Guest Opinion | Tunisia Offray: “Compassion Without Strategy is Not a Solution’’

Last Monday our City Council voted to implement Safe Parking.

This is a clear example of the theory that people often do what feels good rather than what actually makes sense.

As a boots-on-the-ground advocate and service provider, I see firsthand the complexity of homelessness every single day. Yet we continue to pursue solutions that sound compassionate on the surface without taking the time to truly understand the nuances that underscore this crisis.

I spoke at last Monday’s City Council meeting and shared that three of our current program participants at Shepherd’s Door, all women of color, were revictimized while staying in Safe Parking programs. In one case, a five-year-old child was present during the incident.

Despite hearing this reality, the council still moved forward with implementing Safe Parking. Even more concerning, there had not been a funding source identified to ensure adequate security at the time of the vote.

Money drives outcomes. And too often, decisions are made based on what is politically popular rather than what is actually effective.

We cannot continue ignoring the experiences of all people experiencing homelessness, especially women of color, who make up nearly 40% of the unhoused population in Pasadena, according to the 2024 homeless count.

We also know that domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women.

Sexual assault and abuse are significantly underreported, particularly among women of color. This is due to systemic barriers and a legal system that has historically failed to protect and believe women; again…especially women of color.

So when we create environments where vulnerable women are commingled with populations facing complex behavioral health and substance use challenges, we increase the risk of exploitation and harm.

I challenge our City Council and Housing Department to step back and examine solutions that actually address the demographics highlighted in the data.

We need strategies that create pathways out of homelessness, not temporary bandaids that simply recycle women through unsafe systems. Safe parking is a good soultion for some but does not address the 40% of the unhoused population identifed.

Compassion without strategy is not a solution.

If we truly want to end homelessness, we must be willing to listen to those of us working on the front lines, and center the safety, dignity, and lived experiences of the women and children most impacted.

Councilmember Justin L. Jones, Councilmember Tyron Hampton, and City of Pasadena Mayor Gordo I thank you. We thank you, and we appreciate your dedication to consider safety for all your constituents especially the most vulnerable who’s been identified as women, women of color, and women and children experiencing domestic violence. Your voice and support matter.

Tunisia Offray is a Pasadena resident.