District 13 Updates: Homeless Services, Office Hours, Zoning Changes

Hi Everyone,

Homeless in Subzero Temperatures

I trust you're staying safe and warm. 

It's weather like this that drives home the need for the proposed Men's Shelter on the east side. The site is close to transit and is big enough to accommodate services, allowing for day and night use.

Regarding services to our homeless population during this cold snap, the city has created response teams for those staying in temporary park encampments. The goal is to help people camping outdoors connect to safe shelter or housing as soon as possible. The response teams include staff from the City's Community Development Division, Parks, Police, Fire, Streets, and homeless street outreach partners. For example, according to an update from District 6 Alder, Marsha Rummel, the McPike Park team has started meeting and will have weekly meetings for updates and problem solving for/with each camper. Outreach partners have been working with campers to connect them to shelter, housing and other resources. A Housing First strategy informs their efforts. The McPike Park outreach partners include MachOne Health, Sankofa Behavioral Health, Social Justice Center, volunteers from Friends of State Street and Catalyst for Change.

Adler Rummel adds:

Instead of bringing food, clothing and firewood and leaving them at the site, neighbors should drop donations off at the Social Justice Center or donate toward encampment housing funds managed by the Friends of the State Street Family and the Madison Area Coordinated Outreach group. Funds will be used for security deposit, first month rent, moving cost, respite hotel, and other housing and shelter related costs.  Please email outreach@friendsofthestatestreetfamily.org or call their Outreach line 608-535-9394. They can support individuals who do not qualify for the Dane County hotel programs to stay in hotels when the weather turns frigid. In addition, monetary donations will allow them to coordinate and provide the most essential resources equitably throughout the Madison area.

Office Hours

Here is the link to office hours this Friday, 8AM to 10AM. This link is set up to work every Friday morning for the next couple of months: 

Tag Evers is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Office Hours
Time: Feb 12, 2021 08:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
        
        Feb 12, 2021 08:00 AM
        Feb 19, 2021 08:00 AM
        Feb 26, 2021 08:00 AM
        Mar 5, 2021 08:00 AM
        Mar 12, 2021 08:00 AM
        Mar 19, 2021 08:00 AM
        Mar 26, 2021 08:00 AM
        Apr 2, 2021 08:00 AM
     
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Proposed Zoning Changes to Increase Density and Diversify Housing

I have requested a virtual meeting with staff to go over the proposed changes and what they mean for District 13 and the city as a whole. 

This is the first of several steps. At a July 30 Plan Commission meeting, staff presented a suggested work plan with five components:

1. Promote multi-family residential development through zoning changes 2. Accessory Dwelling Units 3. Potential New Zoning Districts 4. City-Funded Affordable Housing 5. Demolition Ordinance.

This initial change that's proposed aligns 100% with the recommendations in the city's 2019 report on Impediments to Fair Housing.  The report is lengthy, but if you want to see how this zoning change comports with our overall goals, read pages 8 - 12.

There will be opportunity for resident input as the proposed ordinance change goes to the Housing Strategy Committe on Feb 25, Plan Commission on March 8, and Common Council on March 16. 

Please let me know your questions or concerns by emailing me at district13@cityofmadison.com, calling me at 608.424.2580, or showing up for office hours some Friday morning over a cup of joe.

Take care and stay safe,

Tag