April 21, 2010
DRAFT MINUTES
SHELTER MONITORING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
10:00 AM
City Hall, Room 408
San Francisco, CA94102
Members present:
Chair Aram Hauslaib
ViceChair Ramses Teon-Nichols
SecretaryElihu Hernandez
Committee MemberAnthony Beliso
Committee MemberLJ Cirilo
Committee MemberDiana Greer
CommitteeMember David Nakanishi
CommitteeMember Maxine Pauson
Committee Member Cindy Ward
Committee Member Robert Weber
Members absent:
CommitteeMember Mary Howe
The meeting was called to order at10:22 AM by Chair Aram Hauslaib.
I. Minutes
Action: Approved February17 Meeting minutes as submitted.
m/s/c (Ward/Hernandez/Unanimous)
No public comment
II. Reports
A. Department ofPublic Health (DPH)
Committee Member Nakanishi referred theCommittee and the public to the Department of Public Health’s web sitefor budget information, as well as noting that the May HealthCommission Meetings will be devoted to the budget. Meetings areheld at 101 Grove, Room 300, at 4:00 p.m., on the first andthird Tuesday, May 4 and 18, 2010.,
B. Shelter Status Report Human ServiceAgency (HSA) Report
Committee Member Cindy Ward reported that somefunding will be getting cut from the Housing and Homeless division’s budget. Shewas not clear exactly how much or what will be impacted. She referredthe Committee and the public to the Human Service AgenciesCommission, which will be meeting on Thursday, April 22, 9:30am, at theBorn auditorium, 170 Otis. She also reported that the Board ofSupervisors will be finalizing the HSA budget on June 21 and 28.
Committee MemberWard reviewed the shelter vacancy report, the shelter turn away report,indicating that there are 133 families on the wait list, with thepriority list around 25-30 families. Turn-aways were at alow of only 2.
Committee Member Ward reported that HSA is hoping to announce soon the new site forCompass Family shelter. She reported that the new site should bringCompass’s capacity back to what they were prior to the move, around 22families.
ShelterAdvocates Report
Committee Member LJ Cirilo reviewed the handout listing the denial of serviceand hearing report for January and February. There were no questions from the committee.
No public comment
III. Public Comment
Charles Pittsnoted that Mary Howe, one of the new Committee Memberswas not present at her first meeting, and commented that thismade a bad impression.
Mr.Pitts further expressed his view that the Committee should beaddressing more shelter policy and procedures, and presenting ideas onhow to make the shelters better.
Mr. Pitts expressed his feelings that the Shelter MonitoringCommittee is “not being adequate”.
A female memberof the public, who did not identify herself, complained thatno one is helping folks with mental health issues at Sanctuary. Shewent on to complain that her bunk-mate was keepingbleach or some other pungent/toxic substance in her locked storagelocker that was causing her eye and respiratory irritation.
Afemale member of the public, who did not identify herself, concerned about propernotification at the Committee meetings, andalleged that staff take down Committee flyers on aregular basis.
IV. New Business
A. Sit and LieLegislation
The Committee reviewed the draft Sit andLie legislation. Chair Hauslaib, with the Committee’s agreement, willask staff to work with the SMC officers to write two letters related tothe Sit and Lie Legislation. One to the City Attorney’s office, and to SFPD (Chief GeorgeGascón ) inquiring about the expected enforcementof the Sit and Lie legislation, specifically related to homelessindividuals and those who maybe waiting to access a shelter orresource/CHANGES station. A second letter will be written to the Mayorand the Board of Supervisors providing information about theissues of access to shelters, and concerns related to the newlegislation and homeless shelter users who maybe adverselyaffected.
Committee Member Diana Greerraised the possibility of having a work group related to the Sit and LieLegislation. Following the discussion, the Committee agreed toproceed with the above actions, and any Committee Member may provideinformation and recommendations to the officers to be considered for theletters.
Public Comment
Marlin Hernandez stated that theordinance was okay, but the real need was to have more placesfor people who are homeless to go.
CharlesPitts asked when the SMC will be working on policy and procedures.
V. Old Business
A. Standard ofCare Legislation
Chair Hauslaib reviewed the draftStandard of Care legislation page by page, with recommendations toaccept, strike or alter each proposed change.
