Citizen Participation

Question: What do you know about the relationship between citizens and the Maple Street Shelter and Innvision Shelter Network (LifeMoves)? On what levels do they interact? How can citizen participation affect the Maple Street Shelter and Innvision Shelter Network (LifeMoves)?

Across the 17 sites in the Bay Area, Innvision Shelter Network (now known as LifeMoves) serves approximately 1,000 individuals every night. The program contributes much of its success to strong community support because every volunteer and donor commits themselves to be a part of the solution to homelessness. Individual donations, advocacy, and volunteer efforts provide clients with the support needed to overcome homelessness while also showing these families and individuals that their community supports them as they rebuild their lives.

Citizens are able to engage on many levels to help promote the mission of InnVision Shelter Network. On a low, local level it is as simple as signing up to bring food down to clients for dinner. Individual volunteers can also work administratively by providing a particular skill or service to the organization which they are lacking. Community members can also go to town hall meetings or send letters to their government representatives asking that there be more financial support for the mission of the shelter network in ending homelessness.

Individual Volunteers can participate with the organization in many different ways. The most popular avenue is volunteering directly with clients by teaching a life skills workshop where clients learn about a range of topics, including financial literacy, budgeting, resume writing, interview skills, and parenting. Volunteers can also plan, prepare, and serve meals to clients, donating nutritious food and serving those in need with compassion and care. There are other fun activities that volunteers can help to plan like fun community-building events for the shelter residents, such as birthday parties, movie nights, picnics, and holiday celebrations.

One really cool way a volunteer can commit themselves to the cause is by becoming a Support Committee members who are long-term volunteers that work directly with clients and staff to adopt a shelter and perform a wide range of critical, supportive activities that help to improve the Shelter Facility.

Volunteers are also encouraged to work with the shelter's youth. Volunteers can offer tutoring support to students in the computer labs and children’s centers, helping them complete their homework assignments. Volunteers at family shelters like the Redwood Family House can help supervise children and lead playtime activities, such as arts and crafts, reading time, computer learning, storytelling, and more. Volunteers are able to provide valuable mentor ship and guidance to teenage residents by helping them excel in school and pursue a college education.

Other than Volunteerism:

It is important to understand that volunteering, while being extremely helpful and cost-effective for the company, is not always an option for individuals with constrained schedules. Other ways to help and get involved include Internships where students are able to work administratively within InnVision Shelter Network (LifeMoves) to gain hands-on experience in human services and nonprofit management.

Corporations and businesses can act as a socially responsible leader in philanthropic giving through supporting the shelters with a grant, work place giving, employer match, product and/or service donations, drives and employee engagement/volunteerism.

Sometimes the most easiest way to engage with this community partner is to sponsor a drive to raise funds, or to provide much needed in-kind donations, such as business clothing, diapers, formula (and other supplies for children and infants), household items, back-to-school supplies, and more. Drives are needed all year round but especially during the holidays. Hosting donation drives for items given directly to LifeMoves clients helps individuals spread the message and mission about the organization which helps to bring more focus and attention to the issue of homelessness.

All of these activities contributes a great deal to the shelter network and helps to bring down the cost of providing these services. The staff and clients of the shelters are happy to know that they are backed by a strong and supportive community who accepts and promotes their mission and vision to end homelessness in the Bay Area.

Click the links below to see how you can participate with this organization

Give Time and Talent

 Download the Volunteer Opportunities Flyer

Tension between State and Local Government

Question: Why is there tension between the state and local levels of government? In what ways is this tension healthy for our political system?

The turbulent relationship between the state and local levels of government is important and necessary to address the needs of the citizens within individual communities and the state on the whole. The spheres of influence and jurisdiction overlap in most areas with the state being the dominant power. Localities derive their authority from the state by means of the constitution and are dependent on the state to determine the amount and types of authority that can be exercised. Different states allow local government different capabilities and have the capacity to regulate the localities finances, structure, functions and processes, personnel, and service standards. Type and amount of authority also greatly depends on whether the locality is a general or special purpose entity like a city government or a school district because in some areas a uniformed solution is the best way to solve the issue.

