10 signatures reached
To: Gavin Newsom, Karen Bass and Rick Caruso
Overhauling Welfare and Tackling Homelessness in LA
We the people would like to propose a solution that will help the County overhaul its current welfare system and eradicate homelessness in the county.
The county was just approved to spend $3B to help manage the current crisis of homelessness in LA County and this is how we propose that you spend it.
In 1993, Ted Hayes ran a prototype called Dome Village in DTLA. Let’s take some learnings from that and other countries to help resolve our current situation.
Let’s start with the concept of Tiny Villages, that are currently being leveraged in parts of the West Valley. Village’s can be erected across the county to serve different needs/situations that contribute to homelessness.
Type A Village: Families/Women with children
Type B Village: Women Only
Type C Village: Mixed
Type D Village: Psych Assisted (for those that want help)
Type E Village: Anything goes (Bussed to Remote locations)
Each Village type has services designed to help the demographic. I’m sure folks will balk at type E, but freedom of choice exists but we don’t all have to be subject to it. Rounding folks up could also be a challenge, but access to a bed, shower and basic rations could do a lot.
The Dome’s were made of fiberglass and constructed for 10k per unit, using this model we can service 80k homeless individuals with a unit and 10k worth of services for $1.6B.
The plan would be for the villages to become self sustaining, as the residents in A,B&C type Villages can be trained to work and be held responsible for maintaining their community.
Village D - would be more like assisted living because trained professionals will need to be on-hand to help with the special nature of the residents, but this can be funded through current welfare budgets.
Type E Villages receive the lowest level of support, but they are also less restricted. I recommend a remote area, that provides work and access to recreational drugs that they can use in “safe” spaces. Those areas are heavily monitored and offer drug rehabilitation programs as well. They purchase rations with the money earned working on farms or government funded projects. I realize this may be controversial, but the government is not providing any drugs to people, buying it and selling in small quantities will just be decriminalized in these areas.
The county was just approved to spend $3B to help manage the current crisis of homelessness in LA County and this is how we propose that you spend it.
In 1993, Ted Hayes ran a prototype called Dome Village in DTLA. Let’s take some learnings from that and other countries to help resolve our current situation.
Let’s start with the concept of Tiny Villages, that are currently being leveraged in parts of the West Valley. Village’s can be erected across the county to serve different needs/situations that contribute to homelessness.
Type A Village: Families/Women with children
Type B Village: Women Only
Type C Village: Mixed
Type D Village: Psych Assisted (for those that want help)
Type E Village: Anything goes (Bussed to Remote locations)
Each Village type has services designed to help the demographic. I’m sure folks will balk at type E, but freedom of choice exists but we don’t all have to be subject to it. Rounding folks up could also be a challenge, but access to a bed, shower and basic rations could do a lot.
The Dome’s were made of fiberglass and constructed for 10k per unit, using this model we can service 80k homeless individuals with a unit and 10k worth of services for $1.6B.
The plan would be for the villages to become self sustaining, as the residents in A,B&C type Villages can be trained to work and be held responsible for maintaining their community.
Village D - would be more like assisted living because trained professionals will need to be on-hand to help with the special nature of the residents, but this can be funded through current welfare budgets.
Type E Villages receive the lowest level of support, but they are also less restricted. I recommend a remote area, that provides work and access to recreational drugs that they can use in “safe” spaces. Those areas are heavily monitored and offer drug rehabilitation programs as well. They purchase rations with the money earned working on farms or government funded projects. I realize this may be controversial, but the government is not providing any drugs to people, buying it and selling in small quantities will just be decriminalized in these areas.
Why is this important?
Homelessness will continue to grow, unless radical change is made. The bandages that we have placed over this issue have all come unhinged and it needs to be dealt with in a way that is empathetic and strategic. This proposal will remove the problem element (Village E) out of cities and away from children/families. This will also impact certain crime statistics, dealing with petty theft and larceny.
This solution will also provide relief on the already taxed criminal justice system, that locks people up that need treatment.
With respect to welfare, Villagers A,B& C will be taught self sufficiency and they will have the option to gain skills that can be used in and outside of the village. This will allow the government to reduce aid for them over time as they follow their growth plans. Once they have achieved self sufficiency, they will be provided a one-time stipend to rent a section 8 apartment (paying 60% market rent for a capped timeframe).
This solution will also provide relief on the already taxed criminal justice system, that locks people up that need treatment.
With respect to welfare, Villagers A,B& C will be taught self sufficiency and they will have the option to gain skills that can be used in and outside of the village. This will allow the government to reduce aid for them over time as they follow their growth plans. Once they have achieved self sufficiency, they will be provided a one-time stipend to rent a section 8 apartment (paying 60% market rent for a capped timeframe).