From: "Lt. Joe Silberman" <jsilberman@ashevillenc.gov>
To: Sean Aardema <saardema@ashevillenc.gov>
Sent: Wed, 24 Mar 2021 14:08:55 -0400
Subject: Fwd: Aston Park
From: Cathy Ball <cball@ashevillenc.gov>
Date: March 24, 2021 at 1:34:19 PM EDT
To: Helen Hyatt <helenhyatt@charter.net>
Cc: Brian Huskey <bhuskey@ashevillenc.gov>, bcampbell@ashevillenc.gov, "Captain J.E.Silberman" <jsilberman@ashevillenc.gov>, Emily Ball <eball@ashevillenc.gov>, Nancy Helm Estabrooks <nancyhe2@gmail.com>, councilgroup <AshevilleNCCouncil@ashevillenc.gov>, Deborah DeJernette <dedejernette@yahoo.com>, Stewart Popovitch <jessilynstewart@gmail.com>, Robert Stevenson <robert@homewardboundwnc.org>, Brenda Mills <bmills@ashevillenc.gov>, Roderick Simmons <rsimmons@ashevillenc.gov>, "Paul D'Angelo" <pdangelo@ashevillenc.gov>, Nikki Reid <nreid@ashevillenc.gov>, Sam Powers <spowers@ashevillenc.gov>, Peggy Rowe <prowe@ashevillenc.gov>, Mike Lamb <mlamb@ashevillenc.gov>
Subject: Re: Aston Park
Ms. Hyatt,I am responding to the email you sent to Brian Huskey.I am confused about your email given that we met on Tuesday and I talked about the City's plan to help find another location for folks in Aston Park to go. I had mentioned that it would be two to three weeks until we could identify a location and I asked that you communicate with me.We are trying to work on a balanced solution to this concern.I will be happy to follow up with you. Do not hesitate to reach out to me on this issue.Stay safe,CathyCathy D. Ball, PEAssistant City ManagerCity of AshevilleP.O. Box 7148Asheville, NC 28802(W) 828-259-5939(C) 828-691-4623On Wed, Mar 24, 2021 at 10:57 AM <helenhyatt@charter.net> wrote:Dear Brian,
I have communicated with Robert at Homeward Bound.
Although the city partnered with that organization in 2019 it was for community outreach only, they are not consultants and have no influence or input on City Policy and very few resources. Robert can walk over to Aston and ask if they want water give them and trash bag, which they will have to dispose of and request that they not bother local residents.
The Tunnel Road project will not be available until 2022.
365 Biltmore, the County facility is under review as a wet bed location, and renovation, which will take a long time. Low barrier housing is difficult. Why invite trouble to your establishment?
HCA has reduced staff on the psych ward and released untreated unstable patients onto the streets.
The jail will not accept drunk people. HCA will only keep a narcan patient for 2 hours. APD cannot sit and wait until a persons recovers.
Only some of the CDC guidelines are being adhered to. The Aston Park Camp arrived 2 weeks ago, and has the blessing of the City to remain there. Now it is considered an established camp, APD will not ask it to move.
Setting up your tent anywhere now makes it an established camp and CDC guidelines immediately take effect.
I do not care if Beloved is putting a few trash bins out and pretending everything is now fixed. Aston Park already has two existing trash bins and Parks and Rec Staff who regularly go there and pick up trash, but it takes a very special person to walk over to a trash bin and place their trash in it.
We want this camp removed from Aston Park and relocated to another Park in the City AWAY from residences. Please can you make this happen. Cathy Ball requested we wait another 2 to 3 weeks for plans to come together, but this is too long for this situation to get out of hand.
Thank you for attending to this matter.
Helen Hyatt
SFB Neighborhood Association
From: Brian Huskey <bhuskey@ashevillenc.gov>
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2021 10:55 AM
To: helenhyatt@charter.net
Cc: Emily Ball <eball@ashevillenc.gov>; Nancy Helm Estabrooks <nancyhe2@gmail.com>; Deborah DeJernette <dedejernette@yahoo.com>; Stewart Popovitch <jessilynstewart@gmail.com>; Robert Stevenson <robert@homewardboundwnc.org>; Brenda Mills <bmills@ashevillenc.gov>; Roderick Simmons <rsimmons@ashevillenc.gov>; Paul D'Angelo <pdangelo@ashevillenc.gov>
Subject: Re: Aston Park
Ms. Hyatt-
Thank you for your email. I am already aware of these concerns. I apologize for the delay in my response - I have had multiple deadlines the last few weeks that have prevented me from responding as quickly as I'd like to.
I am copying Robert Stevenson here, who is the street outreach worker from Homeward Bound and funded by the City. He can certainly make a site visit to see if these particular folks are connected to services and help connect them if not. If you'd like to contact him directly, he's at (828) 768-3435. I think he's already aware of this site and has visited previously.
