Home Rent a car Living in hard-to-manage cars, action not warranted yet | North West

Living in hard-to-manage cars, action not warranted yet | North West

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The articles in this roundup of regional news are taken from weeklies across the region. This is the second part, the first having appeared in Saturday’s Tribune.

GRANGEVILLE — Finding accommodation in Grangeville is neither easy nor cheap. That people get used to living in their vehicles is not uncommon in the city, but now a boat?

“Is it happening?” asked Grangeville Councilman Dylan Canaday.

“In cars, yes. The boat is brand new,” Grangeville Police Chief Joe Newman said.

The Monday, April 18, discussion by Grangeville City Council addressed the concern of homeless people living in vehicles on public roads that addressed the larger issue – both local and statewide – lack of available and affordable housing. For now, the consensus was to table the issue for two reasons: first, the issue is not important enough to cause a problem, and second, the application is problematic.

“It’s a tough nut to crack,” Newman said. “How do you determine if someone is living in their car, and how do you make an order that is legal to pass? The City of Boise just had its ordinance kicked out because it was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. So it’s a unique challenge.

The current city ordinance prohibits living in motorhomes or caravans except in designated motorhome parks. Mayor West Lester noted, however, that this does not extend to vehicles – cars or boats.

“It’s a strange time,” Lester said. “Bringing a camper to a trailer park in town is very expensive. There are very few houses for rent and very few apartments for rent, and if there are, they are gone.

Lack of available housing has been cited as a common barrier to recruiting potential employees to relocate to Idaho County, by private companies as well as area hospitals and school districts. Across the state, a report released last week by the Idaho Asset Building Network and the National Low Income Housing Coalition said Idaho continues to experience a shortage of affordable, available housing for low-income Idahoans. The report reveals that Idaho has 42 affordable rental units available for 100 extremely low-income households. Faced with a shortage in Idaho of more than 24,000 affordable rental units available to renters earning that income, two in three of those renters are severely burdened with housing costs.

Newman said those who live in their cars often park in residential areas where it’s relatively quiet, and his department will get calls from residents who start noticing it after a few days and seek to move the person forward.

“They call because they are worried; they don’t know who the people are and what they’re going to do,” he said. “We have good citizens watching their neighbors, who know which cars belong and which cars don’t, and they interact with us on a good level to let us know.”

However, on the other side, Newman said: ‘We don’t have vagrancy laws anymore, so it’s very difficult to give someone time to move around, especially if their vehicle is licensed and licensed. How can you tell them they can’t park on a public road if that’s all they do? They didn’t set up a lawn chair or take out their Hibachi. They’re just in their car.

— David Rauzi, Idaho County Free Press, (Grangeville), Wednesday

Transitional Kindergarten Survey Offered in Colfax: Online Survey Offered to Gauge Public Interest

COLFAX – The Colfax School District is seeking feedback on the development of a transitional kindergarten for the upcoming school year.

An online survey has been developed to gauge community interest, officials said. So far, more than 50 responses have been received via the online survey on CDD300.org.

The proposed program would be designed for students aged 4 by August 31 who do not have access to high-quality learning opportunities.

School District Superintendent Jerry Pugh said the biggest benefit of transitional kindergarten is being able to have an extra year of school and early interaction with the program.

The program will be led by a certified teacher and the students will be diverse, officials said.

In addition to skills and abilities, race and other demographic indicators may be used in the selection process, officials said, noting that it would meet the federal Individuals and Individuals Education Act requirements. disabilities.

State law (Revised Code of Washington 284.150.315) requires developmentally appropriate learning environments, promotes creativity, and learning through hands-on experiences.

School district officials said students will learn social and emotional skills through individual and group learning activities.

Officials said a transitional kindergarten will help develop skills in reading, math, communication, writing, science, social studies and art.

Physical education and the acquisition of gross and fine motor skills are also part of the program, officials said.

Transitioning students will be screened to determine if they are ready to move into regular kindergarten next school year, or possibly move into first grade, officials said.

The program will mirror the traditional kindergarten curriculum in terms of school year length, day length and scheduling, officials said.

Students who live within the school district will receive transportation and have access to full breakfast and lunch services, including free and discounted meals

Students from other districts may request to register and will be considered based on space availability.

The parents of these students will be responsible for their transportation.

— Teresa Simpson, Whitman County Gazette, (Colfax), Thursday