RHRC Meeting Minutes 11_9Call to order;present Dana,Walter,Michael,Valerie,Maria,Mara,Maya
Not Present:Tyler,Tim,Rachel,Karole
Approval of Agenda:First Mara Second Dana
Approval of Agenda:First Valerie Second Mara
Public Comment:No Public Comment
Reports:
Chair None
Vice Chair Absent
Secretary Report Absent
Liaisons (School Absent)
City
New Legal Aid Kiosk Poster
As the housing sub-committee moves forward let liaisons know (there to help)
New Business
John Hudson re:Housing issues-Dana
Homeless housing stability specialist-oversees state/federal grants
Share general issues/information
Not sure where the city is at with addressing homelessness in the city but know Rachel from the
school board and is grateful for an indigenous person who has had work with unhoused
populations
There needs to be people at the table”from every department and area to
John does a lot of networking with unhoused people,people from the county,etc.
Walter:We have had people move to Richfield parks to create encampments and the previous
public commenter offered a specific area to have an encampment but the response(in the last
agenda)
When is the tipping point where an individual is wanting to have more permanent housing
John:that would not be a way to address it because it is a unique situation for every person
Dana:
John:RMS has a unhoused lesion how help with the unhoused pop at RMS
Sits on a sub-committee related to the indigenous unhoused population with opioid,sex
trafficking,and other issues
In Jan of this year a single night in Minneapolis,7,200 people were using shelters in
encampments,or on the street
And though the whole state is 19,000 (which means couch hopping and others)
It is expected that if the state had enough housing there would be only a 1/4th that would take it
Mara:Is it correct that only one-fourth of the unhoused op would take the housing?
John:At ‘the wall’encampment there was a reach outdone most said even if they could get a
housing voucher but they say that they have a place (apartment,relative/friend's house,or tent)
Walter:Some
John:Some unhoused people are too stressed to get into the shelter and they are overcrowded
and the shelters are unsafe
Mara:Was part of the reason that only 1/4th would take the housing that there would be the lack
of service that they can get?
John:Yes for example if someone wanted to get mental health help there could be a 6 month
wait
Maya:Yes there is an extreme lack of mental health providers
Walter:It is seemingly focused on housing first then services
John:
Community member:Miriam Kenning moved to Richfield 2 years ago and where very active in
their past community
Meet Michael through voting and in her search for voting information (it is all online)
John:Had people accessed What is out here for people who are living on the street right now?
But county/city borders
Dana:Chicago has warm houses,Here in Richfield?
John:Up to the city decisions Metro Transit opens up things at 35 degrees windchill but causes
a lot of issues (who cleans up)who would watch it?
A few places in Minneapolis are opening up to places to house overnights but not during the day
causing issues with met transit
Community center?In Richfield.
Dana:Are there shelters that provide privacy for unhoused individuals?Tiny houses
Has a long application process
John:Long application process and it is hard to get into and there is not enough of then
Mara what about the micro hotel in Japan
John:yes that is a great idea
Walter:Any more questions?
John:I am happy to answer more questions (subcommittee connections)
Maya:Rainbow in the hub be available for shelters
John:Yes
Walter:yes but issues they are privately owned
First need to figure out what the needs are in the community
And then go to solutions,housing,or services
Transgender Day of Remembrance-Mara
Propose to not go forward with the proclamation
First Mara Second Mike
Unfinished Business
Indigenous Peoples Month-Tyler Absent
Notes Walter:We should have the history of the month
Delete ethnic cleansing (genocide,other descriptors,gave specifics of what append)
Changing of words...
Move to approve:First Maya Second Valerie
Housing Issues-Tyler Absent
Subcommittee Updates
Look at Poster-Maya Notes….
Where to get info out to renters
Reach out to person who works on Section 8 housing
One of the flyers be about connections in the renters
Renters Union?City Attorney
Proclamations Template-Dana
Reach out to Tyler for tweaks etc.
Book Banning and Book Sanctuary City-Dana
No essay submitted (must return gift cards)
Start it up in the spring?
Racial Covenants-Tim Absent
Immigrations Citizenship Event-Tim Absent
Richfield Pride Celebration Update-Mara
Looking for a fiscal sponsor
MN DHR Presentation to HRC-Walter
Intention to make it a more regular occurrence
The most useful part was hearing what other commissions were doing
Minneapolis has the power to award penalties to landlord &tenant issues
It is possible to have RHRC to do something similar
Worth attending in the future
Annual Report-Walter
Thankful for every part they submitted to him for the report
On the 21 the Due on the 28th?
Metro Bus Incident-Maria
There is no new news about that but other
The issue about the stealing of packages
Mike F-Extra patrols could be available
Drop Boxes could be available too
Announcements/Open forum
Michael -Ineffectiveness identified with
School out of Woodlake church with Adult day school issues with register addressed in the
precinct
Help people get registered to vote before voting also being able to vouch for them and absentee
ballots
Community members-Lived in a similar community and with the pride celebrations there are
people to get in contact with
When moved here it was a struggle to get information especially online and how to get info to
people who move
In their past community they fought very hard to have an HRC but the mayor did not want it so it
is very special to have one
Move to adjourn First Dana Second Michael