San Francisco Youth Commission
Housing, Environment, & City Services
Minutes
Thursday, April 9, 2015
5:00-7:00 PM
City Hall, Room 345
1. Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl.
San Francisco, CA 94102

There will be public comment on each item.

Members: Rosa Chen, Anna Bernick, Noah David, Lily Marshall-Fricker, Precious Listana, E’mani Davis

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

Chair Chen called the meeting to order at 5:04 pm. Commissioners present: Rosa Chen, Noah David, Anna Bernick, E’mani Davis. Absent: Precious Listana, Lily Marshall-Fricker. Staff present: Monica Guzman, Allen Lu. There was quorum.

Commissioner Listana arrived at 6:07 pm.

There was no public comment.

2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)

Commissioner David, seconded by Commissioner Davis, moved to approve the agenda. There was no public comment. The motion was approved by acclamation.

3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)

A. March 19, 2015
(Document A)

Commissioner Davis, seconded by Commissioner Bernick, moved to approve the minutes from the last meeting. There was no public comment. The motion was approved by acclamation.

4. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda (Discussion Only)

There was no public comment.

5. Legislation Referred from the Board of Supervisors (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)

There was none.

6. Presentations (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)

There was none.

7. Business (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)

A. TAY Housing Goal Updates

Joining the HECS committee for this discussion were Anne Romero, Senior Project Manager for the Mayor’s Office of Housing, Glenn Eagleson, Senior Youth Services Analyst for the Department of Children Youth and Families and Steven Shum, Senior Program Manager, for the Source of Housing Solutions.

Anne Romero began by giving some background information. The MOH wants to provide permanent affordable housing for all, specifically for TAY youth. They have been working on TAY housing the past 7 years with a TAY task force. They already have transitional housing through Larkin, but are hoping for more permanent solution. DCYF, MOH, Public Health and Human Services Agency all formed a work group to try to address this issue of how to create more TAY housing. So they decided to create 400 units. They are about half way complete with this goal. Currently they are embarking on TAY assessment so that they can see what is working the best.

Steven Shum then explained that his organization is a national non-profit, based in NY. Tackle policy systems change work. They do training and education and consultation. They do lending and re-granting. They have a technical assistance contract with the city. They work on focus groups. They had an initial meeting in December with key stakeholders. They met with citywide TAY advisory board, TAY Ed and youth commission in January to see what they were hoping to achieve.

One of the questions they want to answer is, how well does the existing system of TAY housing serve young people currently and what can be done to refine the existing system to help the system meet the needs of young people better?

They have talked about refining their work including administering a survey to young people who have moved into transitional housing and supportive housing in the city of San Francisco. Right now they’re in a process of training a group of youth advocates to participate in facilitation of these focus groups for young people living in transitional housing. They will help with evaluation of research they gather through these intakes and referrals. There will be training tomorrow for TAYSF.

Glenn Eagleson works with DCYF and with TAYSF. TAYSF did a 16 month long assessment where they worked with young people to see what the city should focus on. From that assessment they came up with three main goals.

1. continue pipeline for TAY housing
2. how do you assess what’s currently going on in the housing
3. continue to work with the city to diversify range of housing that’s available

Different young people need different types of services, from studios for a single youth to bigger housing for TAY youth with children. Some young people need more wrap around services.

Anne Romero continued by updating the HECS committee on two recently completed projects that YC should look into. The first is Edward the 2nd, a 24 unit TAY housing, MOH and Larkin St are working together on. It’s 100% for TAY households. There is hardly any affordable housing in that area, so to have it targeted for TAY is great.

1100 Ocean, is another unit. It is a 70 unit new construction family project. 25 units are targeted to parenting TAY. This is a mixed population model where TAY units are embedded in a wider housing site.

Part of this assessment is to see how it is working. One thing they’re looking at is how to create effective services and programs to help TAY reach educational and professional goals so they have the ability to move to other housing. The concern is that a TAY could stay until they’re into adulthood and not open it up for other youth who need it.

