2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 MINUTES
SHELTER MONITORING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
10:00 AM
25 Van Ness Ave., Basement, Suite 70
San Francisco, CA 94102
Members Present:
Chair Diana Valentine
Committee Member Quintin Mecke
Committee Member David Nakanishi
Committee Member Maxine Pauson
Committee Member Joanne Smith
Committee Member Kendra Stewardson
Committee Member Hank Wilson
Members Absent:
Committee Member Joyce Crum
Committee Member Bianca Henry
Committee Member Judi Iranyi
Committee Member Keith Kemp
Committee Member Damian Ochoa
PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE TAKEN FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM.
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL/AGENDA ADJUSTMENTS
The meeting was called to order at 10:25 AM. Chair Diana Valentine moved Old Business to be heard after the Approval of the Minutes.
No public comment
I. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
Action: Approved July 5, 2006 Committee Meeting Minutes
m/s/c (Nakanishi/Wilson/Unanimous)
No public comment
II. OLD BUSINESS
A. Multi-Service Center South Gregory Kats
Deputy Director Gregory Kats provided an update on the closure of Women's World at Multi-Service Center South. Mr. Kats said that the Requests for Proposals (RFP) for the contractor services to do the renovations at the site were with the Controller's Office. Mr. Kats said that there was not an official start date for the Women's World renovations but one would be forthcoming in the next week or so.
Committee Member Hank Wilson asked when the women would have to leave [Women's World].
Mr. Kats said the women would have to be out at the end of August.
Committee Member Wilson asked how many women had been placed and where.
Mr. Kats said that 12 women had been placed in transitional housing.
Committee Member Bianca Henry asked how many women still needed to be placed and if the Committee could receive a report of where the women had been placed.
Mr. Kats said there were 14 women who still needed placement.
Committee Member David Nakanishi asked if the Committee could be informed of what happened to all 45 women and if Mr. Kats could clarify the different dates [provided at Women's World regarding the closing].
Mr. Kats said the original goal for the closure was the end of July and now, from a case management perspective, the goal is August 31; however, that doesn't mean that the actual facility [Women's World] will close on August 31. Mr. Kats said and referred back to the RFP process.
Committee Member Henry asked what shelter accommodations had been made to incorporate the loss of the 45 women's beds [at Women's World].
Mr. Kats said that there were 15 new voluntary service women's beds added at Next Door.
Committee Member Wilson said that the Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center (TARC) had received positive feedback from women about the newly allocated 7-day beds at Next Door. Committee Member Wilson said that the fact that women could get a bed in the afternoon [now] had a huge impact on their mental health.
Ms. Casey said the Committee had also received calls regarding the additional beds at Next Door.
Committee Member Maxine Pauson asked about the 30 shelter spots that were missing as Next Door was only absorbing 15 of the 45 beds.
Mr. Kats said that some of the 45 women had been housed outside the shelter system. He said he would provide a detailed breakdown at the next [Shelter Monitoring Committee] meeting.
Committee Member Quintin Mecke asked if a monthly timeline could be issued that informed everyone about the status of the closure and reopening of Women's World.
Mr. Kats said when he had solid dates; he would make a timeline available to everyone.
Chair Valentine asked if Mr. Kats could explain the miscommunication that happened from his office [Human Services Agency (HSA)] regarding the July 31, 206 closure. Chair Valentine reported that the Committee had received several calls at the end of July from Women's World's clients who were very concerned as they thought that Women's World would be closed on July 31st and they would have to be out in the streets. Chair Valentine said that the process had exasperated the women and had caused a mental health crisis.
Mr. Kats said that he went to Women's World personally last Friday [July 28, 2006] and assured women that they wouldn't leave anyone without a place to go. Mr. Kats said that the case managers [at MSC South] were working one on one with the women to aid in finding placement. Mr. Kats said he would provide a timeline of the closure once a date [for the reconstruction] is set.
Chair Valentine said that she had gone to Women's World to investigate signage that had been posted with a July 31, 2006 closure date.
