Advocate suggests staffed encampment sites; speakers call for coordinated homelessness and mental‑health responses

A substance‑abuse counselor and volunteers proposed pilot encampment sites with basic amenities as one way to organize services for people experiencing homelessness, and other speakers called for more mental‑health outreach and coordinated services.

Christina Owens, a substance‑abuse counselor who volunteers with unhoused people, said she takes blankets and food to people in encampments and proposed future organized encampment sites with amenities such as stand‑up showers and porta‑potties, run voluntarily by participants and paired with services to avoid impacts on business districts. "Maybe a handful of areas for them — these sites for them that they can be housed at those sites at their own free will," Owens said.

Council members acknowledged the proposal and noted operational challenges including site selection, mental‑health needs and funding. Council member Carter and others said outreach and the point‑in‑time count work show the depth of the need and that any encampment solution would require funding, services and management. Council member Carter said existing barriers include mental‑health reluctance among some people to accept services.

Separately, Esther Mark and other speakers raised concerns about mental‑health supports and training for officers, and asked the city to expand early‑intervention and behavioral‑health services. Council members suggested connecting volunteers and counselors to existing City and county programs and the Coalition for the Homeless to coordinate pilot efforts.

No new city policy or funding was adopted at the meeting; council members invited speakers to meet with staff and service providers to develop concrete proposals.