The Wall St Journal talking about homeless students? Welcome to UC Berkeley, now go find your tent! I am sure we have a similar problem here in Spokane. Also, how our toxic view of homelessness is emboldening attacks by one crazy dude in NYC and DC.
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Wall St Journal
Spokesman-Review
Providence launches mental health program for new and expecting mothers
KREM
Spokane Public Schools, police at odds over mandatory reporting concerns
KXLY
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Wall St Journal
Christine Mai-DucUpdated March 14, 2022 9:47 pm ET
California universities are turning dormitory lounges into bedrooms, putting students in hotel rooms, and leasing entire apartment buildings to deal with a housing shortage that recently led to a judge ordering UC Berkeley to freeze its on-campus enrollment.
The state’s public higher learning institutions have added tens of thousands fewer beds than students in recent years, as a problem across the state—a lack of affordable homes caused in large part by restraints on construction—hits college towns particularly hard.
Spurred by a national outcry over the Berkeley decision, California legislators have proposed measures to delay its impact or spur more construction at colleges. On Monday, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a measure passed unanimously by the state legislature that will render the judge’s decision unenforceable and give Berkeley and other public colleges and universities 18 months to address challenges to campus population growth before a judge can enforce any changes.
State Sen. Scott Wiener has introduced a broader proposal that would exempt many student housing projects from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, known as CEQA, which was at the heart of the Berkeley suit.
“We are making it so hard for the next generation of students to access this education because of the lack of housing,” Mr. Wiener, a Democrat, said.
McKenzie Carling in August of 2020. She says UC Berkeley is her dream school.
Photo: Sara Carling
UC Berkeley, the crown jewel of California’s public higher education system, had been preparing to cut its on-campus enrollment by at least 2,500 students this fall, after the state’s highest court overruled its request to reverse an enrollment cap instituted by a trial judge. The University said Monday that under the law signed by Mr. Newsom, it will instead proceed with its original admissions plan, offering spots to more than 15,000 incoming freshmen and 4,500 transfers for in-person enrollment this year.
Mr. Wiener will still push to pass his proposal, while Republicans in the Democratic-controlled legislature have called for more sweeping CEQA reform.
In their lawsuit, local groups have accused the university of violating CEQA by admitting more students than it had projected without fully considering negative impacts on traffic, noise and housing availability.
Both sides agree there aren’t enough homes for the students who are already there.
Signed into law in 1970 by then-Gov. Ronald Reagan, CEQA requires local governments to study the potential environmental impacts of building projects before approving them. Over the years, the law has been wielded by groups that oppose developments for numerous reasons, going far beyond its original intent, according to housing advocates.
California has added 3.2 times more people than housing units over the past 10 years, according to an analysis by the Public Policy Institute of California. Its median home price of $765,580 is more than twice the national average, and the state has the second-lowest homeownership rate in the nation behind New York.
“The student housing affordability crisis is essentially the broader California housing affordability crisis turned up to 11,” said M. Nolan Gray, an urban-planning researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles.
UC Berkeley had been preparing to cut its on-campus enrollment by at least 2,500 students this fall.
Photo: Stephen Reiss/The Wall Street Journal
Since 2015, UC campuses have added 21,700 beds while enrollment grew by about 43,000, according to a report last year by the state’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office. More than 16,000 California college students at UC and California State University campuses were wait-listed for university-provided housing last fall.
Those who find housing they can afford off-campus often crowd into small apartments or face long commutes to classes. Rachel Forgash, a Ph.D. student at UCLA, said she spends about half of her $2,580 monthly stipend to split a 600-square-foot apartment and commute an hour to campus. “I feel extremely stressed perpetually about housing,” she said.
McKenzie Carling, who is waiting to find out if she has been accepted to UC Berkeley, said she worries that the court fight will hurt her chances of attending what she says is her dream school.
“I don’t think they’re thinking of the kids who’ve had to work through a pandemic, whose graduations were in cars, whose blood, sweat and tears were in Zoom meetings,” said Ms. Carling, 19, who lives in a two-bedroom apartment with her mother and shares a room with her 18-year-old brother in Rocklin, outside Sacramento.
Phil Bokovoy says university officials have expanded enrollment too quickly without considering the impact on affordable housing.
Photo: Stephen Reiss/The Wall Street Journal
Many Berkeley residents and city leaders are alumni of the university who now find themselves at odds over whether to give priority to expanding educational access or maintain the look and feel of a low-rise city full of single-family homes. “The most obvious and important thing you can do is build dense student housing right next to campus,” said City Councilmember Rigel Robinson, a 2018 graduate who supports increased construction.
Phil Bokovoy, a local resident who is leading the lawsuit against UC Berkeley, said university officials have expanded enrollment too quickly without considering the impact on residents and students looking for an affordable place to live.