Mr. Kats said that signage was taken down and that MSC South staff had operated with the original July 31, 2006 close date as a hard date.
Committee Member Mecke asked if there had been community meetings about the closure. Committee Member Mecke said that communication and coordination were crucial to guarantee that everyone, clients and the community, were aware of the closure and given time to prepare.
Mr. Kats said he would work with Committee staff Bernice Casey to make sure the Committee was kept informed.
Committee Member Nakanishi asked that as information came up in the community about the closure that the information is forwarded to the Committee.
Committee Member Henry asked that an additional meeting be called once there was a closure date was decided. Committee Member Henry said that more notice is provided to clients as information became available.
Committee Member Wilson asked if there was a provision for people who missed the July 28 meeting.
Mr. Kats said that Lessy [Lessy Benedith, Co-Director of MSC South] was present at the meeting. He said that HSA tries to put up signage 5 days in advance of the meeting. Mr. Kats said that the staff present takes notes and provides them to clients.
Committee Member Mecke said based on the recent response from clients at Women's World that in the future, a clear timeline is established before any meetings are held or closures discussed. He asked that the Committee be kept informed.
III. COMMITTEE MEMBERS QUESTIONS/COMMENTS
Committee Member Wilson said that with the additions at Next Door that he has seen more women's beds than he had in the last year. TARC has been able to place women every day and have not had to turn any woman away. He said that several women were thankful.
Public Comment
Mr. Kats said the women's beds at Next Door were 25 not 15.
Committee Member Mecke asked how many site visits had been done in the past reporting cycle and how many had been done last year.
Ms. Casey said she would determine the number and report back on the 25th at the retreat.
Committee Member Nakanishi welcomed Committee Members Mecke and Wilson to the Committee. He noted that Committee Member Wilson's name was spelled wrong on the agenda.
Chair Valentine welcomed the new members.
Committee Member Henry asked when the Committee would be discussing the conflict of interest with the Deputy City Attorney.
Chair Valentine said that it was on the agenda for the August 25th Committee Retreat.
Committee Member Wilson asked that an action item log be created so the Committee could follow up on actions proposed and taken. He said that it would provide both accountability and the ability to stay on top of things.
Ms. Casey said that she would work on a log.
Committee Member Henry asked if there could be a shelter report generated which broke down the type of beds.
Committee Member Mecke asked that Ms. Casey follow up with HSA to get the numbers for the last two years.
Mr. Kats asked that the time periods and the specificities requested be clearly stated in the request.
Chair Valentine asked that the Committee also ask if a written procedure/policy exists for shelter closures and if so, that the Committee be provided a copy.
Committee Member Nakanishi said that a written report usually comes at the end of the closure citing his experience with the closure of A Man's Place.
Committee Member Mecke asked that the report from HSA go back to July 2004 to present.
Committee Member Wilson asked that number of turn-a-ways [and what type of bed requested] and the parameters of winter shelters is requested as well.
Committee Member Henry said that the Committee should also request the number of homeward bound participants and the number of General Assistance beds.
Committee Member Maxine Pauson asked that the Committee requests how many people are turned away because beds are being held [by other programs].
Committee Member Mecke asked that some of these questions be raised at the September 13th meeting with the Ten Year Plan Implementation Council and the Local Homeless Coordinating Board. Committee Member Mecke said that the status of the shelter system be raised and ask how many people had been transitioned into permanent housing.
Committee Member Nakanishi said that he would like the Committee to request the number of vacant shelter spaces; track turn-a-ways; and ascertain what happens to homeless individuals who are not willing to go into shelters.
Committee Member Wilson said the Committee agreed and said the Committee should request the number of empty beds and the number of turn-a-ways.
Chair Valentine asked that Ms. Casey provide a report at the next meeting on the status of the stipend for the Committee; how many of the recent 2006-2007contracts the Committee has received; and any other outstanding items requested from City agencies.
