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COUNCIL CORNER Council Corner: City takes human needs seriously By Pam Marsh DailyTidings.com By Pam Marsh Posted Aug. 4, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Pam Marsh Posted Aug. 4, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> In a town with dozens of great restaurants, sometimes it can seem like everyone is living the good life. But look further and it is clear that many of our neighbors face tremendous challenges in their day-to-day efforts to care for themselves and their children. One way to measure need is by the demand for food assistance. In July, Ashland Emergency Food Bank served a record 669 households, a total of about 1,600 children and adults. A few, like the family from Georgia stranded at Emigrant Lake, were travelers. But most were local residents in need of a little help: a grandmother who has taken in five tots; a man whose wife suffers from debilitating chronic illness; a woman who cares for her schizophrenic mother. You won’t find social services on the Wikipedia list of traditional municipal responsibilities. But without fanfare, Ashland has taken a different path. We know that poverty and struggle are real issues. Awareness of social needs is part of our community culture. Consequently, for many years the city of Ashland has partnered with community organizations to provide safety net services to our residents. That commitment was reinforced last year when the Ashland City Council agreed that one of the priority goals in our current strategic plan should be to seek opportunities to enable all citizens to meet basic needs. Specifically, the council identified access to mental health services as critical. We also targeted policies and programs to make Ashland more affordable, including housing and other pocketbook issues, such as the cost of utilities. The health and wellness of our residents is a goal far beyond the scope of city resources alone. But we have an asset that does not appear on the city’s financial statement: compassionate individuals and capable organizations. The role of city government is to cultivate partnerships with residents, local nonprofits and private entities that can leverage small municipal investments to achieve ambitious outcomes. Here are a few examples of that approach: The winter shelter program. Three years ago two faith-based organizations, Temple Emek Shalom and the Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, asked the city to dedicate Pioneer Hall one night a week to provide overnight shelter. The city provides the facility and insurance and the partner organizations supply volunteers and oversight. The program has worked so well that it has been expanded to two nights a week. Ashland Community Resource Center. Two years ago the City Council allocated $100,000 in start-up funding to establish the Ashland Community Resource Center. Operated through a partnership between ACCESS and Options for Homeless Residents of Ashland, the center provides case management and resource and referral services to residents in transition and crisis. The city investment reflected the council’s confidence that community support would enable the center to survive in the long term. Ashland Emergency Food Bank’s capital campaign. In 2012-13, $175,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funding allocated by the City Council jumpstarted AEFB’s campaign to buy its building. Hundreds of individuals pitched in an additional $300,000 to complete the purchase and give the Food Bank a permanent home. In addition to the unique partnerships described above, the city’s social service grant program allocates funding each year to support local nonprofit organizations that serve our community. This year, 17 nonprofits ranging from the Children’s Dental Clinic to the Meals on Wheels senior lunch program received $130,000 in funding. The city’s Housing and Human Services Commission recommends the allocations, which are reviewed and confirmed by the City Council. This is an extraordinary commitment for a city of our size. But we understand that our community flourishes when the individuals and families who live here are able to meet basic needs. Our social service partnerships are integral to that goal. If you would like to be involved in this work, consider joining the Housing and Human Services Commission. Applications for two positions are now available from the City Recorder’s office. Pam Marsh is a member of the Ashland City Council.     By Pam Marsh DailyTidings.com By Pam Marsh Posted Aug. 4, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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