Meeting Time: June 24, 2020 at 2:30pm MST
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Agenda Item

34 Request Authorization to Enter Into a Contract with Crisis Response Network, Inc. for a Web-Based Emergency Shelter Availability Portal Due to COVID-19 Pandemic (Ordinance S-46798)

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    Ruth Schaller over 4 years ago

    Police are not social workers. This criminalizes homelessness .Homeless need help in finding meals, medical services in addition to shelter. Homeless individuals find it necessary to protect their meager possessions which become lost during relocations. Do not make it harder to find stability by unnecessary relocations.
    Andre House possesses 30 years of experience in providing daily services to the homeless and can provide guidance in this matter.
    Phoenix Police are not social workers.

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    Christopher HUNT over 4 years ago

    I oppose and request that you consider NOT implementing this Agenda Item. The residents of this community (often called Homeless) suffer from emotional and physical distress on a daily basis. Many cannot endure additional distress without taking actions that are detrimental to themselves and other member of our community. Please work at easing the pain and suffering of this segment of our community and make Phoenix an example of compassionate care for all its residents. Thank you.

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    Olivia Bellato over 4 years ago

    PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE AT THIS TIME. Let us search our humanity and walk in our homeless community shoes (if they can reach a place to acquire shoes and water and assistance to ease their suffering.) Love thy neighbor as thyself.

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    J R Gaelick over 4 years ago

    I implore my city officials to not approve this item. Further criminalizing homelessness is the last thing Phoenix needs. Please do not give police more power to arrest and hurt folks who are experiencing homelessness. The knowledge of available shelter beds should be available to folks providing care, not the police. Sleeping is a human right. I hope the Phoenix City Council will do the right thing.

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    Katie H over 4 years ago

    More information is needed about this. If the intent is to criminalize a person experiencing homelessness declining a shelter bed, I strongly oppose this. This will only create more barriers for people to access housing and create unnecessary work in the criminal justice system. Will other service providers have access to this system? I want to remind Council members there is a significant shortage of emergency shelter beds in Phoenix, so the likelihood of PD finding a placement will be low

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    Brittney Raley over 4 years ago

    I think it's imperative that we be extremely cautious with the power we are giving law enforcement with the continued abuse of power we see at this time. I believe the effort here is good however the source to conduct this is not. The homeless community does not trust law enforcement which means the homeless do not go to law enforcement when they are in need of assistance. I believe this program should be partnering with local shelters since they already provide needed services.

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    Nancy Wood over 4 years ago

    Please do not approve at this time. We need to look for ways to support our homeless population that won't possibly uproot them from the services and community they know and need. Let's look for ways that allows them a modicum of stability and respect. Thank you.

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    Carolina Lopez over 4 years ago

    Please do not approve this time. We do not need more funds going to police. Please direct these funds toward literal social services like shelters. Council members, I urge you to think of ALL of our community members and stop the criminalization of homelessness. Please do not give the police yet another reason to fine, cite, threaten, intimidate, and harass people that are homeless.

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    MARY DUCHARME over 4 years ago

    We need to look at how this will affect and possibly hurt our homeless population. Being homeless should not be a crime in any form. We need to find a way to work together to truly help them. Thank you.

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    Rev Dan Ponisciak over 4 years ago

    If this is to help people find a place to sleep, then great. But if it’s a way to further criminalize folks experiencing homelessness, then we must look inside our own hearts and consider where is the compassion? If we don’t lead with compassion, we are simply satisfying our own desires and not the needs of those who are suffering.