The City has been adherent to the Centers of Disease Control pandemic guidance on homeless encampments, which I have pasted in below. The City is also currently working on several longer-term plans for both additional shelter capacity as well as permanent housing options for our homeless neighbors. Fortunately, there are new federal resources coming as part of the American Rescue Plan that I hope will enable implementation of some of these missing components in our services system. However, homelessness is a complex problem and Asheville is as under-resourced to fully address it as any other city in the United States.
I have not been included in any of the higher-level discussions about any near-term solutions being planned currently, however, so I do not know what can be done as immediately as you've requested. My main primary role at the City is to manage the federal funding the City receives that's targeted to address homelessness - I'm not not a direct service provider. I do know that we are indeed very concerned about encampment sanitation and health concerns, and the City's sanitation department is exploring multiple options to address these situations. That said, Robert Stevenson will be the best source to at least assess those at this encampment and determine what their other immediate options may be.
Any time you directly observe criminal activity, I encourage you to call the police.
Please feel free to call me directly at (828) 793-0247 if you'd like to discuss these concerns in more detail.
Thanks again for reaching out.
Brian K. Huskey
Community Development Analyst
City of Asheville
O (828) 251-4048
C (828) 793-0247
Non modo ut malum.
Considerations for encampments
- If individual housing options are not available, allow people who are living unsheltered or in encampments to remain where they are.
- Clearing encampments can cause people to disperse throughout the community and break connections with service providers. This increases the potential for infectious disease spread.
- Encourage those staying in encampments to set up their tents/sleeping quarters with at least 12 feet x 12 feet of space per individual.
- If an encampment is not able to provide sufficient space for each person, allow people to remain where they are but help decompress the encampment by linking those at increased risk for severe illness to individual rooms or safe shelter.
- Work together with community coalition members to improve sanitation in encampments.
- Ensure nearby restroom facilities have functional water taps, are stocked with hand hygiene materials (soap, drying materials) and bath tissue, and remain open to people experiencing homelessness 24 hours per day.
- If toilets or handwashing facilities are not available nearby, assist with providing access to portable latrines with handwashing facilities for encampments of more than 10 people. These facilities should be equipped with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
On Fri, Mar 19, 2021 at 9:22 AM <helenhyatt@charter.net> wrote:
Dear Brian and Emily,
I have not received the courtesy of a reply yet. You have been tasked with this assignment by the City.
Will you please respond to my request.
Helen Hyatt
SFB
From: helenhyatt@charter.net <helenhyatt@charter.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2021 9:42 AM
To: 'bhuskey@ashevillenc.gov' <bhuskey@ashevillenc.gov>; 'eball@ashevillenc.gov' <eball@ashevillenc.gov>
Cc: 'Nancy Helm Estabrooks' <nancyhe2@gmail.com>; 'Deborah DeJernette' <dedejernette@yahoo.com>; 'Stewart Popovitch' <jessilynstewart@gmail.com>
Subject: FW: Aston Park
Dear Brian and Emily,
Please can you update the SFB neighborhood on the plans/policies you are working on.
We are very alarmed at the number of camp sites that have been set up in Aston Park across the street from where we live.
There are more each day. This does not work for us. This is our park.
There are no bathrooms there, trash will be everywhere soon, and some of the people are very aggressive demanding water from homeowners.
We need something done about this today.
Helen Hyatt
SFB Neighborhood Association.
From: Roderick Simmons <rsimmons@ashevillenc.gov>
Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2021 8:56 AM
To: Helen Hyatt <helenhyatt@charter.net>
Cc: jlett@ashevillenc.org; Brenda Mills <bmills@ashevillenc.gov>; lloftis@ashevillenc.org
Subject: Re: Aston Park
Hey Helen
Hope you are doing well. Thank you for sharing the information with me. The City is currently working to address the challenges associated with Covid Homeless issue impact on our community. Brian Huskey <bhuskey@ashevillenc.gov>; Emily Ball <eball@ashevillenc.gov>; in our Community Development Office are coordinating this effort. They would be best to provide you information on how the City is addressing homelessness.
Roderick Simmons, MPA, CPRP, Director
Asheville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department
(828) 259-5800*
On Wed, Mar 17, 2021 at 2:07 PM <helenhyatt@charter.net> wrote:
Dear Roderick,
The residents in the SFB neighborhood are getting increasing anxious about the number of camps/tents that have appeared in Aston Park over last week. 3 new ones today.
I heard the City was introducing some new initiatives about camping on city property, and we would like to know if this is now being allowed.
We are exceeding uncomfortable with the current people camping out. They are leaving trash everywhere, are very focal and aggressive demanding water and food from neighboring homes and curtailing any recreational use of the park, and where are going to the bathroom?
Please can you advise what the situation is.
Thank you
Helen Hyatt
South French Broad Neighborhood.