Commissioner Chen asks, what’s a better idea? To have a whole unit to be TAY housing or to have a mix? It reminds me of articles I’ve read where some people don’t like the idea of sharing it with other tenants. How do the TAY feel? Anne Romero responded that this is part of the assessment. Are they comfortable and are their needs being met? Are there conflicts? These are questions that they want the assessment to answer.

Commissioner Chen suggested that a good assessment would be how much they’ve grown or what they’ve learned. So maybe ask TAY how much has this housing unit helped you and how much have you grown, such as if they have a job or educational gains. It would give you an idea of how well it is helping.

Steven Shum stated that they’re going to look at transitional and supportive housing, both integrated and single units. They’re going to ask how much are the services helping your needs? They’re not going to be evaluating programs with the survey or performance of young people in the programs but to get a clearer understanding of how well the system is currently helping young people.

Steven Shum also said that if the YC knows people who are involved in TAY housing or if they want to help outreach then his organization is happy to have YC support.

Commissioner Davis asked if anyone has discussed at what age or at what circumstance will a person no longer be able to stay in TAY housing? Anne Romero answered that for their permanent supportive housing, when the resident becomes a tenant they have tenant rights. These are units for homeless TAY. There is generally no time limit. Their hope is that with the services provided and with expectations set TAY will become financially stable to move out on their own. The assessment will look at what are the exits and is this happening. The reality is that SF is so expensive that even middle income people can’t afford housing. So if that’s the case what would be exits for the TAY.

There is another model, the Booker T Washington Center. They’ve had a goal since 2006 to rebuild the community center and make it affordable housing. They’ve unfortunately had multiple lawsuits because the neighbors didn’t like it. They’ve recently received housing approvals. Goals are to start construction in June/July. This will be 50 units of affordable housing right next door to a community center. There will be 24 TAY units, all studios. The idea here is that if they’re there for 2 years, they can later start paying the regular affordable rent. This is exciting but we don’t know how it’s going to work out. They’re going to see how to structure it to see how it’ll work. The site is on Presidio by Geary.

Glenn Eagleson stated that one of the challenges is to build this kind of housing or get the financing in place in other neighborhoods. This specific place has taken 8/10+ years just to get done.

Commissioner Bernick asked if nothing goes wrong with the housing project, when would it open? Anne Romero replied that they think it would be open in June 2017. Commissioner Bernick then asked so when would people get in? Anne Romero responded that marketing the units usually starts 6 months beforehand. So in the end of 2016 the marketing process will start. The TAY units are typically referred to the Human Service Agency or the THP+ former foster youth participating in this program. The other units will have a lottery.

Pat Scott ED of the community center has an idea she proposes. She wants to make sure there is a good cultural fit so that the people who get into housing would need to agree that they would provide mentorship for TAY. So the idea is that people in the low income studios would volunteer and mentor the TAY in the other housing. The question is if you can put that into fair housing application.

Steven Shum said that the Bill Wilson Center, Peacock Commons, in the South Bay does something similar. TAY live in some units and on-site mentors live in the others. They have the marketing requirements that the on-site mentors have some kind of youth development training. Anne Romero then stated that it would be interesting to see if it works. Steven Shum responded that he would want to know how mentoring happens and if it is effective.

Glenn Eagleson mentioned that there is really good movie called “Homestretch” about homeless youth in Chicago. It’s going to be on PBS. Looks at 3 young people and how they’re able to stay in school and the struggles they go through.

Commissioner Davis asked, you listed a couple of units that are being built. Are those included in your current number? Anne Romero responded that they are. She also added that the MOH wants to continue issuing NOFAs, they currently have a 20% set aside for homeless units, hopefully future ones will have a set asides for homeless TAY.

Steven Shum is hoping to wrap up assessment in the May/June period. Focus groups and survey work should be done by mid-May. Preliminary assessments should be done shortly after and they hope to present afterward come July/August. It would be great to have the youth commission come out for this.

Staff Allen asked, in regard to the mayor and supervisors supporting to push this out. I was wondering if there is anything our elected officials can do to make sure that this goal is met sooner rather than later?