A lot of the conflict between the two levels is about funding and control. Localities are constantly under the scrutiny of their states and subject to state take overs of particular services at certain times. Local governments get most of their funding from the states (almost 40% of state expenditures goes to local governments) but the grants come with a lot of strings attached meaning the local services must meet specific standards in order to receive the funds. There are different ways of administering services but the main difference depends on the state being centralized and decentralized. Some states may prefer to administer services at the state level but some try to do it more locally.

Another key issue is the freedom of local governments to address their issues in terms of their own fiscal circumstances and citizen demands. The state governments like to tackle issues from the perspective of the entire state while localities look at their problems in terms of their specific demographics, population, revenue and expenditure, and culture.

The tension between the state and local government is beneficial because of the fact that there is a constant check and balance of power between the two. The state can step in to improve services and structures but localities can also work with states to improve their capacities through constitutional amendments. The state had certain responsibilities and so do the local governments so this allows there to be constant dialogue and innovation on how to administer and provide the benefits and services a community needs. There should be constant evaluations on how to improve efficiency and effectiveness of local governments and state legislatures.

Below is Article 11 of the California State Constitution which details the relationship between the state and local governments.

CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE 11  LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SEC. 1. (a) The State is divided into counties which are legal subdivisions of the State. The Legislature shall prescribe uniform procedure for county formation, consolidation, and boundary change. Formation or consolidation requires approval by a majority of electors voting on the question in each affected county. A boundary change requires approval by the governing body of each affected county. No county seat shall be removed unless two-thirds of the qualified electors of the county, voting on the proposition at a general election, shall vote in favor of such removal. A proposition of removal shall not be submitted in the same county more than once in four years. (b) The Legislature shall provide for county powers, an elected county sheriff, an elected district attorney, an elected assessor, and an elected governing body in each county. Except as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 4 of this article, each governing body shall prescribe by ordinance the compensation of its members, but the ordinance prescribing such compensation shall be subject to referendum. The Legislature or the governing body may provide for other officers whose compensation shall be prescribed by the governing body. The governing body shall provide for the number, compensation, tenure, and appointment of employees.

SEC. 2. (a) The Legislature shall prescribe uniform procedure for city formation and provide for city powers. (b) Except with approval by a majority of its electors voting on the question, a city may not be annexed to or consolidated into another.

SEC. 3. (a) For its own government, a county or city may adopt a charter by majority vote of its electors voting on the question. The charter is effective when filed with the Secretary of State. A charter may be amended, revised, or repealed in the same manner. A charter, amendment, revision, or repeal thereof shall be published in the official state statutes. County charters adopted pursuant to this section shall supersede any existing charter and all laws inconsistent therewith. The provisions of a charter are the law of the State and have the force and effect of legislative enactments. (b) The governing body or charter commission of a county or city may propose a charter or revision. Amendment or repeal may be proposed by initiative or by the governing body. (c) An election to determine whether to draft or revise a charter and elect a charter commission may be required by initiative or by the governing body. (d) If provisions of 2 or more measures approved at the same election conflict, those of the measure receiving the highest affirmative vote shall prevail.

SEC. 4. County charters shall provide for: (a) A governing body of 5 or more members, elected (1) by district or, (2) at large, or (3) at large, with a requirement that they reside in a district. Charter counties are subject to statutes that relate to apportioning population of governing body districts. (b) The compensation, terms, and removal of members of the governing body. If a county charter provides for the Legislature to prescribe the salary of the governing body, such compensation shall be prescribed by the governing body by ordinance. (c) An elected sheriff, an elected district attorney, an elected assessor, other officers, their election or appointment, compensation, terms and removal. (d) The performance of functions required by statute. (e) The powers and duties of governing bodies and all other county officers, and for consolidation and segregation of county officers, and for the manner of filling all vacancies occurring therein. (f) The fixing and regulation by governing bodies, by ordinance, of the appointment and number of assistants, deputies, clerks, attaches, and other persons to be employed, and for the prescribing and regulating by such bodies of the powers, duties, qualifications, and compensation of such persons, the times at which, and terms for which they shall be appointed, and the manner of their appointment and removal. (g) Whenever any county has framed and adopted a charter, and the same shall have been approved by the Legislature as herein provided, the general laws adopted by the Legislature in pursuance of Section 1 (b) of this article, shall, as to such county, be superseded by said charter as to matters for which, under this section it is competent to make provision in such charter, and for which provision is made therein, except as herein otherwise expressly provided. (h) Charter counties shall have all the powers that are provided by this Constitution or by statute for counties.

