Bill Aims To Relax Privacy Protections To Better Help Homeless
The regulations are impeding efforts to share information between areas and agencies, officials say.
KQED:
New Law Could Speed Up Help For L.A.’s Homeless
Assembly Bill 210, written by Assemblyman Miguel Santiago of Los Angeles, would allow county agencies to share some information about homeless clients with each other. It would also allow workers in various agencies to collaborate to get a person housed. (Palta, 6/27)
In other news —
KQED:
Fires At Oakland’s Tent Camps Point To Growing Homelessness Crisis
Several fires at tent encampments in Oakland have raised the already high profile of homelessness in a city that has experienced a 37 percent increase in the unsheltered population over the last two years. Even though Oakland is planning to invest tens of millions of dollars more in short- and long-term solutions, local leaders and advocates say it won’t be nearly enough to make a sizable dent in the city’s homeless crisis. (Katayama, 6/28)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Old-School Shelters Need To Upgrade Services
Unlike old-school shelters, the Navigation Center offers 24-hour access, has storage for belongings, partners are allowed to sleep together, and pets may be brought inside. The big difference? The Navigation Center has case managers offering intensive help on a range of services, including treating addictions, obtaining identification cards and finding housing. (Knight, 6/27)