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Hotel’s Vouchers for Homeless Would Continue Under Proposal

The City Council seems poised to enact an urgency ordinance on Tuesday to essentially enter into a contract with a local hotel developer that would involve committing the operation to temporary homeless housing vouchers.

Under the general terms of the proposed ordinance, which was discussed this past Tuesday, the Vagabond Inn on West Colorado Street would continue to accept vouchers for the homeless tenants through the remainder of the year and would consider six-month renewals after that until the site is demolished. In exchange, developer Vista Investments LLC, which owns the inn, will be granted a contractual development agreement with the city that allows Vista additional time to complete the approved project with its variances. The Glendale Youth Alliance would administer the voucher program, with assistance from the city, and hotel stays would be capped at 28 days per client.

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Pandemic Recovery and More: Councilmen-Elect Detail Plans

  • Nick Schultz
  • Konstantine Anthony

Change could be coming to Burbank, according to the two new City Council members its residents elected.
Both Konstantine Anthony and Nick Schultz ran on progressive platforms that included ideas involving police reform and increased resources for people experiencing homelessness, and pledged to help the city recover from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We absolutely need change in the city,” Anthony said, pointing out that only two of the eight candidates, himself included, had run for a seat on the panel before. “There is not a single person I’ve talked to who didn’t have something that they needed changed in this city. It was a change election. So let’s do it — let’s make some change.”

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Supervisor Barger Chalks 2020 Up as the Year That COVID Challenged

Photo courtesy Kathryn Barger
After planning to spend 2020 focusing on youth programming, Kathryn Barger had to begin grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic shortly after beginning her first stint as chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

It’s safe to say that 2020 was not how Kathryn Barger envisioned her first round of chairing the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Representing the county’s Fifth Supervisorial District, Barger, a longtime area resident, took the gavel as she entered her reelection campaign this year planning an agenda that focused on broadening youth programming as well as her trademark homeless outreach and mental health-care expansion. A surreal March cleanly derailed much of that.

“It’s not how I thought it was going to play out,” Barger deadpanned in a phone interview last week, “but in life, you have to make the best of what’s in front of you.”

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Union Station Homeless Services Has New CEO

Anne Miskey
Anne Miskey

Union Station Homeless Services announced today that its board of directors has selected Anne Miskey — a nationally recognized and leading voice on the issue of homelessness — as the organization’s next chief executive officer. Miskey, who formerly served as CEO at the Downtown Women’s Center, will succeed Howard Kahn, Union Station’s interim chief executive officer, in June.
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Beloved Volunteer Shines for Elizabeth House Shelter

Photo courtesy Elizabeth House Elizabeth House Executive Director Debbie Unruh (left) was among those celebrating Kate Rhymer’s contribution to the organization at this year’s gala.
Photo courtesy Elizabeth House
Elizabeth House Executive Director Debbie Unruh (left) was among those celebrating Kate Rhymer’s contribution to the organization at this year’s gala.

It’s not unusual for first-time visitors to miss the Elizabeth House because they’re expecting some type of facility or some place more clinical.
They’re not looking for a house that matches all the others in its central Pasadena neighborhood, the place where La Cañada Flintridge’s Kate Rhymer has always felt right at home among women who are receiving not only much-needed shelter, but equally important support and love.
Since 1994, the two-story residence has served as a safe spot for the region’s homeless women and their children. Rhymer — who was honored at the organization’s annual gala this spring — has been integral to its function. Continue reading “Beloved Volunteer Shines for Elizabeth House Shelter”

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Barger Encourages Voters to Turn Out

Los Angeles County District 5 Supervisor Kathryn Barger, a San Marino resident, said she encourages voters to decide on a tax proposition to help address homelessness in the county.
Measure H, which is expected to generate $350 million annually with a quarter-cent sales tax, is a countywide ballot item for the March 7 election. The 10-year tax requires two-thirds approval and would be dedicated to services addressing the county’s large homeless population. Continue reading “Barger Encourages Voters to Turn Out”