This is why homelessness will never be fixed in Humboldt

 

This is just one example of the unkempt houses in Myrtletown. Just drive by or walk from 1300 to 2500 on Myrtle. The houses on Myrtle within the City of Eureka on Myrtle need work but those in the unincorporated area under County jurisdiction are worse. The government does not live on your property or business; you need to maintain it.

Outrageous rents or illegal rentals are rampant on local Facebook, local Craigslist and other online local ads with a lot of scammers. The same people advertising the same places every few months. City of Eureka Code Enforcement is useless and County Enforcement is even worse. There is retaliation if you stand up and ask Humboldt to enforce California housing laws. People are so desperate for housing that people renting privately can rent without a lease or demand payment prohibited by California law. Local lawyers will not touch a lawsuit involving rentals or real estate issues.

This particular Facebook ad may not be a scam but as the commenters on this post point out, the City of Eureka and the County should and can investigate. These commenters would make better City Councilmembers and County Supervisors than the tools and fools in office right now. You have a chance in the next election to vote out three incumbent County Supervisors.

One positive aspect that does not get the kudos it deserves is the City of Eureka and the Housing Resources Division as well as the City of Eureka Uplift program. They do the best job theycan of helping people who are struggling with housing given the limited options available. A lot of that credit should go to the Eureka Police Department.

The comments on Joy Julian's post do not address the many reasons homelessness will never be fixed in Humboldt. There have been other comments on Facebook and online but as usual those who profit from the lack of housing dominate and shout down anyone speaking the truth.

The County is a joke and enables greed and NIMBYism to make housing inaccessible to those who need it most. Those who rent Airbnbs like to talk about their property rights but are they paying for the extra use of water, the sewer maintenance, the damage to the old roads barely maintained and in desperate need for repair? Are their places up to code and subject to inspections like hotels? Do they pay TOT? When their visitors are a nuisance, will they pay for law enforcement and fire response by these "visitors" who not invested in the community? If their greed is taking houses and places to stay away from locals and seniors, then they can pay an extra tax and quit whining about people living on the street or on goverment assistance who they put there because of their greed. 

People in Humboldt like to rent to students and travel nurses because they don't know the area. Even non profit agencies, senior agencies and homeshare have outrageous rents and conditions. Greed and the politicians cause homelessness. Saying it is all due to mental illness and drugs is scapegoating and convenient for the selfish and NIMBYs. The majority of people who are homeless or couch surfing or a paycheck away from losing the only roof over their head is a result of greed, retaliation and lousy elected officials. Most people in Humboldt with no skills made and still make money off pot or inherited a business or money from their daddy or granddaddy, make money off susidized housing and profit from Airbnbs and they fight every effort to create more housing. CalPoly and Providence have increased the housing crisis allowing greed to further exploit those vulnerable.