2009 2008 2007 2006 2005
Members present:
Chair Diana Valentine
Committee Member James Chionsini
Committee Member Joyce Crum
Committee Member Judi Iranyi
Committee Member David Nakanishi
Committee Member Maxine Pauson
Committee Member Kendra Stewardson
Bernice Casey, Staff
Members absent:
Committee Member Bianca Henry
I. Call to Order/Roll Call/Agenda Adjustments
The meeting was called to order at 10:32 AM.
No public comment.
II. Approval of the Minutes
Action: Approve April 24, 2006 Committee Meeting Minutes
m/s/c (Stewardson/Chionsini/Unanimous)
No public comment.
III. Committee Members’ Reports
Committee Member Crum stated that she would ascertain if the Committee could determine the location of clients currently who were utilizing the services at Next Door on December 24, 2005.
Committee Member Nakanishi stated that he did not believe, based on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), that the Committee would be able to access that information. He stated that he believed that a role of the staff person, Bernice Casey, would be to provide better outreach and follow-up with clients who come before the Committee.
Committee Chair Valentine asked that Committee Member Crum to research if there is a difference between the Human Services Agency (HSA) and the Committee accessing the location of client utilizing the shelter system.
Committee Member Nakanishi said that Ms. Casey would take more of an active role in developing forms for the Committee. He stated that Ms. Casey was also working on detailed policies and procedures for the Committee, including an orientation packet for new Committee members.
Committee Member Crum reminded the Committee that its members needed to obtain their Shelter Monitoring Committee badge at 1650 Mission Street.
Committee Member Pauson asked what the status of the Local Homeless Coordinating Board was and it was meeting weekly.
Committee Chair Valentine stated that she would be attending the upcoming meeting of the Local Homeless Coordinating Board on Tuesday, May 09, 2006. Ms. Valentine asked that other members should let her know if they would like to attend future meetings. Ms. Valentine circulated an article from the San Francisco Chronicle regarding a shooting in front of the Compass Family Shelter.
Committee Member Chionsini stated that he was concerned that the Committee had not been able to respond to the concerns brought by residents at Next Door regarding the death on December 24, 2005.
Public Comment
Patricia Harrison from Episcopal Sanctuary said that a grief response team had been assembled and was available 24/7 in both the shelters and the housing [funded through Episcopal Sanctuary]. Staff was asked to volunteer for a quarter rotation.
Alysson Smith from Next Doors said that Ken Reggio had been in contact with two of the residents [who were in the shelter at the time of the December 24, 2005 death] and apologized.
IV. New Business
A. Establishing New Location/Time for Meetings
Ms. Casey stated that she had not been able to locate a fixed location for future meeting, but she was working to locate a permanent space for monthly meetings within 25 Van Ness and other venues. Ms. Casey said that she hoped to have a location secured by the Committee’s June meeting.
Action: Approve meeting from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM during its regularly scheduled monthly meetings.
m/s/c(Stewardson/Iranyi/Unanimous)
Committee Member Chionsini said that he may have time conflicts for the new three-hour time and asked that items requiring action be heard at the beginning of the meeting.
No public comment.
B. County Adult Assistance Program (CAAP)
Section Manager Rosana Soriano provided an overview of the services provided through CAAP. Ms. Soriano stated that GA (General Assistance) is just one of four CAAP programs. The Personal Assisted Employment Services (PAES) program said that currently 7,500 people were utilizes the services and out of the 7,500, 393 were homeless.
Committee Member Chionsini asked for the intake times.
Ms. Soriano said that an afternoon shift would be added in the future, currently the Monday-Friday morning shift started at 7:30 AM. She said the intake worker [for PAES] usually get back to individuals in 3 days. The benefits are retroactive to the time the individual registered for the benefits.
Public Comment
Unidentified member of the public asked Ms. Soriano to explain how an individual switches from GA to PAES and for clarification on reasons an individual could not make the switch.
Ms. Soriano said that an individual must meet the residency requirement of 30 days, cannot have been sanctioned for PAES, and must ask for an expedited program change [from GA to PAES].
Unidentified member of the public asked what should someone do if his or her intake worker was non-responsive.
Ms. Soriano said to go to the worker’s supervisor.