In the fall of 2001, the median rent for a studio apartment for new leases was $900, according to data from the city of Berkeley. Last fall, it was nearly $1,800.
“They’ve created a housing crisis that makes it almost impossible for low-income students in any greater numbers to come to Berkeley,” said Mr. Bokovoy, who received a master’s degree from the university in 1989. He said the bill Mr. Newsom signed doesn’t address the underlying issue.
UC Santa Cruz says lawsuits from local residents stalled a 3,000-bed student housing development approved by university officials years ago.
Photo: Clara Mokri for The Wall Street Journal
He said he would like UC Berkeley to follow the path of UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz, which have said they would provide housing to accommodate any increase in on-campus student enrollment.
UC Santa Cruz has struggled to make good on that pledge. Cynthia Larive, the school’s chancellor, told state legislators in November that lawsuits from local residents stalled a 3,000-bed student housing development approved by university officials nearly three years ago.
“We can’t move forward even though students need housing now,” Ms. Larive said in an interview.
In the interim, UC Santa Cruz has increased capacity by placing as many as six students in converted lounges, and has rented dozens of hotel rooms to provide overflow housing for some graduate students.
UC Santa Cruz student Louise Edwards says she has slept in her car.
Photo: Clara Mokri for The Wall Street Journal
Louise Edwards often studied and slept in her car alongside her dog, Thelma, while she attended community college in the Bay Area.
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The 53-year-old was admitted to UC Santa Cruz last year, but has struggled to find a reliable place to live with her Section 8 housing voucher. She signed a lease on a one-bedroom unit 9 miles from campus last fall for $2,216 a month—the maximum she could afford with her voucher—but now her landlord is trying to sell the property, she said.
She is hoping to live closer to campus because of rising gas prices, but hasn’t found anything yet. She opted to enroll in online classes next quarter because of the uncertainty.
“The only thing I know how to do is go into a shelter,” Ms. Edwards said of her options when she loses her current dwelling. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
How Public Universities Became So Expensive
How Public Universities Became So Expensive
Tuition at America’s public universities has nearly tripled since 1990. With President Biden looking to ease the burden for some students, experts explain how federal financial aid programs can actually contribute to rising costs. Photo: Storyblocks
Write to Christine Mai-Duc at christine.maiduc@wsj.com
By Omar Abdel-Baqui and Talal Ansari Updated March 14, 2022 6:57 pm ET
The New York Police Department released images from surveillance cameras of a man suspected of attacking homeless people.
Photo: DCPI
Police in Washington, D.C., and New York City are investigating a string of shootings targeting homeless people believed to be perpetrated by the same gunman.
At least five unprovoked attacks in Washington and New York this month resulted in two deaths, police in the two cities said in a joint statement Sunday.
A male suspect shot two men sleeping on the street in Manhattan Saturday morning, killing one man, who had gunshot wounds in his head and neck, police said. In Washington, three homeless men were shot from March 3 to March 9. One of the men, whom authorities found when responding to a tent fire, died.
Police said the same suspect was responsible for the attacks, citing “the similarity in the modus operandi of the perpetrator, common circumstances involved in each shooting, circumstances of the victims and recovered evidence.”
The Metropolitan Police Department released surveillance images of a man suspected of shooting three homeless men between March 3 and March 9.
Photo: Metropolitan Police Department
Officials haven’t named the suspect but have distributed images of a man caught by surveillance cameras. On Monday afternoon they released a new, more detailed photo of the suspect’s face.
“This was a coldblooded attack,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said at a joint press conference in Washington on Monday evening. “We don’t want to lose another resident, in this city, in New York, or anywhere else.”
Mr. Adams and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser called on the public to help identify and locate the suspect in the killings.
“There is a lot of good detective work that has produced some good images so we want residents to look at those images and call us,” Ms. Bowser said, adding that homeless people are welcome to stay at shelters.
The New York City and Metropolitan police departments are investigating the attacks in coordination with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The agencies are offering tens of thousands of dollars in rewards for information that leads to an arrest.
“I feel the knot is tightening in on the person who is responsible for this murder here in Washington, D.C., as well as this murder in New York City,” Metropolitan Police Chief Robert J. Contee said. He asked the public to keep calling an anonymous tip line.
Write to Omar Abdel-Baqui at omar.abdel-baqui@wsj.com and Talal Ansari at talal.ansari@wsj.com
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Spokesman-Review
Providence launches mental health program for new and expecting mothers
By Arielle Dreher
THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW
Becoming a new mom can be a stressful experience, both physically and mentally.
That stress can lead to diagnoses like postpartum depression, which one in nine new mothers will experience in the United States.
Providence is launching a new intensive outpatient mental health program to help combat postpartum depression and additional mental health impacts for new and expecting mothers in the Inland Northwest.
