NEWS
The Grand Jury Weighs In
Jurors call for office of tribal affairs, new facilities, more affordable housing By Thadeus Greenson thad@northcoastjournal.com
J
ust a couple weeks after creating a swirl of controversy by releasing a sharply critical report of incumbent Auditor-Controller Karen Paz Dominguez just days before the June 7 election, the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury quietly dropped three reports in the span of about an hour on June 17. The reports focus on the topics of elder abuse and housing insecurity for seniors, a look at the county’s efforts to comply with state mandates related to Child Welfare Services and the Grand Jury’s annual evaluation of county correctional and mental health facilities. The result of months of interviews, investigations and site inspections, the reports include a host of findings and recommendations, urging the county to invest in new facilities, set aside emergency shelter and permanent housing for its growing senior population and create an independent Office of Tribal Affairs to advise county departments and the Board of Supervisors. Here’s a quick look at each report, its findings and recommendations.
Silver Tsunami Warning: Safeguarding Our Seniors Humboldt County’s current population
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is about 136,000 and about 18 percent of them — 25,000 — are seniors. But the Grand Jury warns Humboldt County’s senior population is slated to increase 36 percent — spiking to 34,000 — by 2030, as more and more baby boomers turn 65 daily. How, the report asks, is Humboldt County going to prepare? “Humboldt County is a great place to retire, if you have good health, a home to live in, medical insurance, a social safety net and people that care about you,” the report opens. “But what if you do not have all of the things listed above?” The Grand Jury’s investigation began with a complaint from a senior who was confused and frustrated by the county’s elder abuse reporting process and the response his report drew from local law enforcement. The investigation then “took a surprising turn” when a social worker suggested to the jury that homelessness is a “form of elder abuse,” prompting the Grand Jury to pivot to looking into housing insecurity among seniors, as well. On the elder abuse reporting front, the Grand Jury agreed with the senior that methods for reporting the physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse, as well as neglect, of elders in Humboldt County is needlessly complex. During June — Elder Abuse Awareness Month — public service announcements about elder abuse reporting flood the air waves and show up in advertisements, the report states, but
“when the month is over, the information becomes hard to find,” especially for a demographic that may not have smart phones or be well versed in navigating the internet. As such, the Grand Jury recommends Adult Protective Services, local law enforcement agencies and the district attorney coordinate with all local media on a strategy for year-round public service announcements and articles discussing various aspects of elder abuse and how to report it. (If you or someone you know may be a victim of elder abuse, the Grand Jury urges you to contact Humboldt County Adult Protective Services at 476-2100 or (866) 527-8614, or, if the issue is life-threatening, to call 911.) While the Grand Jury indicates it believes elder abuse is an under-reported crime locally, it did take a moment to applaud the work of District Attorney Maggie Fleming, who created the Elder and Vulnerable Adult Services Team using Measure Z funding. Between 2017 and 2021, the team pursued 103 elder abuse prosecutions, garnering 41 felony convictions, as well as 20 convictions on lesser charges, whereas in 2016, a year prior to the team’s formation, no local elder abuse cases were referred for prosecution. “This is a substantial improvement,” the report states, urging District Attorney-elect Stacey Eads to maintain the program.
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While there are a host of services available to local seniors, the Grand Jury warns that housing insecurity is growing in the senior population, saying multiple governmental agencies and nonprofits alerted it to the “ever-increasing number of homeless seniors they now regularly serve.” Currently, the report states there are no local emergency beds or shelters set aside exclusively for seniors, noting that many local seniors feel unsafe at other shelters and avoid them. “To meet those concerns, local service providers should prioritize providing a dedicated space within their shelters with increased security and senior-friendly accommodations,” the report states. “In addition, local service providers should seek additional training in geriatrics to better serve seniors.” But emergency shelters should be the last resort, and the Grand Jury states plainly that now is the time for the county to maximize its efforts and leverage “extraordinary” and “plentiful” state grant opportunities to build more affordable housing. “The Grand Jury believes the best way to ensure seniors remain housed is to create enough affordable housing for everyone and to ensure that enough housing, both emergency and permanent, is set aside for seniors,” the report states. “At this point, with a 1,000-plus wait list Continued on next page »
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northcoastjournal.com • Thursday, June 23, 2022 • NORTH COAST JOURNAL
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