Committee Member Nakanishi informed the Committee that in July a former resident came to Hospitality House and threatened a staff person with a gun. The staff person was able to deescalate the situation. The police were called and the former resident was arrested, but the District Attorney's Office did not prosecute. Hospitality House obtained a restraining order against the former client. Management at Hospitality House was working with City agencies to provide support to both staff and clients.
Chair Valentine said that the Committee would be conducting an announced visit at the site and would follow up.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. Election of Officers
The Committee reviewed the nominations for Vice Chair, Committee Member Damian Ochoa, and for Secretary, Committee Member Kendra Stewardson.
Action: Election of Committee Member Damian Ochoa to Vice Chair
m/s/c (Wilson/Nakanishi/Unanimous)
Action: Election of Committee Member Kendra Stewardson to Secretary
m/s/c (Wilson/Smith/Unanimous)
No public comment.
B. Retreat Agenda
Ms. Casey reviewed draft retreat agenda.
Committee Member Wilson asked that the action items log be incorporated into the staff report.
Committee Member Mecke asked that status of strengthening the legislation be added.
Chair Valentine asked that the legislation be added under old business.
Committee Member Wilson said that the transgender training should be a priority.
Ms. Casey said she would re-work the agenda to incorporate the additional suggestions.
Public Comment
Ali Schlageter from the Local Homeless Coordinating Board reminded the Committee that the Board would be meeting on August 7th and one of the items on its agenda was the appointment of Seat 4 from the Local Homeless Coordinating Board.
Action: Approved retreat agenda
m/s/c (Mecke/Stewardson/Unanimous)
C. Utility Use in Shelters
The Committee reviewed a draft letter to County Adult Assistance Program (CAAP) asking for an explanation of the in-kind values of housing/shelter, utilities, and food deductions.
Action: Sent letter to CAAP
m/s/c (Wilson/Nakanishi/Unanimous)
No public comment.
D. Shelter Staff Training Update
Committee Member Nakanishi reviewed the draft letter to Deputy Director of Housing and Homeless Services Gregory Kats requesting an update on when a sensitivity training would be provided to shelter directors and staff. Committee Member Nakanishi said that the discussion items that came out of the July Shelter Directors Meeting raised good points and that they should be addressed.
Committee Member Henry asked that shelter hiring practices and the follow up on contract violations should be addressed.
Committee Member Wilson said he attended HSA sexual harassment prevention training for shelter staff that did not cover gays, lesbians, and transgender people. He was informed by the trainer that gays, lesbians, and transgender people were not covered in the City's definition of sexual harassment.
Chair Valentine said she attended the same training and asked that the Committee ask HSA again about who is protected under the City's sexual harassment policy.
Action: Sent amended letter to Gregory Kats
m/s/c (Nakanishi/Wilson/Unanimous)
Public Comment
Ms. Schlageter asked why the Committee did not partner with HSA and the Department of Public Health (DPH) to provide trainings.
Chair Valentine said that it was not the responsibility of the Committee to provide trainings to shelter staff.
Committee Member Nakanishi said that the expectation to provide training should be the responsibility of HSA and DPH.
E. McMillan Drop-In Center
The Committee reviewed a draft letter to the Department of Public Health's Deputy Director Barbara Garcia regarding health issues concerns with the closure of McMillan.
Committee Member Mecke asked if there had been any follow up from HSA regarding the letter the Committee sent in July.
Ms. Casey said there had been no response but said she would follow up.
Action: Sent letter to Barbara Garcia
m/s/c (Wilson/Stewardson/Unanimous)
No public comment
V. PUBLIC COMMENT
Reg Smith with the Ten Year Plan Implementation Council said that the Council was also interested in the sleeping units lost in the last year. Mr. Smith said he hoped to see the Committee at the September 13th meeting. The meeting will be held at City Hall, Room 201 at 1:00 PM.
