Due Diligence

I'm 100% for ending the homeless crisis. I'm a mom, an educator, a psychologist and I have family who have dealt/are dealing with chronic homelessness. Had North Snohomish County Outreach and Generations Community Church reached out to the immediate community I would have been happy to be part of the solution. But they didn't. They make posts like this one staying that the pallet shelters ARE COMING this summer. But currently it's only a proposal. I didn't learn about it until Tuesday when the public notice went up and because I live 700ft away I wasn't mailed the letter (which wasn't asking for input btw but rather informed people it was happening). They mailed a letter INFORMING their neighbors, not inviting questions or public comment. Not asking for opinions. And it was mailed one week before they submitted the application. Notice the letter they posted on their website isn't dated?

There was nothing on the NSCO website until yesterday. There is nothing on the Generations Community Church website. They only just posted on FB about it yesterday. I strongly believe they only started posting because I started speaking. Questioning. It was inconvenient and they could no longer sneak this proposal by.

This is my community. I live across the street. My kids learned to ride their bikes in that parking lot. We pick blackberries there. We attend trunk or treat annually and the Easter egg hunt. My kids and I walk our dogs on the sidewalks along that street. This directly affects and impacts me. Directly.

Does my voice as a member of this Community not matter? Are my concerns not valid? Because I live 700 feet away? The upcoming Zoom meeting hosted by NSCO is a presentation. Not a meeting or a public forum. Not a Q&A. Why? Because they know we will ask questions they can't answer.

At the present moment the NSCO webpage says Generations Community Church was chosen as the site because, "Generations Community Church has a heart to serve the vulnerable and the availability of space on their large property." Well guess what? That's not enough to make a Pallet Shelter successful. I challenge NSCO to do the research and submit to the public how this property is uniquely situated to meet the needs of the homeless population. Why the lack of nearby jobs, medical services, food, retail, etc don't matter. Because they do. Having resources within walking distance is important. I'm glad that they have only good intentions but the road to hell was paved with good intentions. DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE.

Want to know how you can help?

1. Email Pastor Craig Laughlin and the Generations Community Church at office@generationscommunity.org and let him know how this Pallet Shelter will impact you.

2. Register to attend and give public comment at the Marysville City Council meeting here: https://www.marysvillewa.gov/.../City-Council-Meeting...

3. Sign our change.org petition here: http://chng.it/m8Ns8bwVhn

4. Participate in our letter writing campaign. Need help writing your letter? Check out our template here: https://docs.google.com/.../2PACX-1vSbz6bss9d11Tv.../pub...

5. Register to attend the NSCO Pallet Shelter Presentation here: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZMkduCoqj0pH9yQkiGOM1Iy6AWns...