2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 MINUTES
SHELTER MONITORING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
10:00 AM
City Hall, Room 421
San Francisco, CA 94102
Members present:
Chair Henry Belton
Vice Chair Aram Hauslaib
Committee Member Anthony Beliso
Committee Member LJ Cirilo
Committee Member Diana Greer
Committee Member Elihu Hernandez
Committee Member Maxine Pauson
Committee Member Ramses Teon-Nichols
Committee Member Cindy Ward
Members absent:
Committee Member Rita Lark
Committee Member David Nakanishi
Committee Member Amanda Thompson
I. MINUTES
Action: Approved September 2, 2009 Minutes
m/s/c (Hauslaib/Pauson/Unanimous)
No public comment
II. REPORTS
A. Department of Public Health (DPH)
Committee Member David Nakanishi was absent and this item was continued to the November 4, 2009 Committee Meeting.
No public comment
B. Shelter Status Report
Committee Member Cindy Ward reviewed the vacancy reports and stated that the turn-away count at Hamilton Emergency Family Shelter was 71 [families] for the month of September. The Connecting Point Wait List [for family shelter slots] was 210 families. Committee Member Ward stated that Bethel Winter Shelter would be opening up for families.
C. Standard of Care (SOC)
Committee staff Bernice Casey reviewed the Standard of Care report and stated that the Committee had received more complaints after outreach efforts of Committee staff Marta Rebolledo. Ms. Casey there had been a decrease in the number of complaints received and referred to comments left by clients that “the Committee did not care about what was happening in the shelter[s]” and that “it [the Committee] didn’t care about complaints [and did nothing].”
Public Comment
Ali Schlageter, staff to the Local Homelessness Coordinating Board, asked that future SOC reports have a more detailed breakdown of complaints.
A member of the public stated that the Committee would be unable to determine why there had been an increase in the number of complaints reported unless each complainant was questioned. The member of the public said that it was possible that there had been an increase of issues to complain about in the month of September.
Tomas Picarillo stated that the Committee should know exactly when each complaint was filed with DPH and work on the 190-day response time, stating that the time frame was not satisfactory.
Charles Pitts said that there [could be] a drop in complaints due to the political or the lack of the political will of the Committee.
Linda asked that the biographies of the Committee Members be updated on the web-site. She also suggested a bigger [meeting space].
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
Charles Pitts said that the Committee had the opportunity to vote for another Chair and should do so. He also advised the Committee to challenge the sitting Chair’s abilities.
Tomas Picarello said he was disappointed when he watched the Committee’s presentation before the Rules Committee in which Chair Belton informed the Board of Supervisors that they [the Committee] was not in need of additional resources. He also said that the Chair provided incorrect information to the Board reporting that there was 3 staff for the Committee when technically there are two. He said that if the goal of the Committee was to improve the shelters than the Committee did need additional resources.
Linda said that the Committee Members should have a chance to show what type of work they can do.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. Sunshine and Confidentiality Overview
This item was continued to the December 2, 2009 Committee Meeting.
No public comment.
B. Shelter Behavioral Health Team
Program Manager Allison Smith will provide an overview of the work of the Shelter Behavioral Team, including what services are being provided and in which shelters. Ms. Smith stated that the Team had a new name, SF START [San Francisco Shelter Treatment Access Resource Team] and that since August 1, 2009 had been providing services in five of the single adult shelters, MSC South, Next Door, Sanctuary, Dolores Street, and Providence. She said that there 8 full time case managers, three of which were full time mental health specialists. She also said that the Team was facilitating different groups at each site.
Committee Member Diana Greer thanked Ms. Smith for her presentation and suggested that the Team come quarterly to present on their progress.
Committee Member Maxine Pauson asked how the attendance was at the groups.
Ms. Smith reported that it varied but said the art group was an extremely successful model.
Committee Member Tony Beliso asked if the Team provided substance abuse services to individuals transitioning out of the criminal justice system.
Ms. Smith said they did and also made appropriate referrals, when needed.
Committee Member Ramses Teon-Nichols asked if the 8 case mangers were enough to serve the 1000+ clients in the single adult shelter system.
Ms. Smith said no and stated there was a need for more case management services system wide, citing the drop in case managers at ECS from 14 in 2002 to 10 in 2009.
Public Comment
Lindsay from Shelter Advocates asked that the Team work with Shelter Advocates in educating clients of their rights.
A member of the public said case management was the reason he was successful in getting housing.
C. Bylaws
Ms. Casey reviewed the bylaws and stated that the Committee would be voting at the November 4, 2009 Committee Meeting to change the meeting date of the Committee to the third Wednesday of the month.
Public Comment
Charles Pitts told the Committee to review the Sunshine Ordinance.
Lindsay from the Shelter Advocates provided an overview of the DOS [denial of service] report, data collected by the Shelter Advocates regarding the number of denial of services reported by sites.
Public Comment
A member of the public said that when he stayed at Hospitality House the staff reviewed the rules at each community meeting.
Pat Harrison from ECS said that the DOS number [from a shelter] may reflect a DOS from the case management component and not the shelter.
Tomas Picarillo said that all DOS’s should be reported.
Charles Pitts said that he could not find the Shelter Advocates easily on the internet.
V. OLD BUSINESS
Shelter Access Ramses Teon-Nichols
Committee Member Teon-Nichols reviewed the Access recommendations made to the Board of Supervisors and Mayor’s Office in the May 2009 Shelter Enrichment reports and suggested that the Committee another turn away count.
Committee Member Ward asked to abstain from the vote.
Action: Approved Committee Ward’s right to abstain
m/s/c (Hauslaib/Belton/Beliso/Cirillo/Greer/Hernandez/Ramses-Teon/Pauson)
Action: Approved Turn Away Count
m/s/c (Hernandez/Pauson/Hauslaib/Belton/Beliso/Cirillo/Greer/ /Ramses-Teon/)
Public Comment
Charles Pitts said that HSA should change their computer system so they could capture turn aways.
Marlon Mendieta from Dolores Street Community Services suggested conducting a turn away count quarterly.
VI. INFORMATION REQUESTS
A. Staff Report
Ms. Casey reviewed the monthly staff report and stressed the need of allowing members of the public an opportunity to speak during public comment and requested that the Committee review all materials provided regarding this issue and the Sunshine Ordinance in general.
No public comment.
B. Information Requests
There were no requests for information made.
Public Comment
Charles Pitts requested that the Committee provide a copy of all request made.
C. Announcements
Committee Members Hernandez said that there would be a public memorial at 5:30 pm to honor all homeless individuals who had died.
Chair Belton reminded everyone that Project Homeless Connect was on October 28, 2009.
Adjournment
12:00 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.
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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Know Your Rights under the Sunshine Ordinance(Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)
Government’s duty is to serve the public, reaching its decision in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people’s review. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE, OR TO REPORT A VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE, CONTACT THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE TASK FORCE THROUGH:
Chris Rustom, Administrator
Sunshine Ordinance Task Force
City Hall, Room 244
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102-4689
Phone 415.554.7724
Fax 415.554.7854
E-mail sotf@sfgov.org
Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Task Force, the San Francisco Public Library, and on the City’s website at www.sfgov.org.
Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements
Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code § 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone (415) 581-2300; fax (415) 581-2317; web site: sfgov.org/ethics.
