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Human Services Committee

This is the SONC Human Services Committee.

Human Services Committee Members:
Pamela Harris, Co-Chair
Sarah Adamski, Co-Chair
Mercedes Bankston
Alexia Guevara
Kylee Peña

Next Human Services Committee Meetings:

In Person Meetings: TBD
Virtual Meetings: May 6, 2024, June 3, 2024

July 1, 2024 - TBD Dark Month

Virtual Meetings: August 5, 2024, September - TBD, October 7, 2024, November 4, 2024
In Person Meetings: December 2, 2024

HSC_Draft Mission Statement

SONC's Human Services Committee is committed to educate, elevate and empower
the Sherman Oaks community to help develop equitable solutions for both our
housed and unhoused neighbors by addressing the complexities of homelessness,
housing/rental rights, mental health issues amongst other issues. Serving as a
liaison between the stakeholders and elected officials and SONC, we hope to
communicate the needs, encourage participation through educational community
projects and outreach.

Goals

Each month, bring in guest speakers re: education about a local organization that is
addressing homelessness, housing/rental rights for constituents, educating and
promoting best practices to help address the homelessness crisis.
Host bi-monthly service projects in collaboration with a Sherman Oaks local
non-profit. Bring community members together to serve a common goal whether
we are helping individuals, families or other non-profits that serve the Sherman
Oaks community members that are experiencing hardship.
Collaborate with other SONC committees in joint efforts including but not limited to
PLUM, Outreach, Education and Public Safety Committees.
Lastly, make our voices heard at City Hall. File community impact statements to
hold all City governing bodies accountable for inequitable policies, advocate for City
service support when the community feels services have fallen short and receive
routine reports on efforts of housing and rehabilitation within the privacy practices
allowed.

Call to Action

The rising homelessness issue affects us all. Whether you are housed or unhoused -
we face this issue together. Do you consider it important to know your rights as a
homeowner or renter? Do you consider it important in understanding the
complexities of homelessness? Do you find yourself to be someone who is willing to
research and develop programming to improve the Sherman Oaks community? If
so, the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council Human Services Committee needs
you! Please come to the meetings, get involved and share your ideas with the
committee.

Link to Questionnaire

Recordings of Prior Zoom Meetings:
August 1, 2022

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Resources

SONC Human Services Committee Meeting Agenda, March 4th, 2024 SONC, HS Committee Agenda - Google Docs

Agenda Requests

The Human Services Committee conducts its business by reviewing and prioritizing agenda requests for Board action (generally either in the form of a motion or letter) or announcements submitted by stakeholders, governmental entities and other interested individuals and organizations. Human Services Committee Committee has the discretion to postpone a request, refer it to a specific committee for review and recommendation, treat it as an announcement or consider and resolve it as a non-Board administrative matter.

CLICK HERE to fill out an Agenda Request.