This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Houseless in Albany

The encampment of house-less people at the Albany Bulb has
perennially engendered mixed feelings in Albany residents. At the same time,
Albany has continued to fail in its obligation to provide low-income housing.

When the City-Council-appointed "Homeless Task Force"
(which included people who live on the Bulb) recently presented their findings to the City Council, Citizens for an East Shore State
Park and the Sierra Club were quick to remind the City that the people were there illegally and the City agreed to remove
the residents of the Bulb "humanely" by October 1, 2013.


Members of the task force, which was subsequently relieved
of duty by the City, have now created a community-based organization,
"Homeless Task Force 2", to monitor and guide future action around
this particular issue, as well as other issues related to homelessness and
poverty in Albany.

Find out what's happening in Albanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Questions to ponder:

  • How
    much is our discomfort with the "homeless problem" driven by
    fear and lack of accurate information?


  • How
    realistic is the October 1, 2013 eviction deadline for current Bulb
    residents?


  • How
    should
    Albany address the challenges of homelessness and poverty in the city?

  • In this afternoon
    forum, we will hear from members of "Homeless Task Force 2", watch at
    least some of Bums' Paradise, a
    documentary made by a Bulb resident before and during a previous eviction in the 1990's, listen to everyone's input, and begin an exploration of potential
    solutions that could work for all parties.

    Find out what's happening in Albanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.





    Please

    come and help the community put our best thinking into helping solve a problem

    that has been brewing on our doorstep for years. This is a social justice issue

    about which we can make a difference, but only if we come together and talk. 





    All are

    welcome. The event is free and refreshments will be served.

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