2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 MINUTES
SHELTER MONITORING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
25 Van Ness Ave., 8th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102
Members present:
Chair Quintin Mecke
Vice Chair Damian Ochoa
Secretary Liz Olsen
Committee Member Henry Belton
Committee Member Kim Clark
Committee Member Diana Greer
Committee Member Judi Iranyi
Committee Member James Leonard
Committee Member Maxine Pauson
Committee Member Cindy Ward
Members absent:
Committee Member David Nakanishi
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL/AGENDA ADJUSTMENTS
The meeting was called to order at 10:01 AM.
I. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment
II. MINUTES
Action: Approved March 5, 2008 Minutes
m/s/c (Iranyi/Olsen/Unanimous)
III. REPORTS
A. Human Services Agency
Committee Member Cindy Ward said that the March vacancy report would not be available until later in the week and at that time, she would forward it to the Committee. Ms. Ward reviewed the numbers utilizing Hamilton Family Emergency Shelter as well as the families who were turned away each month.
Vice Chair Ochoa stated that he was concerned that Ella Hill Hutch shelter was closing at the end of June and with an average of 91% occupancy, no community meeting had been held on-site to discuss the closure with the clients.
Committee Members Henry Belton and Diana Greer stated that they were very concerned that families were being turned away from shelters each month.
Vice Chair Ochoa noted that 9 families were being turned away each month and asked what the impact of the loss of ten rooms for families at St. Joseph's Family Shelter would have on the family shelter system and the wait list.
Committee Member Ward stated that there were currently 114 families on the wait list for shelter.
Committee Member Belton stated that [sheltering] families should be the priority of City & County of San Francisco.
Committee Member James Leonard asked why the City & County of San Francisco opened up a male-only drop in center at 150 Otis.
Single Adult Shelters Programs Manager Briana Moore said that there was not a women's bathroom at 150 Otis.
Committee Member Kim Clark asked if the storage service was still available to clients at 150 Otis.
Ms. Moore stated that the storage service was available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Committee Member Leonard asked how many clients had been displaced during the transition [the closure of Buster's Place and the opening of 150 Otis].
Ms. Moore stated that [the Buster's Place model] had clients languishing in chairs, but [the 150 Otis model] would attempt to get people into beds at night.
Chair Quintin Mecke asked what resources were available to women.
Ms. Moore said that women could use the Oshun Drop In Center and was using resources described within the Department on the Status of Women's Social Service Directory.
B. Department of Public Health
Committee Member David Nakanishi was not present. His report was postponed to the May 7 Committee Meeting.
C. Standard of Care (SOC)
Chair Mecke stated that the Mayor had signed the Standards of Care on March 28, 2008. A copy of the legislation was circulated. Mr. Mecke thanked the community for its efforts in developing the Standards.
Committee Member Leonard asked if the Standard of Care workgroup would continue to meet.
Chair Mecke said the efforts were now on implementation.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
A. Shelter Enrichment
Policy Analyst Bernice Casey gave an overview of the Town Hall meeting which was held on March 19, 2008. She said that the community made it clear that they did not want to see any beds lost with a shelter redesign. Ms. Casey said that the upcoming workgroup meetings would be on April 3, medical services, April 9, supportive services, and April 23, access.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Confidentiality Overview
This item was continued to the May 7 meeting.
B. 24 Hour Resource Center
The Committee reviewed two draft letters, one to the Board and one to the Mayor, emphasizing the need for a 24 hour resource center, for men and women, as listed in the Standards of Care.
Chair Mecke requested that the request for information about the June 30 closing of Ella Hill Hutch be placed in the letter.
Action: Approve amended draft letters
m/s/c (m/s/c Ochoa/Leonard/Unanimous)
Public Comment
Ali Shlageter from the Local Homeless Coordinating Board stated that the LHCB was interested in the closure of Ella Hill Hutch and requested that Ms. Casey be at the April 7 meeting to discuss the letters.
Ms. Moore asked what the Committee meant by a gender analysis.
Ms. Casey said that she would supply that information.
A member of the public said that he has stood in line at TARC [Tenderloin Health] for 3 to 4 hours to get a mat on the floor. He said that reservations should be generated by the computer and client should be provided with proof of the reservation.
Joanna Fraguli said the letter should ask where women with disabilities could receive services.
VI. INFORMATION REQUESTS
A. Staff Report
Ms. Casey reviewed the monthly staff report and the complaint log.
The Committee requested that future complaint logs also track the number of individuals who logged complaints [as the current complaint log logs the number to total complaints not complainants].
B. Information Requests
Chair Mecke reviewed the Information Request responses from the Department of Public Health and the Human Services Agency. Mr. Mecke stated that the Committee would use the Information Request format for all future requests and that the Committee, at the end of each meeting, would review the requests each month.
Committee Member Greer requested an Information Request tracking sheet.
Public Comment
Mr. Wright said that he has encountered challenges attempted to access the Ella Hill Hutch shelter. He said that he receives a reservation from the resource center, but when he arrives at Ella Hill Hutch, he is told he does not have a reservation.
Reg Smith from the Ten Year Plan Implementation Council thanked the Committee for its work on the Standards of Care.
Adam Viconti, the DPH Americorp volunteer reviewed the supplies that had been received by shelters as part of the Standards of Care.
Tomas Picarillo thanked Committee Member Hank Wilson for his work on the Committee. He said that the Committee needed to allow more public comment throughout its meeting. He said that the shelters may have not distributed all the supplies that they have been provided.
Ms. Moore stated that she was providing Ms. Casey with copies of Critical Incident Reports within 72 hours of receipt.
Ben, a member of the public, stated that the Committee should be tracking all critical incidents on sites.
Chris, a member of the public, asked how the Committee planned on operationalizing the Standards, particularly the language of complaint versus verified complaint.
Charles Pitts, a member of the public, stated that he was concerned that Hank Wilson was no longer in the arena. He said that the Standard of Care workgroup should continue to meet every 3 months so that the workgroup could identify what else needs to be done. He said that the CHANGES system was inaccurate.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 12:06 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.
25 Van Ness Avenue 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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