Agenda Item # 9.1 - Roberta Gundersen | Received 06/05/2023
June 2, 2023
Gilroy City Council
7351 Rosanna St.
Gilroy, CA 95020
Dear Gilroy City Council,
Gardner Health Services, as a Federally Qualified Health Center, has provided healthcare services to the
most underserved communities in Santa Clara County for over 50 years. The unhoused residents of our
county have been cared for by our Healthcare for the Homeless Project for 35 years including the vulnerable
populations in the City of Gilroy. Our mobile medical units reach out to the community via partnerships with
local homeless service providers.
It was disturbing to recently hear about an ordinance that would restrict homeless/unhoused individuals
from ‘sitting, sleeping and lying’ or ‘using, carrying or placing’ personal property within 500 feet of schools
and parks, 100 feet of infrastructure, and 10 feet of loading docks and doorways. While we agree that there
is a housing crisis that affects Gilroy, and we acknowledge that local residents are concerned about the
safety and cleanliness of their city, we also feel that if passed, this ordinance may be disastrous for the City
of Gilroy.
Carry the Vision, PitStop Outreach, St. Joseph’s Family Center and South County Compassion Center have
spoken to the ordinance being unconstitutional and unenforceable. If passed, the Gilroy Police Department
will be in a position to ‘judge’ people by their ‘appearance’, making decisions that potentially could raise
legal and moral questions. Will they ticket? Will they arrest? It could result in greater liability for the City of
Gilroy depending on the actions taken by law enforcement and become an added expense to the city.
The very nature of our business is serving by the credo of “do no harm ”. The National Healthcare for the
Homeless Council, our guiding entity in all things related to healthcare and homelessness, published a
document that compares housed people with unhoused people, and statistics on health disparities. Without
fail, every category shows a marked increase in percentage of disparity affecting our homeless populations.
This document is provided as page two of this letter. We see many medically fragile individuals on the
mobile unit. Circulatory problems and wounds on feet/legs are a main concern, and when part of the
treatment plan involves ‘rest’, how is this achieved by passing an ordinance that will add to the already
uncomfortable, painful life that many are leading? Keeping them ‘on the move’ may directly contribute to
their deteriorating health. This puts us at cross purposes, as we try to achieve our mission of healing.
In light of the health ramifications, incarceration from a human and policy perspective is not the answer.
This policy places law enforcement officers in a very precarious position as they will have to face a
population struggling with mental health illnesses and homelessness. Gardner would like to be a partner in
slowing things down, working cooperatively with local government and other non -profits in continuing to
address the problem, and look for viable long-term solutions.
We look forward to our continued partnersh ip as we stay committed to the health of our Gilroy community.
Sincerely,
Reymundo C. Espinoza
Chief Executive Officer
Gardner Health Services