Ron Merritt, who identified as a homeless shelter user, said that his disability had not been accommodated by Next Door. Mr. Merritt said that he had a metal plate in his foot and gout. He said he was provided a reservation for a lower bunk by TARC for Next Door. When he got to Next Door, the staff said he could have Bed 5, which is an upper bunk. Mr. Merritt said he showed staff his medical papers and staff told him to wait. Mr. Merritt said he had to wait for four hours and at 10:00 PM was told there were no lower bunks. Mr. Merritt said that Next Door is not accommodating Americans with Disabilities (ADA) requests and he has contacted the Human Rights Commission.
Chair Valentine asked members of the public to remain quiet while others were speaking.
Mr. Merritt said that Next Door staff members were rude telling clients if they didn't like it that they should stay somewhere else. He said that they talked down to people and suggested that part of the trainings for staff should be on de-escalation.
Committee Member Nakanishi asked when the incident happened.
Mr. Merritt said it happened a few days ago. He said that he measured the first step on most of the ladders on the bunk beds. He said the first step was 2 ½ feet off of the ground.
Committee Member Mecke apologized to Mr. Merritt for his experience and asked if he had filed a grievance [with Next Door].
Mr. Merritt said he had not taken it that far and that he was bringing the incident to the Committee's attention first. Mr. Merritt said that he should not have to fill out a form and that a reasonable accommodation should be made automatically for people with disabilities. He said there should be a provision in place to accommodate ADA needs and there should be sufficient lower bunk options.
Chair Valentine said that Mr. Merritt could also contact the Mayor's Office on Disability and that the City's policy was that for a visible disability the shelter should take you at your word [that you have a disability].
Mr. Merritt said that he stayed for four hours but was never given a lower bunk.
Committee Member Wilson asked what the supervisor did.
Mr. Merritt said that he was told to wait and thank told there were no other bunks. He said that the attitude of workers [shelter staff] causes people not to want to be in the shelters.
Committee Member Nakanishi thanked Mr. Merritt for his comments and said the Committee would be putting his side of the story into the reports.
Chair Valentine stopped the meeting and said she had asked the people in the audience to stop talking while Mr. Merritt was giving testimony and wanted it noted in the minutes that the individuals talking were Episcopal Community Services staff.
Committee Member Henry asked that the Committee request the number of ADA beds in the shelter system and the procedures for accommodating ADA requests.
Committee Member Nakanishi said the Committee should request the number of shelters that are ADA accessible.
Mr. Merritt said that there are problems at Ella Hill Hutch and 150 Otis. He said the facilities are not cleaned properly and people are getting lice and bed bugs. He said that people bring their dirty bags into the sleeping areas. He said that the dust mop at Ella Hill Hutch has not been changed in six months and that the mop is used in both the bathrooms and the sleeping areas.
Committee Member Mecke asked what the procedure was to follow up on public comment.
Ms. Casey said she would draft a response in the policies and procedures to be discussed at the retreat.
Committee Member Nakanishi said he would follow up with the health department about the lice and bed bug issue.
Committee Member Wilson said that the Committee needs to establish protocols to give feedback immediately to the shelters when issues are raised.
Ms. Casey said she would follow up with Ken Reggio [of Episcopal Community Services].
Ms. Schlageter said the next Board meeting was on August 7th at 170 Otis at 3:00 PM and that the Board would be considering applications for Seat 4. She said that the Board was very interested on collaborating on issues with the Committee.
Committee Member Wilson asked if it was too late to apply for Seat 4.
Ms. Schlageter said the cut off was Friday [August 4, 2006].
VI. REPORTS
A. Shelter Status
Committee Member Crum was absent. Ms. Casey noted that each Committee member had been provided with the Homeless Family Report.
B. Health
Committee Member Nakanishi said that DPH would be absorbing the cost of refreshments for the retreat. He provided a copy of the health report on the Bayview and reminded the Committee that during the August 13 Stadium to Stadium run there would be a health fair.
C. ADA/Elderly Access Subcommittee
Ms. Casey said that ADA training would be provided at the retreat.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 12:36 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 415.255.3653 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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