Report on Progress to erect the 1st Micro-Shelter Village this Summer:
There has been much progress made with permits from the city and acceptance by the surrounding community. However, the process has not yet been completed. The Pallet micro-shelters will be delivered in early March and will be temporarily stored at a Habitat for Humanity location until the site is ready. In the meantime, we still need more funding to have the village ready for occupants to move-in by late summer.
Board Meeting of January 20, 2024:
The Board meeting of 1/20/24 was mainly concerned with organizing for the upcoming events. New items include:
· Fernando Cardenas was unanimously voted in as a new Board member. A semi-retired nurse with many years of experience in mental health, Mr. Cardenas is a resident of Green Valley.
· Yolanda Sethi gave an update on development of a coloring book that will be given to young children at the Book Festival. A local artist, Mary Whitehead, is working with Yolanda to develop this. In addition, the list of recommended books about homelessness and related subjects is progressing. Volunteer Monika Kriebel found that books on the subject, for both children and adults, are available from our Public Library.
· It was decided to hold the Board elections via email before the next meeting. Board members will be nominated and will be voted on in time to announce the new slate at the February Board Meeting, scheduled for Saturday February 17th at 1 PM.
Volunteer Meeting of Saturday January 27, 2024, at St Phillips:
Seventeen volunteers attended. We welcomed back some of our Snow Bird volunteers who are looking forward to staffing exhibits of the Pallet micro-shelter, tabling during events, and help with clean-up of the property in the Keeling Neighborhood as soon as all permits have been granted.
Discussion ensued about drivers and other volunteers needed for coming events. Mahlon Kriebel will tow the micro-house on its trailer to events until the end of April, at which time we need another volunteer driver. Mahlon also volunteered for leveling the Keeling site with the help of some heavy equipment he is looking to lease from a contractor for a day. Fernando Cardenas also offered to help with this task. Linda Wood volunteered to scout the site for native protected plants before levelling begins. Monika Kriebel will help newsletter editor Joe Vaughan over the next three months. Monika will also help our volunteer coordinators as needed. Mark Leinhos plans to make the web site more interactive. Jennifer Leinhos, our book keeper, shared that it is very important to have well developed spread sheets to earn credibility and support from the city and grant providers.
Chula Vista “Village of Otay” Bridge Shelters in San Diego
San Diego, CA, constructed a 65-unit Pallet Shelter village, which opened in May of 2023, in an area called “Village of Otay”. The village cost $6.6 million and was paid for by federal, state and city grant money besides private donations. Please see links here and here for more detailed information.
The Homing Project is working to create a similar village in Tucson, however, we still need “more support to begin addressing housing our unhoused population. We need more large grants as well private donations. Private donations both small and large can help show broad public support for an organization like THP; this can increase the credibility of THP in the view of foundations capable of making larger grants. So, please donate to THP and spread the word about our worthwhile project.
Thank You Volunteers and Donors for your support of our mission to end homelessness in Tucson! We cannot do it without you!
MEETINGS:
General/Volunteer Meetings are held the last Saturday of the month at 10AM at St. Phillips in the Hills in the Children’s Chapel Room. Join us to plan new & discuss past events. | Board Meetings are held at 1PM on the next to the last Saturday of the month, at Kris Olson’s home. Project volunteers are welcome to attend. |