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#RVonthe streetDear Mike:

I'm an ex-homeless person who celebrates 20 years out of homelessness (9/96-6/1999) on 4 July, 2019. I have empathy for these people. But I get upset that our city is being taken over by beaten-up vehicles, trailers, etc.

Most of us have had the misfortune at sometime on our life of sleeping in a vehicle at night. It gets very cold when the motor is turned-off. This is what these people in these vehicles suffer. We older people also have the challenge of having to go to the bathroom at 2:00 in the morning. If no bathroom is available, please use your imagination. What about showers? I swim over at Oceana Pool. One homeless married couple pays their dues and uses the pool for showers,etc. When I was homeless, I often had to go to the bathroom on the streets. I would sneak into buildings at 05:00 in the morning and use the basin to give myself a quick wash. Try to imagine the awful psychological pain of surviving with no electricity, water, internet or TV. Thank God for Life Moves (Inn Visions) that gave me shelter and hope. I would not have survived without them. Life Moves has excellent programs to help these people. Please talk to the Pacifica Resource Center about this incredible resources.

Respectfully, I feel that we need "a carrot and stick" approach. We need to let these people know that we will not tolerate their vehicles parked here. But,unlike other cities, we will not just push them out. We will guide them into programs through the Pacifica Resource Center, Life Moves, and other organizations like the VA (for veterans). They are going to have to "do it the hard way" and find jobs that pay them a living wage in this area. These jobs are available. I got an apartment with a $400 grant when I was surviving on $8.00 an hour exploitation jobs and working 16 hours a day. After three months in the apartment, I found a job paying $20.00 per hour. I stayed with that employer 8 years. I met and married Elena. The rest is history. I now have a nice home here in Pacifica and a good life. If I can do it. these other people can do it.

What have I learned in 70.5 years of life? I have learned many things. Most important is how we treat our fellow humans and animals. Pacifica needs to be the exception and work very hard to solve this problem in a humane manner without breaking the city budget.

Mike all of you on the City Council have a tough and thankless job. But it is a job that has to be done.

With kindest regards,
-JackW