CommitteeMember David Nakanishi and Committee Member Cindy Ward asked to beexcused from voting on the Standard of Care legislation.
Action: ApprovedCommittee Member Nakanishi and Ward
m/s/c (Hernandez/Pauson/Unanimous)
No public comment
Action: Approved Standard of Care legislation draft
m/s (Greer and Cirllo)
For: Greer, Weber, Cirilo
Against: Beliso, Pauson, Hernandez,Hauslaib, Teon-Nichols
Excused: Ward, Nakanishi
Motion Failed
Public Comment
Ali Schlageter, staff with the Local HomelessCoordinating Board (LHCB) commented that the LHCB has facilitated anumber of community/open forums to review and comment on the draftlanguage and forwarded their recommendations to the SMC, which didapprove of the removal of page 5, lines 16-17, that states “however,maximize the space for sleeping in shelters to the fullest extentpossible.”
Marlin Herrera wanted language changedregarding 24 hour access to shelters.
A female memberof the public commented that people are not being treated withrespect and dignity, that this is still an ongoing problem that needsto be addressed in shelters.
A female member of the public concerned thatpage 2, line 11-13, “ensure that shelters with shelter reservation desksshall make reservations for on-site beds if requested by a shelterclient.” Would allow those on site to gain access and have others be“locked out”.
Lena Paula from MSC Southexpressed concern related to page 2, lines 5-7 that begins with “casemanagement services means those services offered to shelter clients…”will put undue strain on case management services that are already donot have enough capacity to serve everyone that needs case management.
CharlesPitts felt the “process is in bad faith”, thatthere has not been enough public input. He expressed the foundation ofthe legislation is flawed, that there needs to be a differentenforcement agency, not DPH.
Wayne Garret, MSC South operations manager, expressedconcern that if MSC South makes it’s own reservations, thatthere will be an increase in lines and will effect people by morewaiting in line, not able to get their meal.
Action: Approved Standard of Care legislation draft with theexception of the additional language on page 5, lines 16-17 which state“however, maximize the space for sleeping in the shelters to the fullextent possible.
m/s (Teon-Nichols and Hernandez)
For: Beliso, Pauson, Hernandez, Hauslaib,Teon-Nichols
Against: Greer, Weber, Cirilo
Excused: Ward, Nakanishi
Motion Failed
Public Comment
CharlesPitts stated that the process is bad, the people are notbeing heard.
Marlin Herrera said there was aproblem with the language on page 2, lines10-16, feels the language is too restrictive, wants shelters to offer 90day stays.
VI. InformationRequests
A. Information Requests
CommitteeMember Robert Weber asked that a request be submitted to HSA,asking for the closureplan for 150 Otis, where the loss of the sleeping unitswill absorbed in the system and is the closure in compliancewith the Western Regional Advocacy Projects law suite against the City& County of San Francisco, which requires the City& County of San Francsico to maintain thesame number of shelter beds?
Secretary Hernandez asked that a request be submitted toHSA asking for the current fiscal year the following information: 1) total number of tokens requested, broken down by shelter/site; 2) total number oftokens provided by site; 3) total number of tokens provided at ProjectHomeless Connect, and 4) the annual budget for tokes, FY09-10.
Public Comment
Charles Pitts asked about pastinformation requests and if the Committee tracked and knew what pastinformation was asked for and gathered.
MarlinHerrera stated that it’s a big mistake to close 150 Otis.
B. Announcements
Secretary Hernandez announced that thequarterly report will be available and reviewed at the next Committee meeting on May19th.
Chair Aram Hauslaib announced thatin the past quarter, Committee site visitsincreased by 62%, for a total of 28 visits.
CommitteeMember Nakanishi acknowledged the work of Jill Jarvie Farquhar, RN,MSN, Tom Waddell Homeless Family Team Coordinator, and the Shelter HealthProgram Coordinator for all her work through the years forimproving the health and welfare of individuals and families in theshelter system.
Jill expressed thanks and said how much shewill miss the work and everyone.
Adjournment 12:09 pm
Toobtain copies of the agenda, minutes, or any explanatory documents,please contact Bernice Casey at 415.255.3653 or Bernice.casey@sfdph.org 72 hours beforethe 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 twobusiness days before the meeting.
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