“Why California’s much-touted CARE Court is ‘no one-and-done program'”
According to this publication by the state of California, the following describes Governor Newson’s new plan to get Californians in crisis off the streets and into housing, treatment, and care – but if you’re only going to read one bullet point, skip to the last… ● Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court is a […]
California “CARE Court” Forces Unhoused People into Treatment
Mad In America: “California Governor Gavin Newsom’s so-called “CARE Court” plan creates a new court system that subjects unhoused people with mental health disabilities to involuntary treatment. In a recent response, the civil rights advocacy group American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stresses that the solution to California’s homelessness crisis is permanent housing and dignified care, […]
The Alternative to Police That Is Proven to Reduce Violence: Why don’t more people trust it?
Mad In America: “San Francisco, which, unlike cities like Los Angeles and San Antonio, does not send cops out with its crisis response teams. The thinking is that counselors like Tautolo can more easily bridge the gap with neighbors who might be skeptical of a city-led effort. ‘The lived experience cannot be understated,’ says Kathleen Silk […]
Successful Program Models for Homeless and Trafficked Youth
RMYA, the Roy Maas Youth Alternatives organization, fosters youth including those without a home. The RMYA has several emergency shelters with one solely dedicated to trafficked kids. In addition, the organization provides services such as residential and living programs, and counseling for at-risk youth. Several states have become interested in adopting a similar model. More […]
Police Response and Transportation Reform for LA Metro
New CEO Stephanie Wiggins announced Wesnesday that LA Metro officials will stop focusing on law enforcement as a primary way response for homeless people within the transportation system. This announcement came after the introduction of the 23-month pilot program that would make buses and trains free for students in the short-term and free for low-income […]
New Program Expanding Detroit’s Crisis Intervention Responses
The city of Detroit announced a partnership with the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network in hopes of fixing a “broken system” by adding behavioral health support to police, 911 call takers and homeless outreach workers. DWIHN will offer Detroit police officers and 911 call takers crisis intervention team training. Detroit police and DWIHN will work in crisis intervention teams. The […]
An Increase in Criminalized Loitering Laws Leading to Increased Shootings of People with Disabilities
Bennie Edwards, a 60-year-old homeless Black man in Oklahoma City, was killed by the police on Friday night. He was reported as creating a disturbance in-front of a store and police were called. After confronting Bennie, police fatally shot him. More of this story here. According to a report by the National Law Center on […]
Police alternatives being examined for Sonoma County police departments
The Santa Rose Police Department is pursuing a program that operates 24/7 and would provide unarmed professionals trained in nonviolent interventions for specific responses. Some responses would include mental health emergencies and homelessness. Insufficient state and federal funding has lead to a lack of resources for individuals struggling with mental health. Currently, traditional beat cops […]