Great piece, Devin. I think Meieran sees this as the crisis it is, while JVP is dithering in semantics and it DRIVES ME CRAZY. I also think Meieran is right that we need more flexibility in how we house people. People aren't always ready, like Marshall, to go straight from the street (or van) to housing. [As much as I'm a fan of Housing First. But Housing First usually means housing w/supportive services.] Transitional housing like the SRVs can be an important step before actual housing. (You can get into detox and/or seek better access to mental health care while you are in the SRV--at least that's the idea.)
Thank you, Hannah! The Safe Rest Villages are actually still considered shelter because even though they provide respite, and a bit of stability, they don't provide an actual intervention like treatment or recovery-oriented transitional housing, which has the goal of getting people to be clean and sober by the time they leave. SRVs do often serve as a base to get into detox or get better access to mental health care, though, you're right. It's amazing you've helped so many people get into SRVs!!
Informative and thorough piece. Glad you're out there painting the whole picture!
Great piece, Devin. I think Meieran sees this as the crisis it is, while JVP is dithering in semantics and it DRIVES ME CRAZY. I also think Meieran is right that we need more flexibility in how we house people. People aren't always ready, like Marshall, to go straight from the street (or van) to housing. [As much as I'm a fan of Housing First. But Housing First usually means housing w/supportive services.] Transitional housing like the SRVs can be an important step before actual housing. (You can get into detox and/or seek better access to mental health care while you are in the SRV--at least that's the idea.)
Thank you, Hannah! The Safe Rest Villages are actually still considered shelter because even though they provide respite, and a bit of stability, they don't provide an actual intervention like treatment or recovery-oriented transitional housing, which has the goal of getting people to be clean and sober by the time they leave. SRVs do often serve as a base to get into detox or get better access to mental health care, though, you're right. It's amazing you've helped so many people get into SRVs!!
This is a fantastic read! Such thorough journalism. I feel smarter already