Unidentified member of the public said that supervisors had been contacted [in the past] and still nothing had happened.
Committee Member Stewardson said that individuals could not switch between programs more than once a year.
Unidentified member of the public asked what were the two reasons an individual could not receive PAES.
Ms. Soriano said that an individual would not qualify for PAES if they did not meet the 30-day residency requirement or had been sanctioned.
Committee Chair Valentine asked where the information about qualifying for PAES could be located and for clarification on the complaint process within CAAP.
Ms. Soriano said that the information was posted in two places: the application form and the renewal form. She said that the information was on the back of the form under the rights and responsibilities section.
Committee Chair Valentine asked if it was clearly written for the client.
Ms. Soriano said it was. She said that individuals who were not happy with the service(s) they received should fill out a complaint form. Ms. Soriano said that individuals could ask for a copy of the complaint form before submitting it.
Committee Member Chionsini asked what the time frame for intake workers to return calls.
Ms. Soriano said the policy was to return calls within four hours.
Committee Chair Valentine asked for clarification on how clients pay back for benefits once they qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Ms. Soriano said that SSI cuts a separate check for the client and one for the City [to reimburse for any duplicate services]. Ms. Soriano said the SSI Advocacy Group was located at 1235 Mission Street. She said that there were five social workers that assisted clients in the process of applying for SSI.
Committee Chair Valentine asked how homeless people were defined.
Ms. Soriano said that homeless people were shelter residents.
Committee Member Nakanishi said that clients sometimes report that they are housed when they are not.
Ms. Soriano said that “couch surfing” was not considered homeless.
Unidentified member of the public asked if a resident of a Single Resident Occupancy (SRO) hotel is also not considered homeless.
Ms. Soriano said yes [residents at a SRO are not considered homeless].
Committee Chair Valentine asked what qualified as a utility.
Ms. Soriano said that electricity and water were considered utilities, but telephone was not included.
Committee Chair Valentine asked that Ms. Soriano submit any additional information in writing to Ms. Casey.
Unidentified member of the public asked if individuals [as part of the work force benefit] received a MUNI pass or MUNI tokens.
Ms. Soriano said that it depended on when in the month an individual applied for the program.
Committee Chair Valentine asked Ms. Soriano to follow-up with Ms. Casey and provide copies of the forms.
C. Communication Protocols
Ms. Casey reviewed the explanatory documents, including draft By-laws, draft job description for staff, and draft Communication and procedural protocols, as outlined in a memo to the Committee. Ms. Casey reminded the Committee that Members could not abstain from voting, unless certain criteria were met and asked the Committee to review the memo. Ms. Casey asked the Committee members to review what compromises a Seriatim meeting.
Ms. Casey stated that she would have complete drafts for the Committee to vote on at its June 7, 2006 meeting and asked the Members to review the documents provided and alert her to any questions.
No public comment.
D. Inspection Reports
Committee Chair Valentine asked for the location of the Inspection Reports.
Ms. Casey apologized to the Committee and stated that she had not received copies of the reports. Ms. Casey stated that the submission of Inspection Reports would be addressed in the draft Committee protocols [at the June 7, 2006 meeting].
Committee Member Crum asked if Inspection Reports should be given to Ms. Casey in the future.
Committee Chair Valentine asked Ms. Casey to clarify the submission of Inspection Reports at the June 7, 2006 meeting.
No public comment.
E. Shelter Closings/Openings
Committee Chair Valentine asked Ms. Casey for an update on the status of shelter beds at Dolores.
Ms. Casey stated that she did not have an update.
Committee Chair Valentine asked Ms. Casey to contact Eric Quezada [the Executive Director at Dolores Street Community Services] and ask for an update on the number of beds lost the past quarter. Ms. Valentine said that in August 2005, the City lost 65 to 100 beds.
Public Comment.
Greg Kats, from Human Services Agency (HSA), stated that St. Boniface would be closing and that individuals who could not be housed in permanent housing would be placed at 150 Otis. Mr. Kats said the transition would take place through June 30, 2006.
Committee Chair Valentine asked how many beds the City would be losing when St. Boniface closed and asked for a report [from HSA] at the June 7, 2006 Committee Meeting. Ms. Valentine also asked if the 150 Otis location was in the CHANGES system.