SEC. 5. (a) It shall be competent in any city charter to provide that the city governed thereunder may make and enforce all ordinances and regulations in respect to municipal affairs, subject only to restrictions and limitations provided in their several charters and in respect to other matters they shall be subject to general laws. City charters adopted pursuant to this Constitution shall supersede any existing charter, and with respect to municipal affairs shall supersede all laws inconsistent therewith. (b) It shall be competent in all city charters to provide, in addition to those provisions allowable by this Constitution, and by the laws of the State for: (1) the constitution, regulation, and government of the city police force (2) subgovernment in all or part of a city (3) conduct of city elections and (4) plenary authority is hereby granted, subject only to the restrictions of this article, to provide therein or by amendment thereto, the manner in which, the method by which, the times at which, and the terms for which the several municipal officers and employees whose compensation is paid by the city shall be elected or appointed, and for their removal, and for their compensation, and for the number of deputies, clerks and other employees that each shall have, and for the compensation, method of appointment, qualifications, tenure of office and removal of such deputies, clerks and other employees.

SEC. 6. (a) A county and all cities within it may consolidate as a charter city and county as provided by statute. (b) A charter city and county is a charter city and a charter county. Its charter city powers supersede conflicting charter county powers.

SEC. 7. A county or city may make and enforce within its limits all local, police, sanitary, and other ordinances and regulations not in conflict with general laws.

SEC. 7.5. (a) A city or county measure proposed by the legislative body of a city, charter city, county, or charter county and submitted to the voters for approval may not do either of the following: (1) Include or exclude any part of the city, charter city, county, or charter county from the application or effect of its provisions based upon approval or disapproval of the city or county measure, or based upon the casting of a specified percentage of votes in favor of the measure, by the electors of the city, charter city, county, charter county, or any part thereof. (2) Contain alternative or cumulative provisions wherein one or more of those provisions would become law depending upon the casting of a specified percentage of votes for or against the measure. (b) "City or county measure," as used in this section, means an advisory question, proposed charter or charter amendment, ordinance, proposition for the issuance of bonds, or other question or proposition submitted to the voters of a city, or to the voters of a county at an election held throughout an entire single county.

SEC. 8. (a) The Legislature may provide that counties perform municipal functions at the request of cities within them. (b) If provided by their respective charters, a county may agree with a city within it to assume and discharge specified municipal functions.

SEC. 9. (a) A municipal corporation may establish, purchase, and operate public works to furnish its inhabitants with light, water, power, heat, transportation, or means of communication. It may furnish those services outside its boundaries, except within another municipal corporation which furnishes the same service and does not consent. (b) Persons or corporations may establish and operate works for supplying those services upon conditions and under regulations that the city may prescribe under its organic law.

SEC. 10. (a) A local government body may not grant extra compensation or extra allowance to a public officer, public employee, or contractor after service has been rendered or a contract has been entered into and performed in whole or in part, or pay a claim under an agreement made without authority of law. (b) A city or county, including any chartered city or chartered county, or public district, may not require that its employees be residents of such city, county, or district; except that such employees may be required to reside within a reasonable and specific distance of their place of employment or other designated location.

SEC. 11. (a) The Legislature may not delegate to a private person or body power to make, control, appropriate, supervise, or interfere with county or municipal corporation improvements, money, or property, or to levy taxes or assessments, or perform municipal functions. (b) The Legislature may, however, provide for the deposit of public moneys in any bank in this State or in any savings and loan association in this State or any credit union in this State or in any federally insured industrial loan company in this State and for payment of interest, principal, and redemption premiums of public bonds and other evidence of public indebtedness by banks within or without this State. It may also provide for investment of public moneys in securities and the registration of bonds and other evidences of indebtedness by private persons or bodies, within or without this State, acting as trustees or fiscal agents.

