Emergency homeless shelters could be allowed year-round in commercial zones (pink, 60 beds, and yellow, 25 beds) without a permit; and seasonally in high-density residential zones (blue, 15 beds) without a permit. Click the image to view a larger map.) Image: City of Berkeley and Berkeleyside Berkeley’s Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing in […]
Homelessness
Posted inCommunity
New talks on homelessness in Berkeley start Thursday
Thursday’s meeting will provide a starting point for discussion on homelessness, proponents say, with an introduction to the causes and state of homelessness from a national, regional and local perspective. Photo: Derrick Coetzee Thursday evening, the Berkeley Task Force on Homelessness will begin a new community-driven process designed to explore homelessness in Berkeley, and how it might be […]
Posted inCommunity
Berkeley Food and Housing Project wins $1M grant
Veterans and members of the Berkeley Food and Housing Project gather for a Veterans’ Day lunch in 2011. Photo: BFHP Veterans and members of the Berkeley Food and Housing Project gather for a Veterans’ Day lunch in 2011. Photo: BFHP By Camille Baptista Berkeley Food and Housing Project was recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans […]
Posted inCommunity
Berkeley Bowl regular remembered for his kindness
The makeshift memorial for Peter, who was a fixture outside the original Berkeley Bowl in Berkeley. Photo: Peter Moore By Julia Hannafin A makeshift memorial was erected on the sidewalk near the Berkeley Bowl on Oregon Street last week to mark the passing of Peter, also known as “Pee Wee,” a 78-year-old man who locals remember […]
Posted inCrime & Safety
Man dies outside North Berkeley CVS
Paul McComas of Oakland died on Tuesday near the CVS at 1451 Shattuck Avenue in North Berkeley Update, June 13: The man who died was identified by the coroner’s office as 56-year-old Paul McComas of Oakland. Original post, June 12: A man who appeared to be homeless died in North Berkeley on Tuesday afternoon, authorities reported Wednesday. […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-Ed: Berkeley needs a year-round youth shelter
One resident’s bed and belongings, on the last day before the YEAH shelter closed for the summer One resident’s bed and belongings, on the last day before the YEAH shelter closed for the summer Last week, Berkeley’s only youth shelter — Youth Engagement, Advocacy, and Housing (YEAH!) –closed its doors, not to reopen until November. […]
Posted inCrime & Safety
Man dies after suspected overdose in People’s Park
People’s Park: the scene of a death on Monday, May 27, believed to be from an overdose. Photo: djwudi/Creative Commons People’s Park: the scene of a death on Monday, May 27, believed to be from an overdose. Photo: djwudi/Creative Commons Update, 05.31.13: The deceased man has been identified as Donovan Ziemer, 43, of Hayward, and the likely cause of death was […]
Posted inCity
People’s Park focal point for countywide homeless count
People’s Park in Berkeley was one of 33 service sites across Alameda Country where volunteers interviewed homeless people on Wednesday Jan. 30 as part of a biennial homeless count. Photo: Tracey Taylor People’s Park in Berkeley was one of 33 service sites across Alameda Country where volunteers interviewed homeless people on Wednesday Jan. 30 as […]
Posted inCommunity
Berkeley moves towards a consensus homeless plan
City Council appears to be moving towards a consensus-based, public process to generate an action plan on homelessness. Photo: Emilie Raguso After an acrimonious battle last year over Measure S, which sought to prohibit sitting on commercial sidewalks, Berkeley’s City Council pointed the way on Tuesday night to a more consensual approach to homelessness. Councilman […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-Ed: After Measure S, it’s time to act on homelessness
Although Berkeley voters rejected Measure S, a controversial proposal that would have criminalized sitting on commercial sidewalks, we shouldn’t mistake it as an endorsement of inaction. The simple fact still remains: we need to address homelessness. I didn’t support Measure S, but I’m not calling it a day as many do post-election. Next Tuesday, City […]
Posted inCommunity
Has it gotten harder to be homeless in Berkeley?
New policies at the Berkeley Library prohibit bringing in items larger than 24 inches. One reader wondered if the change were related to the failure of Measure S to pass. Photo: Emilie Raguso After the failure of Measure S to pass in November, we heard from one reader who said there seemed to have been harsher […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-Ed: We can do better with civil sidewalks
My support for Measure S, the Berkeley Civil Sidewalks ordinance, was not an easy decision for me. I came to it after many hours of conversation with people from all parts of the community, and a careful reading of the ordinance to see what it actually does and doesn’t do. I have come to the […]