2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 MINUTES
SHELTER MONITORING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
10:00 AM
City Hall, Room 408
San Francisco, CA 94102
Members present:
Chair Quintin Mecke
Vice Chair Henry Belton
Secretary Aram Hauslaib
Committee Member Anthony Beliso
Committee Member Elihu Hernandez
Committee Member David Nakanishi
Committee Member Maxine Pauson
Committee Member Ramses Teon-Nichols
Committee Member Cindy Ward
Members absent:
Committee Member Diana Greer
Committee Member Rita Lark
Committee Member Aubrey Moore
Committee Member Amanda Thompson
The meeting was called to order at 10:05 AM
I. MINUTES
Action: Approved August 5, 2009 Minutes with correction
m/s/c (Belton/Hauslaib/Unanimous)
Public Comment
Charles Pitts said that the minutes should indicate when a Committee Member arrives late to the meeting, especially when someone is a half hour late.
II. REPORTS
A. Department of Public Health (DPH)
Committee Member Nakanishi reported that all nine investigations have been completed and were remediated without fines. There is a delay in the submission of written reports, but they will be submitted soon.
B. Shelter Status Report
Committee Member Ward reported decreases in vacancies at single adult shelters and turn-aways at Hamilton, but increases in the Connecting Point Waitlist (currently 195 families, 52 priority families) and the use of Providence by families.
Committee Member Ward announced that the lease for Compass Family Center ended on September 1, and while Compass is searching for a permanent location the families are staying in hotel rooms.
Committee Member Ward announced that 44 families were referred through access points to the new housing on 10th and Mission, and that Bethel AME would reopen with spaces for 50 people on October 1.
Committee Member Ward provided an update on the effects of the state budget and the add-back process, and announced that the city had received stimulus funding for rapid re-housing services, including fund for services that target families in shelters or on the streets.
C. Standard of Care (SOC)
Bernice Casey, staff to the Committee, reviewed the number of Standard of Care complaints. Chair Mecke led a discussion on new methods of coding complaints, of quantifying “systems” complaints, and of utilizing the SMC Website to submit complaints.
Ms. Casey reviewed the revised site inspection form and reminded Committee Members to read the SOC Methodology before conducting site visits. Recommendations were taken from Committee Members on making the form more user-friendly.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
Jill Jarvie asked Committee Members to ask staff members on site visits if they know where the AED is located, and if it accessible to all staff at all hours. Ms. Jarvie stated that at the recent training half of the staff present did not know where their sites’ AED was located, and that staff forget to bring an AED when shelter deaths have occurred.
Marlon Mendieta asked the Committee how sites should evidence that janitors are cleaning daily, especially at older sites that may appear unclean. Additionally, Mr. Mendieta asked if the SOC prohibited smoking, or if smoking was allowed in designated areas of the site.
Robert Livingston suggested adding a key to the inspection form for clarification. Mr. Livingston announced his last day of being homeless was July 24, 2009, and that his success in obtaining housing was in part to case management services, which are critical for getting people housed.
Jennifer Friedenbach while most budget items that were restored are again functioning, the women’s floor at Next Door is still closed while waiting for beds, but that temporary beds could be obtained from storage. Additionally 24-hour access to clients’ personal beds at MSC South has not be restored and the site is still using the Rest and Relax day bed procedure.
Mr. Pitts stated that the Quarterly Report is not ready to be submitted. Mr. Pitts said that although Chair Mecke stated the food was inedible at some sites no mention of this was in the report, that the Runaround is also not included, and that the graphs should be broken down by months.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. The Runaround Report
Jennifer Friedenbach, Executive Director of the Coalition of Homelessness reviewed the Runaround Report and the results of the survey included in the report and additionally surveys taken after system changes went into affect July 1. Ms. Friedenbach highlighted client reports of what led to bad experiences with the shelter system, troubles with accessing shelter beds and getting extensions of stays, and client suggested solutions to improve access and availability.
Ms. Friedenbach announced that this report will be presented to the Rules Committee after the SMC report on September 17, 2009, and that there will be a rally on the steps of City Hall at 10am that morning.
B. Quarterly Report
Chair Mecke led a discussion of the Quarterly Report, which includes data from the past three quarters.
Committee Member Ward suggested language clarification in the report to indicate that it covers three quarters, and asked if the Committee wanted to include emphasis with the repeated use of the word “only”.
Committee Member Nakanishi suggested the report clarify that DPH has completed all investigations and closed them with no remediation, instead indicating only one response on the investigations.
Secretary Hauslaib stated he was in favor of the use of “only” as no written explanation of the investigation steps and final reports had been submitted, and that the grid submitted by DPH was not sufficient.
Chair Mecke suggested that the documents the nutritionist submitted at a past meeting be included to highlight the Committees concerns about food quality at certain sites.
Chair Mecke also suggested acknowledgement of the access issues that were discussed last fall which are already in public documents.
Action: Approved August 5, 2009 Minutes with additions detailed above and no language clarification
m/s/c (Ward/Belton/Unanimous)
Public Comment
Michael Wright stated that the computer systems were confusing, even more so since the recent improvements. Mr. Wright stated that the lack of women’s beds at Next Door were an issue, and that designated CAAP beds result in preferential treatment.
V. INFORMATION REQUESTS
A. Staff Report
Ms. Casey reviewed the written staff report with the Committee, and reminded Committee Members she will be out of the office until September 10. 2009 and to direct any inquiries to Committee staff Marta Rebolledo.
B. Information Requests
Chair Mecke asked that Letters of Inquiry be sent to MSC South to ask about the status of 24-hour bed access, and to Next Door regarding the women’s beds.
B. Announcements
Committee Members thanked Chair Mecke for his service to the Committee and wished him well in his future endeavors.
Chair Mecke thanked all Committee Members in the past three years, the Committee staff, and Americorps VISTA volunteers. Chair Mecke said there is much work to do in San Francisco and that the Committee plays an important part.
Committee Member Hernandez announced that there was an article in the Guardian about the anniversary of the Street Sheet, and announced the Hospitality House Art Auction on September 10.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 12:08 PM.
To obtain copies of the agenda, minutes, or any explanatory documents, please contact Bernice Casey at 415.255.3653 or Bernice.casey@sfdph.org 72 hours before the meeting.
To obtain a disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services to participate in the meeting, please contact Bernice Casey at 415.255.3642 or Bernice.casey@sfdph.org at least two business days before the meeting.
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The nearest BART station is Civic Center Plaza at the intersection of Market, Grove, and Hyde Streets. The MUNI Metro lines are the F, J, K, L, M, and N (Civic Center Station or Van Ness Avenue Station). MUNI bus lines serving the area are the 47 Van Ness, 9 San Bruno, and the 6, 7, 71 Haight/Noreiga. Accessible curbside parking is available on Oak and Hickory Streets.
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