Mr. Kats reported that Ella Hill Hutch was temporarily closed due to a shooting at the Recreation Center [in which a staff person was killed]. The shelter was reopened on Monday. On Thursday and Friday, HSA staff worked to relocate clients and to ensure no was left out of the process.
Unidentified member of the public asked what the status of MSC South’s Woman’s World. The members of the public asked how timely female residents were notified. The member of the public said that there were no postings and asked if the closing was a “one shot deal.”
Mr. Kats said that he attended a community meeting last week with the residents and informed them that Women’s World would be shutting down mid-July. Mr. Kats said that CHANGES would cease to take reservations [for beds at MSC South, Women’s World] after May 15, 2006. He said that flyers had been placed one week before the meeting.
Committee Member Crum said that Women’s World was closing so that repairs could be made to the showers. Ms. Crum said that women who could not be placed in permanent housing would be moved to 150 Otis.
Committee Chair Valentine asked Committee Member Crum how long the repairs would take.
Committee Member Crum said that she had been out of the office this past week and would have to check with staff.
Committee Member Iranyi asked if the 150 Otis site was closing on June 30, 2006.
Committee Member Crum said that St. Boniface was closing on June 30, 2006.
Committee Member Nakanishi said that the Committee should have been alerted to the closure and to the community meeting at MSD South.
Committee Member Stewardson said she had attended the community meeting.
Committee Member Chionsini asked if the closure of Woman’s World was permanent or temporary.
Committee Member Crum said she could not speak to the temporary closure.
Committee Chair Diana Valentine said that she had spoken to Nathan [at MSD South] and he had said the showers had been repaired.
Committee Member Crum said there would be renovations to the plumbing.
Committee Member Stewardson said that during the community meeting Greg [Greg Kats of HSA] had said the closure was to replace the tile on the floor.
Committee Member Crum said she would report back at the next Committee meeting.
Committee Chair Valentine asked that the report be in writing.
Unidentified member of the public asked where the women would be going after Woman’s World closed.
Committee Member Crum said that an official close date has not been set, but CHANGES would quit taking reservations after May 15, 2006. Ms. Crum said that women would be moved to different shelter locations and any overflow would go to 150 Otis.
Committee Member Stewardson said that women raised similar concerns at the community meeting.
Unidentified member said that notices of the closure and of the meeting had not been posted.
Committee Member Crum and Stewardson replied that there were postings the day of the meeting.
Committee Chair Valentine asked how many notices were posted.
Committee Member Stewardson replied that there were a few.
Committee Chair Valentine asked Ms. Casey to work with shelters to make sure signage about Committee meetings were posted and that the Committee was informed of shelter community meetings.
F. Committee Openings
Committee Chair Valentine said that she would contact Supervisor Mirkarimi about the status of the Board appointees.
Committee Member Chionsini asked what the status of the Local Homelesss Coordinating Board (LHCB) appointees.
Ms. Casey said she would follow up with the LHCB and the Board about the status of the appointees.
Committee Chair Valentine said the LHCB would be meeting next Tuesday from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at 25 Van Ness on the 8th floor. Ms. Valentine said she would be attending the meeting and presenting the Quarterly Report before the LHCB.
No public comment.
V. Old Business
A. Next Door
Committee Chair Valentine asked Ms. Casey to schedule a follow-up meeting with Episcopal Sanctuary Executive Director Ken Reggio regarding concerns about Next Door. Committee Members Iranyi and Crum asked to be included on that meeting.
No public comment.
B. Multi-Service Center South
Committee Chair Valentine asked that Committee Member Crum provide the Committee with an update at the next Committee meeting.
C. Quarterly Report
Ms. Casey apologized for not including the calendar of the upcoming Quarterly Reports and said she would e-mail it after the meeting.
Committee Chair Valentine asked for the draft protocols include clarification of emergency, quarterly, and site visits and reporting forms.
Committee Member Crum asked that the protocols include a standardized policy of monitoring a site visit.
Quorum lost at 12:25 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-realted modification or accomidation, 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.
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 558.1907. 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.
The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager or other similar sound-producing electronic devices.
In order to assist the City’s efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees maybe sensitive to various chemical based scented projects. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals.
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:
Adele Destro, Acting 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 415.554.5784
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.