Anne Romero stated that she thinks one of the reasons for identifying a specific goal of 400 units was that although they knew it wasn’t sufficient to meet the need they were trying to pick a number that was actually achievable. Every unit takes $200,000 of subsidy to fund. Then the recession hit and it totally affected MOH’s budget. Then there are law suits on some projects. Production isn’t as fast as they would like. There is a TAY housing plan to create more units though.

Steven Shum added that there is going to be a housing bond this Fall and it will help people with affordable housing in SF. So the assessment will be one initial step and then there should be more political will. Maybe have agencies better collaborate or more political focus. It takes more than just dollar resources.

Commissioner Chen wanted to make a comment regarding the housing unit with mentorship. She thinks it’s a good idea to do it but not sure how good it is if it’s a requirement. It should be provided and if people want to do it they should but requiring it might be too much to ask from people, specifically those who are living in affordable housing. At the same time, it is a good opportunity if there is an incentive for them to mentor them. It would be great to form a bond between TAY housing and single family housing Commissioner Bernick agrees with Commissioner Chen. Commissioner Davis added that maybe having optional workshops beforehand or having a monthly stipend for participating in the program could be incentive enough to still create the bond. Commissioner Chen stated that some ideas are to pay for a meal or for an amusement park visit or something of the sort. Besides that, workshops would be good and what’s expected of a mentor being very specific about that.

Staff Allen Lu wanted to know what we could do to build political will. Anne Romero added that they are limited by resources and that here are a lot of target populations.

Staff Allen Lu wondered what’s the best way to know when TAY housing has been approved or a unit has just been built. Anne Romero answered that her office and the YC could be in better contact.

There is an event that’s going to celebrate the Booker T Washington groundbreaking. They are planning a party on a Saturday on the end of June 12-4 pm. They want to celebrate since it’s the last time they’ll be using the building. It would be cool to go and support since they’re going to demolish the building in July. The TAYsf newsletter will have highlights of these opportunities. 1100 Ocean is leasing up right now, grand opening will be had late summer.


Commissioner Davis stated that since we know there are more homeless TAY than the units being built, I know that this has been a harder process, but what do you think we can do in the future? How many more beds or units could be provided in the future? Anne Romero stated that unfortunately they don’t know yet. MOH big priority is to rebuild public housing. TAY housing assessment is a priority and once findings come out, the goal could be extended or a new goal could be done. Once the findings come out they can say this is great and this is why there is more of a need. They need to ensure that the current units are effective.

Steven Shum added that the biannual homeless count is conducted in January, so data will come out later on this year. The TAY specific homeless count will come out and then they can advocate around that. It will give a greater sense of the need.


B. Year of Homeless Youth Debrief

Everyone felt that the Recognizing Year of Homeless Youth resolution first reading went well.

Commissioner Chen said that it was nice that Larkin made it and gave a comment on why it’s important. More of them will be there next time.

Commissioner Davis stated that she thought the meeting with Larkin went well and the reading went well.

Commissioner Listana thought the meeting went well and wants to talk to her supervisors once it is passed in full YC.


C. Park Equity Analysis Debrief

They are currently working on rough draft of park equity. Commissioner Listana stated that they need more statistics but liked what was written. Commissioner Davis thinks it sounds clear. We need this because we need to compare the different parks. Commissioner Chen stated that they did some edits and took out some clauses. She is slightly changing tone but they are still working on it.

8. Executive Committee Report

9. Staff Report

Today was Vision Zero walk to work day.

Monday, April 6, 2015 the Youth Commission made a motion to support the OCOF and request 4 youth seats instead of the proposed 1 seat. The OCOF legislation passed in the Rules committee and 3 youth seats were given.

Saturday April 11th there will be there an art booth hosted by 13 Black Poppies as part of the where do you belong art project. Employment Immigration Committee helped design the questions for the art booth. Youth Commission members should come out and support.

Thursday April 16, 2015 there will be a hearing on the Herz Playground Shooting at the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee which starts at 2 pm. If any commissioners are able to make it for public comment it would be great.

Peer Resources has asked that the Youth Commission brainstorm a few questions for their upcoming Youth Voice survey.

Request for support for AB 35

10. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6:33 pm.