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Mel Tillekeratne

@mel_till

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Apes together strong!

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Join Making Housing and Community Happen (MHCH) for an important Housing Justice Forum:

🚗 Safe Parking: A Path Out of Homelessness

📅 September 16, 2026
⏰ 7:00–8:30 PM
💻 Online via Zoom

Safe parking programs provide people living in their vehicles with a safer place to stay while connecting them with supportive services and pathways toward permanent housing. This forum will bring together program leaders, community partners, a program participant, and the City of Pasadena to discuss how safe parking works and the difference it can make.

Featured speakers include Kristine Schwarz, Rev. Sharon Richter, Mel Tillikeratne, Suzanne Lee, and Martin Potter. Hear firsthand perspectives on successful safe parking programs, housing outcomes, community partnerships, and Pasadena's approach to safe parking.

✅ All are welcome!

🔗 Register here:
makinghousinghappen.org/events

Help us spread the word by sharing this post with someone who cares about practical, compassionate solutions to homelessness.

#MakingHousingHappen #MHCH #SafeParking #HousingJustice #AffordableHousing #HomelessnessSolutions #Pasadena #CommunitySupport #HousingForAll #StrongerCommunities #PathToHousing

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a little empathy goes a long way. and voting people into power who actually give a shit. #unhoused #losangeles #heatwave #housingcrisis

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If you have questions about the housing crisis in LA, drop em here ♥️ #affordablehousing #unhoused #losangeles

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The Shower of Hope’s new safe parking site serves families with children. It’s so important that we provide resources to help parents turn their lives around and get the help they need, giving their children the best chance of breaking the cycle of homelessness. #LosAngeles #AffordableHousing #Unhoused

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Funding has been restored for the Shower of Hope, thanks to YOU!!!!!

And guess what — we not only saved the showers through our collective efforts, we now get to add TWO MORE SITES! That means more showers available to our unhoused community.

Apparently we sent so many emails to our city officials that they started joking about it 🤣 “oh, here’s another one.”

It’s easy to feel helpless about the state of the world. But THIS is how we work together to create change in our own backyard. I am humbled, and so unbelievably grateful. Keep fighting the good fight!!

Shower of hope unhoused Los Angeles

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comment SHOWER below to get the email template ❤️ and SHARE this post!

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the last 10 years have been full of ups, downs, and deliciously random lore. I wouldn’t trade this wild life for a thing! what do you guys wanna see more of / dive deeper into!?

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the part 2 you’ve all been waiting for. I recommend watching the whole thing to really see the train fall off the tracks.

thanks for your enthusiasm about this series!!! I love working with #DestinationHope - it’s a city permitted safe parking lot where people who live in their vehicles can safely sleep. they also offer a ton of other valuable services. so many of these people are working multiple jobs just trying to survive. it’s really nice to be able to come and laugh with them and sit around a dinner table eating a warm meal. it’s cool because the volunteers eat with the guests at the program, so there’s really no separation. ❤️ if you’re interested in helping out the program, whether you’re in LA or not, drop a comment and let me know!

#bingo #comedy #volunteer

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Thank you, David Delgado, for speaking out at Monday’s City Council meeting after last week’s disheartening decision on safe parking.

Your voice reflected what so many of us are feeling. Something about this decision still doesn’t sit right and our community deserves answers.

@theshowerofhope
@mel_till
@pasadenaforall

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How the Pasadena Mayor & City Council Sabotaged a Safe Parking Program for People Experiencing Homelessness

On November 17, Mayor Gordo and Councilmember Jones worked to sabotage a program 2 years in the making that would have allowed for up to 25 folks who live in their cars to park with safety and dignity at @allsaintspas. In 2023, the Pasadena Housing Department approached @theshowerofhope to start a Safe Parking program in Pasadena to provide a safe place and case management to people who sleep in their vehicles. After looking at possible locations and factoring in costs, the Pasadena Housing Department approached All Saints to use their parking lot. All Saints, historically leading the charge to address homelessness in Pasadena, not only obliged but were willing to provide their visitor lot for free.

In 2023, the Pasadena City Council approved $305,000 towards tunding this program which at that point, they saw as a need and voted unanimously to pass. After this, The Shower of Hope and All Saints together, worked towards obtaining a “Minor Conditional Use Permit” and subsequently fought 3 appeals lead by a neighborhood HOA of the Maryland, a nearby condo building.

Last night’s hearing was the last appeal by the Maryland and was based on a CEQA - (California Environmental Quality Act) exemption given to the program with city staff reporting that this program would have minimal environmental impact. The Pasadena City Council could only uphold this appeal based on evidence that this program would cause a negative environmental impact.

During last night’s meeting, Mayor Gordo and Councilmember Jones started by coming after the program basing their allegations on the fact that this Safe Parking Program, which currently serves mostly seniors, would lead to an increase in criminal activity in the neighborhood. Speakers in support of the Maryland argued that this program would attract drug dealers coming to prey on program participants and complained about crime in the area.

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From the Monday 11/17 council meeting.

Councilmembers Lyon and Cole also support safe parking, which is a proven method for helping people who have recently fallen into homelessness (many of whom are still employed) back into housing by giving them a safe place to rest and get connected with services.

Mayor Gordo, Councilmembers Jones and Hampton did not. They refused to support my routine motion on a CEQA exemption that clearly applied to this situation. Because one councilmember was absent, this was enough to block the motion. Then they refused to continue the matter until we had all councilmembers present.

Instead, at least 25 Pasadenans will continue to park on the streets of our neighborhoods without security, access to a restroom, or help finding housing.

Truly one of the most disturbing things I’ve seen in my almost five years on the Council.

#pasadena #jessrivas

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