Homeless Plan Refined by Computer Network
A group of Santa Monica residents who use the city’s computer network--which was designed to improve community access to local government--persuaded the City Council Tuesday to consider a proposal to aid the homeless.
The council voted unanimously to have city staff study the proposal, which includes increased access to showers and access to laundry facilities and lockers.
The proposal was advanced by Arts Foundation Director Bruria Finkel and reshaped in the last nine months after users of the city’s Public Electronic Network (PEN) both criticized and lauded the plan via computer terminals.
The group asked the council to open city shower facilities earlier in the morning so that homeless people with jobs could bathe before going to work. They also requested $1,000 for lockers.
The PEN users group wants the council to help in developing the job listing service where employers could post jobs specially suited for the homeless.
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