue. This is a community and County issue. We have been working to take care of the cities
<br /> that are all nearby even into the State of Michigan. So we really need to come together and continue
<br /> to push this effort and raise our voices for those who don't have a voice. Our City is only as strong
<br /> as its weakest links and we need to make sure we all have a strong band together and that is where
<br /> we are. So we are going to divide up this resolution.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis continued,A resolution of the Common Council of the City of South
<br /> Bend, Indiana calling for the continued provision of temporary shelter and protection from severe
<br /> weather conditions in the City of South Bend, Indiana. We will start with Councilmember
<br /> McBride, then Councilmember Broden, and then I will close in reading this resolution. Thank you
<br /> so kindly for allowing us to present.
<br /> Councilmember Sharon L. McBride, 415 East Broadway Street, South Bend, IN, served as a
<br /> presenter to this bill. Councilmember Sharon L. McBride stated, Whereas, the South Bend
<br /> Common Council's mission statement is to make certain that our city government is always
<br /> responsive to the needs of our residents and that the betterment of South Bend is always our highest
<br /> priority; and, Whereas, this Common Council is committed to protecting its residents from life-
<br /> threatening weather conditions which periodically occur in our City because all of our brothers
<br /> and sisters are entitled to be treated with dignity and assisting helping our residents with these type
<br /> of housing needs is a shared responsibility between the individual and the government; and,
<br /> Whereas, the St. Joseph County Region Two (2)A Homeless Regional Planning Council,
<br /> representing service providers and others, has recognized that issues involving the homeless
<br /> require the partnership of both private and public entities to solve; and, Whereas, on October 22,
<br /> 2018, the South Bend Common Council unanimously voted to re-zone the former Cutting Tools,
<br /> Inc. building at 121 E. Tutt Street from Light Industrial to Mixed-Use in order that it can be used
<br /> as a Weather Amnesty Shelter starting on November 1, 2018, and operating to April 1, 2019; and,
<br /> Whereas, the Center for the Homeless in South Bend, Indiana has had ten (10)to fifteen(15)men
<br /> in for winter amnesty since the start of November, according to Executive Director Steve
<br /> Camilleri, who also stated that "a maximum of fifteen (15) occupants is limited by an occupancy
<br /> permit;" and, Whereas, in prior years before 2018, Life Treatment Centers, Inc., has provided
<br /> weather amnesty services for women in the City of South Bend, Indiana, but are no longer
<br /> providing those services.
<br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden, 1319 Ostego Street, South Bend, IN, served as a presenter for this
<br /> bill. Councilmember Jo M. Broden stated, Whereas, in the year of 2017, the previous weather
<br /> amnesty site, which was the former Kraz Construction Building at 211 W. Monroe St., did not
<br /> open its doors until December 1, 2017; and, Whereas; there was an undesirable delay in opening
<br /> a needed second(2r'd)weather amnesty shelter this year until November 29,2018,despite previous
<br /> conditions of snow, freezing rain and temperatures falling into the teens as early as November 10,
<br /> 2018; and, Whereas, the problem of homelessness is very difficult to resolve, but a private and
<br /> public partnership to provide emergency shelters to protect lives during severe weather conditions
<br /> does not require the same comprehensive solution as does the problem of homelessness; and
<br /> Whereas, the City of South Bend has increased its support for weather amnesty service providers
<br /> over the past two (2) years, as well as for other long-term solutions, it has not, does not currently,
<br /> and does not intend, to provide direct services for the homeless or operate a weather amnesty
<br /> shelter. Whereas, the City of South Bend opens emergency warming and cooling centers during
<br /> emergency temperature conditions in coordination with the Emergency Management Agency of
<br /> St. Joseph County, also known as Emergency Management; and, Whereas, the function of a
<br /> Resolution is to express the policy and/or intent of the Common Council.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis stated, Now, Therefore, be it resolved, by the Common Council of
<br /> the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: Section One (I) The City of South Bend will work
<br /> with Emergency Management to define emergency temperatures and other emergency weather
<br /> events. Section Two (II) The City of South Bend will work with Emergency Management to
<br /> 16
<br />
|