The Manila Community Service District passed a resolution calling on the police and social services to vacate people living in the forest after a man was found fatally shot there earlier this month.
The resolution – supported unanimously by the present supervisors, though 5th District Supervisor Steve Madrone and 4th District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo were absent – allows a government agency, nonprofit or religious organization to set up a site where homeless residents can park and stay safely while receiving connection to services. While the resolution was initially passed in June, 2022, not a single agency or nonprofit took advantage of it.
The move was at the request of Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services Director Connie Beck, who said that she anticipates the positions currently funded my Measure Z – four of the Mobile Intervention Services Team, which includes eight total positions, but half are vacant due to grant funds running out – will likely continue to operate under CalAIM – the states attempt to integrate the Medi-Cal program more closely with social services – funding by January.