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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09142004 - SD3 TO:. BOARD of SUPERVISORS , ...._.------ Q� Contra A' y yyt FROM: William Walker, MD Health Services Director Costa DATE: September 14, 2004 SUBJECT: Recommendation for Ori-going Homeless County Services L)•3 SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: CONSIDER approving the recommendation of the Health Services Director to transfer the operations of the Concord Single Adult Shelter and the Concord Family Shelter to the Bay Area Rescue Mission (BARM) and the operations of the Martinez Family Shelter to Shelter, Inc., contingent on the BARM agreeing to operating conditions required by the federal Community Development Block Grant funding in the shelter. FISCAL IMPACT: The approval of these recommendations would facilitate the shift from County general funds to other non-County sources to support the on-going operations of two family shelters and one single adult shelter. Anticipated cost savings of approximately $300,000 for the 2004/05 fiscal year and approximately $1.2 million annually thereafter, BACKGROUND: The Board of Supervisors held budget hearings on June 14, 15, and 16, 2004. On June 24, 2004 the Board of Supervisors adopted the FY 2004-05 Recommended Budget. The adopted budget included the reduction of County services provided at the Adult and Family Shelters and instructed the Health Services Department to work with community organizations in an effort to continue non-County funded services. To assist in this endeavor, the adopted budget included County funding for the shelters through September 30, 2004. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: <,-YES SIGNATURE: -------------------------—--------------------------------_-w------------------------------------------------ RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S). 4( _._..__w�..._,.._....___...___.._.„o„E._____ J- ----„__-_--__---_--------------_-----_---_---_---_._-.__--___-_____.„.____-..__--------__-----_---- ACTION OF BOAR[}ON APPROVE AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN UNANIMOUS(ABSENT S e ) - AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE AYES: _NOES: SHOWN, ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTEDc _ : CONTACT: Lavonna Martin 5.5140SWEETEN,CLERK OF THE BOH RD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CC: Health Services Administration Health Services—Contracts and Grants Health Services—Homeless Program County Administrator .......... .............. ('D Page 2 On August 17, 2004 at a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors, the Health Services Department provided an update on their efforts to transition homeless services to non- County funded organizations. The Board directed the Homeless Program Director to return to the Board with a recommendation regarding the provision of services for the Single Adult and Family Shelters in Concord and the Family Shelter in Martinez. The Health Services Director is recommending the transfer of the operations of both family shelters and one single adult shelter to two community-based organizations. If the Board approves this recommendation, the Health Services Director will work with County Counsel to prepare subleases and any other appropriate documents for the transfer of the operations, and will bring such documents to the Board for its review and consideration. If the recommendation presented is not approved, the Health Services Director requests the Board of Supervisors to consider the following alternatives: 1) Allow the County Homeless Program to transfer operations of both family shelters to Shelter, Inc. AND, 2) Allow the County Homeless Program to continue to operate the Concord single adult facility at a reduced capacity (30 beds) at an additional County cost of $150,000 per year. OR, 3) Close shelter programs for families and/or single adults, ADDENDUM SD.3 of September 14,2004 Supervisor DeSaulnier brought the Board up to date on the progress in regard to the continued functioning of the Concord and Martinez family shelters, and the Concord single adult shelter. He proposed that the County allow the County Homeless Program to transfer operations of both family shelters to Shelter Inc., and allow the County Homeless program to continue to operate the Concord single adult facility in a reduced capacity of 30 beds (from 75), through.June of this fiscal year, at an additional cost of$150,000. The Supervisor pledged $20,000 of District IV funds to assist in this effort. He noted that fundraising efforts for the family shelter in Martinez and prospectively for the Concord shelter were going well,while certainly.not by lack of effort, there is not yet a successful transfer negotiated for the single adult shelter in Concord. He also stated the importance of not competing for fundraising dollars from these assisting the family shelters, and stated that the focus of effort should rely more on public sector partners, such as the cities that would be most affected. Supervisor DeSaulnier noted that the closing of the shelter would impact not only the County's investment in the building, and the employees there, but would likely impact the General Fund, with increased costs to the Sheriff s Department, which often refers recently released inmates to the shelter, and the County hospital, where the emergency room visits would very likely increase with a higher number of persons without shelter. Supervisor Glover acknowledged the high priority of the matter at hand, and observed that the necessary funds were most likely not available in the General Fund, that there would be a high probability the impact would be felt in a reduction of services in other areas. Dr. Brunner,Public Health Director and Cynthia Belon, Homeless Program Director, confirmed that while in principle, a contract with a faith-based organization that does not pose a liability issue with the guidelines of the Community Development Block Grant(CDBG)in regard to the separation of religious activities from government funded programs is passible, such an agreement has not yet been reached with the Bay Arca Rescue Mission to transition the shelter, while in terms of budgeting funds, there is no more time. Dr. Brunner further noted that the relationship with the Federal agencies that provide funding for homeless programs goes beyond that of CDBG funding, and the importance of maintaining the County's good standing in that regard. Dr.Brunner confirmed that a successful agreement had been obtained on a previous occasion with the Greater Richmond Interfaith Project to operate a shelter in Richmond, with a clear understanding of the separation of the shelter activities and services with those of the religious groups. Kara Douglas,who oversees the CDBG program noted that the Concord facility was originally a four unit warehouse building, three of the units now being used for shelter activities and the fourth as storage for the General Services Department. The Bay Area Rescue Mission had expressed interest in using the Sutie D as a chapel space. There is concern in whether it is in the County's interest to sublet the space and relocate General Services, and whether it would be appropriate and truly separate to have religious services on the premises. The Chair invited the public to comment. The following persons presented testimony: Deena Harvey, 4462 Clayton Road, Concord; Jahn Anderson, Bay Area Rescue Mission, 2114 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond; Sharon Bernhus, Shelter Task Force, 1391 Shell Avenue, Martinez; ................................I........... S`D_3 7 --/ q Tom Conrad, Community Task Force to Save the Family Shelters, 32 Big Oak Court,Walnut Creek; Virginia Luchetti, Phoenix Programs, 1875 Willow Pass Road, Concord; Minerva Blaine, 305 Lennon Lane,Walnut Creek; Janet Bruce, Homeless Continuum of Care Advisory Board, 2608 Tulare Avenue; Liz Callahan, Contractor's Alliance, 2977,Ygnacio Valley Road#445, Walnut Creek; Rollie Katz, Public Employees' Union, Local One, PO Box 222, Martinez. The Chair returned the matter to the Board for further discussion. Supervisor Gioia observed the need to view homelessness as a long-term issue, and the importance of including the issue of affordable housing as an factor in homelessness. Supervisor Uilkema concurred that affordable housing was an important factor in the homelessness issue and noted a desire that the faith communities and the Central Labor Council be included in the long-term efforts. Having discussed the matter and received testimony from all those desiring to speak,the Board took the following actions: 1. DIRECTED transfer of the operations of the Martinez Family Shelter and the Concord Family Shelter to the Bay Area Rescue Mission; 2. ALLOWED the County Homeless Program to continue to operation of the Concord single adult facility at a reduced capacity of 30 beds, at an additional County cost of$150,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year; 3. DIRECTED the County Administrator to return to the Board with recommendations for funding and identified sources of funding; 4. DIRECTED the Health Services Department to concurrently report back to the Board on a transition plan and a plan to raise the additional $150,000 for full capacity funding for the rest of the year-, 5. and DIRECTED staff to continue to meet with the Bay Area Rescue Mission, Faith Works, the Central Labor Council and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Trustees regarding the Concord facility and other facilities in Central and East County. ...........................