May 19, 2010
MINUTES
SHELTER MONITORING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
10:00 AM
City Hall, Room 408
San Francisco, CA 94102
Members present:
Chair Aram Hauslaib
Vice Chair Ramses Teon-Nichols
Secretary Elihu Hernandez
Committee Member Anthony Beliso
Committee Member LJ Cirilo
Committee Member Diana Greer
Committee Member Mary Howe
Committee Member Matt Luton
Committee Member David Nakanishi
Committee Member Maxine Pauson
Committee Member Cindy Ward
Committee Member Robert Weber
The meeting was called to order at 10:22 AM by Chair Aram Hauslaib.
I. New Member Introduction
Mayoral appointee Matt Luton discussed his background and work with Housing Equality Law Project as the Director of Legal Services. Board of Supervisors’ appointee Robert Weber discussed his work as a community activist and his work with the Coalition on Homelessness as a writer for the Street Sheet. Board of Supervisors’ appointee Mary Howe discussed her work as Executive Director with the Homeless Youth Alliance.
II. Minutes
Action: Approved April 21, 2010 Meeting minutes as submitted.
m/s/c (Hernandez/Cirilo/Unanimous)
No public comment.
III. Reports
A. Department of Public Health (DPH)
Committee Member David Nakanishi provided an overview on the budget for DPH, including State of California possible cuts. He referred the Committee and the public to the DPH website for additional information. He stated that DPH would conduct all SMC investigations within 30 days of receipt, as proposed in the draft Standard of Care legislation. Committee Member Nakanishi referred the public and the Committee to Maren Shipe, DPH Public Service Aide, regarding updates on the Standard of Care training implementation.
Committee Member Mary Howe asked for specifics on SOC training provided by DPH.
Committee Member Nakanishi said that he would get back to the Committee on the specific items covered within the training.
B. Shelter Status Report
Human Service Agency (HSA) Report
Committee Member Cindy Ward provided an update on the budget for HSA, including an overview of the state and federal cuts and revenue possibilities.
Committee Member Ward said that Bethel Family Shelter closed at the end of March and that Providence shelter opened up for families [the shelter also serves single adults]. She said that the Human Services Commission would be reviewing the contract for the Compass Family Shelter to move to a new site at its July 2010 meeting.
Single Adult Shelters Programs Manager Briana Moore reported that there had been intensive training for Episcopal Community Services to work on the vacancy reports. Ms. Moore said that 150 Otis and Storage would be closing in July. She said that as of May 28, 2010, the storage component would no longer take items from clients. She said that the storage component would re-open in July at 350 Jones Street. She said that shelter would close on June 27, 2010 and would work with clients with reservations to find another shelter.
Committee Member Greer asked when 150 Otis would re-open.
Ms. Moore said that 150 Otis would not re-open as a shelter, but would serve as supportive housing for veterans after it was renovated.
Committee Member Nakanishi said that vacancies reported for Providence did not seem reflective of what he had encountered when doing site visits.
Ms. Moore said she was working with Providence staff.
Shelter Advocates
L.J. Cirilo and Elihu Hernandez reviewed their Shelter Advocates Report and discussed their outreach efforts at shelters to educate clients of their rights [for denial of service hearings, etc.].
Public Comment
Willie said that sometimes where there is a DOS at a shelter it can become a hot situation and sometimes people are DOS’d without an explanation.
C. Standard of Care
Committee staff Bernice Casey reviewed the Standard of Care report.
No public comment.
IV. Public Comment
LeShawn Jones said that he has lost weight by being in the shelter system and is trying to gain weight back, but was told by MSC South staff that he cannot bring protein powder into the shelter.
Tomas Picarillo said he liked the Committee discussion and that it showed a lot of enthusiasm. He said that the shelter advocates should not rely on the shelters to educate clients and should do more outreach. He said that the SOC legislation will not be enforced with DPH has the enforcing agency.
Willie described how he developed an abscess based on the unclean conditions at the Sanctuary shelter.
Charles Pitts said that there was an enforcement issue and that the Committee should issue an emergency report. He said that the shelters were not following their contracts.
V. New Business
A. Public Meeting
The Committee decided to have a public meeting on August 18, 2010, which would allow members of the public to come forward and talk about their concerns in the shelter system. The Committee suggested public venues such as Koret Auditorium and the Mission Neighborhood Resource Center as a public meeting location. The Committee directed staff to come up with some suggestions by the June 2010 meeting.
Public Comment
Charles Pitts said a public meeting would be reinventing the wheel.
B. Quarterly Report
The Committee reviewed the quarterly report covering the second quarter of 2009-2010, January through March, and made suggested edits or additions.
Committee Member Howe asked if future reports could focus on specific populations in the shelter system, for example youth.
Action: Approved Amended Quarterly Report
m/s/c (Cirilo/Howe/Unanimous)
VI. Old Business
A. Standard of Care Legislation
Action: Approved excusing Committee Member Ward and Committee Member Nakanishi from voting on the Standard of Care legislation.
m/s/c (Teon-Nichols/Cirilo/Unanimous)
No public comment
The Committee reviewed the Standard of Care legislation.
Action: Approved recommendations on the draft SOC legislaiton
m/s/c (Cirilo/Pauson/Unanimous)
Public Comment
Jenny Friendenbach with the Coalition on Homelessness gave an overview of the legislation to the Committee.
Tomas Picarillo said that if there was not an adequate agency to enforce the SOC the legislation has false hopes. He suggested that the City Attorney’s Office or the Controller’s Office be the enforcing agency instead of DPH.
Charles Pitts said that the SOC was not going to be enforced no matter what the document says because no one is enforcing it.
VII. Information Requests
A. Staff Report
Ms. Casey reviewed the staff report and stressed the need to adhere to the methodology when conducting site inspections.
B. Information Requests
The Committee submitted Information Requests to staff regarding tokens.
C. Announcements
Adjournment
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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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
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Shelter Monitoring Committee
17MAY10
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