SEC. 12. The Legislature may prescribe procedure for presentation, consideration, and enforcement of claims against counties, cities, their officers, agents, or employees.

SEC. 13. The provisions of Sections 1(b) (except for the second sentence), 3(a), 4, and 5 of this Article relating to matters affecting the distribution of powers between the Legislature and cities and counties, including matters affecting supersession, shall be construed as a restatement of all related provisions of the Constitution in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this amendment, and as making no substantive change. The terms general law, general laws, and laws, as used in this Article, shall be construed as a continuation and restatement of those terms as used in the Constitution in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this amendment, and not as effecting a change in meaning.

SEC. 14. A local government formed after the effective date of this section, the boundaries of which include all or part of two or more counties, shall not levy a property tax unless such tax has been approved by a majority vote of the qualified voters of that local government voting on the issue of the tax.

SEC. 15. (a) From the revenues derived from taxes imposed pursuant to the Vehicle License Fee Law (Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code), or its successor, other than fees on trailer coaches and mobilehomes, over and above the costs of collection and any refunds authorized by law, those revenues derived from that portion of the vehicle license fee rate that does not exceed 0.65 percent of the market value of the vehicle shall be allocated as follows: (1) An amount shall be specified in the Vehicle License Fee Law, or the successor to that law, for deposit in the State Treasury to the credit of the Local Revenue Fund established in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 17600) of Part 5 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or its successor, if any, for allocation to cities, counties, and cities and counties as otherwise provided by law. (2) The balance shall be allocated to cities, counties, and cities and counties as otherwise provided by law. (b) If a statute enacted by the Legislature reduces the annual vehicle license fee below 0.65 percent of the market value of a vehicle, the Legislature shall, for each fiscal year for which that reduced fee applies, provide by statute for the allocation of an additional amount of money that is equal to the decrease, resulting from the fee reduction, in the total amount of revenues that are otherwise required to be deposited and allocated under subdivision (a) for that same fiscal year. That amount shall be allocated to cities, counties, and cities and counties in the same pro rata amounts and for the same purposes as are revenues subject to subdivision (a).

Local Government and The Maple Street Shelter

Question: In what sense did the Maple Street Shelter in Redwood City arise from a local need or perspective? Why do you think local governments did not fill this need adequately? To whom is the Maple Street Shelter accountable? Is the Maple Street Shelter constrained or affected by Federal policies?

The Maple Street Shelter is located in Redwood City, California and is apart of the InnVision Shelter Network which has dedicated itself to "helping homeless families and individuals across Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Peninsula return to permanent housing and self-sufficiency". According to their website, InnVision "operates 17 sites from San Jose to Daly City, providing interim and stabilization shelter, permanent supportive housing, outreach, rapid re-housing, and homelessness prevention services". The InnVision Shelter Network was formed in 2012 through a merger of two non-profit organizations which served the San Francisco Peninsula and Silicon Valley. It is also said that InnVision Shelter Network is "one of the leading shelter/housing and supportive service providers in Northern California, supporting over 20,000 homeless men, women, and children annually".

The Needs of the San Francisco Bay Area:

The San Francisco Bay Area is a place of bustling innovation and technology. Known throughout the world as the home to tech corporations like Apple, Google, Oracle, and Microsoft, the region includes the five highest California counties by per capita income and two of the top 25 wealthiest counties in the United States according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The current wealth in the area is massive, but the disparity between rich and poor has also become massive. When walking around the quaint cities, it all seems absolutely picturesque. The unfortunate truth is that the cost of living in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties is nearly 50% higher than the national average. With such high housing costs, many people earning minimum wage live on the brink of homelessness and this is the local need that prompted the creation of the non-profit organizations InnVision the Way Home (founded 1973) and Shelter Network (founded 1987).

Source: http://www.ivsn.org/about/faqs/

During the late 1970's, San Francisco experienced a development boom and in the early 1980s, homeless populations began to arise as a result of multiple factors including the closing of state institutions for the mentally ill, the drastic cutting of federal funding for Section 8 housing benefits, and social changes which increased the availability of addictive drugs. The problem soon became an epidemic and continues to plague the Bay Area today. The economy of the San Francisco Bay Area continues to flourish and contribute to the cities and counties it contains but more needs to be done to address the rising housing costs.

