2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 MINUTES
SHELTER MONITORING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
10:00 AM
City Hall, Room 34
San Francisco, CA 94102
Members present:
Chair Quintin Mecke
Committee Member Anthony Beliso
Committee Member Henry Belton
Committee Member Diana Greer
Committee Member Aram Hauslaib
Committee Member Elihu Hernandez
Committee Member Rita Lark
Committee Member Aubrey Moore
Committee Member David Nakanishi
Committee Member Maxine Pauson
Committee Member Ramses Teon-Nichols
Committee Member Amanda Thompson
Committee Member Cindy Ward
The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Quintin Mecke at 10:09 AM.
I. MINUTES
Committee Member Cindy Ward noted typing errors within the Minutes. Committee Member Diana Greer stated that her comments regarding reporting positive experiences within the shelters during Committee Announcements were not recorded within the Minutes and requested they be added.
Action: Approved Amended February 4, 2009 Minutes
m/s/c (Belton/Ward//unanimous)
II. REPORTS
A. Human Services Agency (HSA)
Committee Member Ward reported on the single adult shelter, Interfaith, and Bethel AME vacancy rates and provided the turn-away count at Hamilton Family Emergency shelter.
Ms. Briana Wirrom, MSW, from HSA provided an overview of the additional sleeping units being added at Next Door and described how clients would be able to access those beds [though the resource centers]. Ms. Wirrom said that the Interfaith system provided 16,360 meals to 8,180 during its days of operation, at times feeding a male client that they were unable to shelter that night. Fifty-two of the clients using the First Unitarian Church on February 27, 2009, were already entered in CHANGES. Ms. Wirrom explained to all Interfaith users how to access sleeping units within the single adult shelter system on February 27, one night before the Interfaith system closed for the year.
Ms. Ward provided an overview of HSA's budget reductions.
B. Department of Public Health (DPH)
Committee Member David Nakanishi stated that DPH had investigated one of the five Standard of Care complaints forwarded by the Committee.
C. Standard of Care (SOC)
Bernice Casey, staff to the Committee, reviewed the number of Standard of Care complaints.
The Committee discussed how they would like future SOC reports to be presented and requested data by site and area be grouped. There were other questions regarding the scope of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its implication within the shelter, specifically what Committee Members should look for when conducting an investigation. Chair Mecke requested that a representative from the Mayor's Office on Disability attend the April SMC meeting to provide an overview.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. Moore said that all supervisors at sites were ADA liaisons.
Ali Schlageter with the Local Homeless Coordinating Board suggested that budget requests to City agencies be submitted by the LHCB and SMC simultaneously.
Tomas Picarello thanked the Committee for adding its quarterly reports to the web site. He stated that all reports read the same and that there had not been any improvement with the shelters. He stated that DPH was not enforcing the Standards of Care and stated that 6-month report on the Standards of Care was due to the Board of Supervisors in October 2008.
Jill Jarvie with DPH stated that the nutritionist contracted to aid in the implementation of the nutritional components of the Standards of Care had received an renewed contract and would be going to all sites to provide technical assistance.
Marlon Mendieta requested that the SOC reports be more detailed and that there be a trend analysis compiled for each site and the system as a whole.
Chareles Pitts stated that the Committee did not have the authority to pass laws on property rights. Mr. Pitts suggested that the City Attorney be consulted on this issue.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. Officer Election
Chair Mecke nominated Henry Belton for Vice Chair. Committee Member Henry Belton nominated Committee Member Greer for Secretary. Committee Member Nakanishi nominated Aram Hauslaib for Secretary.
Committee Member Belton accepted the nomination. He stated that he was serving his second term to the Committee through appointment by the Mayor's Office and took his responsibility seriously and wanted to improve the lives of people living in the shelters.
Committee Member Greer declined the nomination but extended her thanks.
Committee Member Hauslaib accepted the nomination. He stated that he was serving another term through the Local Homeless Coordinating Board and attended the Board's meeting on a monthly basis, when possible and wanted to work toward improving the implementation of the Standards of Care in the shelters.
Action: Approved Henry Belton as Vice Chair
m/s/c (Quintin/Greer//unanimous)
Action: Approved Aram Hauslaib
m/s/c (Nakanishi/Belton//unanimous)
Public Comment
Tomas Picarello stated that he thought Diana Greer would be a better candidate for Vice Chair and that the Committee needed more people with a homeless background.
Ms. Wirrom said that she believed Henry Belton had done wonderful work on the Committee.
Charles Pitts stated he supported Diana Greer.
B. Property Rights
The item was continued to the next meeting.
V. INFORMATION REQUESTS
A. Staff Report
Ms. Casey reviewed her written staff report.
B. Information Requests
Ms. Casey had forwarded the information requests regarding the budget prematurely. The Committee requested that the requests be canceled until there was more information on the budget.
C. Announcements
ADJOURNMENT ACTION
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.
City Hall is accessible to persons using wheelchairs and others with disabilities. Assistive listening devices are available and meetings are open-captioned. Agendas are available in large print. Materials in alternative formats, American Sign Language interpreters, and other format accommodations will be made available upon request. Please make your request for alternative forma or other accommodations to the Shelter Monitoring Committee at 415.255.3642. Providing at least 72 hours notice prior to the meeting will help ensure availability.
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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Frank Darby, Administrator
Sunshine Ordinance Task Force
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Phone 415.554.7724
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