The Perinatal RISE Program offers group and individual therapy for those who might have mental health diagnoses before getting pregnant or for those who experience new stresses that come with becoming pregnant or a new parent.
More than 400,000 infants are born to depressed mothers in the U.S. each year, according to research published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
That makes “perinatal depression the most underdiagnosed obstetric complication in America,” research from 2010 says.
The Perinatal RISE program is attempting to combat this, with intensive group and individual therapy and resources for new mothers. Participants would attend the program three to four days per week, for a few hours each day. The program lasts six to eight weeks.
The program is the first of its kind in the Inland Northwest, said Kristin Reiter, the RISE program manager.
The needs for mental health treatment during the perinatal period have largely gone unaddressed in the area, beyond a few individual therapists who offer specific services, Reiter said.
“That was shocking to me because I think there’s a lot of stigma about being a new mom,” Reiter said.
The RISE program is for people experiencing depression, anxiety, bipolar or personality disorders prior to becoming pregnant. It is also be a service for new moms who might need support anew when they become pregnant.
Pregnant women and new moms are allowed to participate in the program for up to a year after their baby is born.
Someone who has never experienced a mental health condition may experience them as a result of the change in hormones and circumstances that come with pregnancy.
“This is such a vulnerable time in a woman’s life that anxiety and depression is more prevalent in that time,” Reiter said.
The goal of the program is to prepare women to leave after a couple months with a treatment plan paired with the ability to access therapy or a lower level of mental health support, through support groups or other means. The RISE program coordinates with a patient’s provider to ensure a smooth transition.
Reiter said women will participate in three groups a day: one for behavior activation, which includes some sort of physical activity such as walking or yoga; another for psycho- education and learning how to be a new parent; and lastly a group for learning tools to manage their mental health after they leave the program.
Patients will also have individual therapy, as well as access to a prescriber, who can ensure they are receiving medication and treatment they need.
New mothers are encouraged to bring their infants to the sessions, which are held in the afternoon.
“The baby is a part of their treatment and healing rather than being a distraction or barrier,” Reiter said.
Providence began enrolling patients in the program in late February, and they can take up to eight clients at a time. There is currently no wait list for this program.
People can refer themselves to the program for an assessment, and OB/ GYNs, primary care physicians and therapists can all refer patients for an assessment as well.
The Perinatal RISE program accepts all health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. Arielle Dreher can be reached at (509) 459-5467 or at arielled@spokesman. com.
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KREM
SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl says students and staff are less safe because multiple on-campus crimes are going unreported by the school district.
Now, the Spokane Public Schools is firing back.
On March 11, Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl sent a letter to Spokane Public Schools (SPS) Superintendent Dr. Adam Swinyard concerning numerous incidents that, according to Meidl, were failed to be brought to the attention of the police department.
"All professional school personnel are categorized as mandatory reporters and are required by law to report incidents outlined in RCW 74.34.035 that fall within circumstances prescribed by what is commonly referred to as mandatory reporting requirements," Meidl said in his letter.
Chief Meidl says he looked at six months of reports and noticed many crimes occurred on campus but weren't called in until later. In the letter, Chief Meidl says, "These laws do not have carve outs or exceptions for philosophies."
Meidl Letter to Swinyard:
Following Friday's letter, Spokane Public Schools responded with a letter of their own, but to district staff. In it, they said the district is not aware of any patterns of complaints from families or building staff regarding a failure to comply with mandatory reporting.
On March 14, SPS sent a letter to Meidl requesting a meeting with him along with Mayor Woodward, City Council President Beggs and City Civil Rights Officer Jerrall Haynes.
The district also says, "...the District leadership is not aware of any patterns of complaints" and that "SPS principals have indicated they have called 911 and officers have not responded to their schools."
There are several other points in the letter, calling out the police department for not communicating sooner.
SPS letter to Chief Meidl:
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KXLY
Posted: March 14, 2022 4:41 PM by Will Wixey
SEATTLE, Wash. — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded more than $89 million to house people experiencing homelessness in Washington.
HUD announced $2.6 billion in FY 2021 Continuum of Care Competition Awards for roughly 7,000 homeless housing and service programs across the United States. Washington will receive $89,289,689 for 199 different projects.
The funds will help individuals and families experiencing homelessness move into permanent housing with access to supportive services.
“HUD is proud to support our partners in the Northwest who are making an impact to end homelessness in our communities,” said HUD Regional Administrator Margaret Solle Salazar. “These resources will open the doors to long-term housing stability for thousands of families in our region and will help build an equitable recovery from this time of crisis.”
The Continuum of Care program is the largest source of federal grant funding for homeless services and housing programs. HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
You can view where the awards will specifically go in Washington here.
READ: Bill recently signed into law looks to reconnect East Central communities
READ: Spokane Valley receives $3M for improvements to Barker Road corridor
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