State and Local Efforts and Failures in Preventing and Ending Homelessness:

San Mateo County: 

In a 2013 effort to reduce the homeless population, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday set aside $1.5 million of Measure A sales tax revenue approved by voters in November for two programs. One, a homeless shelter in East Palo Alto that operates during the winter and early spring, would receive $1.2 million over two years to stay open year-round. The other, which sends county workers to find and assist homeless people, would get $300,000 over two years to add the equivalent of 2.5 full-time employees. 

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_23220682/census-12-percent-more-homeless-san-mateo-county

Santa Clara County:

As part of the Valley Homeless Healthcare Program (VHHP), a county and grant funded program launched in 2004 and operated through the Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System, Kriegsman and his colleagues provide medical care to more than 7,000 homeless patients each year. Their staff of 35 is composed of physicians, nurses, mental-health experts and outreach workers who care for Santa Clara County’s homeless through walk-in clinics and a mobile unit that travels once a week to local homeless encampments. As of January 2014, many of California’s homeless were newly eligible for Medi-Cal under the national health law that allowed states to expand the program to include poor people without children or disabilities.

Source: https://www.scvmc.org/newsroom/Pages/valley-homeless.aspx

In 2013, over 26,000 people were homeless in the Silicon Valley and Peninsula. 

Source: Homeless Census and Survey for Santa Clara County and San Mateo County. 

Federal Policies Effects on InnVision Shelter Network and the Maple Street Shelter:

Many federal policies do affect the Innvision Shelter Network. The Shelter system gets 60% of it's funding from public (government) sources. "IVSN is funded through a combination of foundations, corporations, individuals, federal, state, and city grants. Approximately 60% of our annual budget is publicly funded, and 40% is privately funded." If there are cuts made to the grants that benefit the shelter system on federal, state, or local levels, the company and its mission will suffer. Thankfully almost half of the $16million annual budget comes from private donations and contributions which can ease the lack of public funding but it still needs to come from somewhere.

Aside from funding, there are many other regulations that homeless shelters need to comply with if they choose to provide services. Facilities need to be in accordance with many federal standards for health, safety, building and fire codes, etc... and also comply with state and local standards which may be more strict than federal guidelines.

The Maple Street Shelter is accountable to the state, county, and city it serves and receives funding from, the individuals who donate money privately to the cause and mission of InnVision, the community and individuals it directly provides housing and services too, and finally, the federal government whom it receives a portion of its funding from.

The Maple Street Shelter provides interim shelter and services for 75 adult men and women. About 90% of IVSN graduates return to permanent housing every year by providing families and individuals with the resources and skills they need to return to self-sufficiency and avoid becoming homeless again in the future.





Services Offered at the Maple Street Shelter

• Case Management: Our trained Case Managers support clients’ unique needs, helping them manage budgets, connect with resources, and make active progress toward regaining permanent housing.

• Housing and Job Search Assistance: Staff and volunteers provide clients with training, tools, and resources to find and secure affordable housing and employment.

• Financial Literacy and Savings: We teach clients to manage a personal budget and save for emergency needs. Clients in transitional housing must save at least 50% of their income.

• Life Skills Education: We empower our clients with skills for long-term success through nightly workshops on financial literacy, parenting, nutrition, and other life skills.

• Additional “Beyond the Bed” Services: We offer an array of services that go “beyond the bed” to meet our clients’ unique needs and enable them to become self-sufficient for the long term. Source: http://www.ivsn.org/services/single-adult-services/maple-street-shelter/

All set up!

Yay -- I'm done!

Welcome to my State and Local Government Blog for my course at NDNU!

I am a junior at Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont, California and am currently enrolled in a State and Local Government course. This blog will include writing assignments, essays, activity updates, journal entries about my personal participation in the community, and other interesting articles about State and Local Governments across America. I will be coming up with a research project that answers a specific question about the roles and functions of our state and local governments.

Enjoy!