HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11071989 - 2.2 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: James A, Rydingsword, Director Contra
Costa
DATE : November 21 1989 County
SUBJECT:
REPORT ON SHELTER PROGRAMS FOR THE HOMELESS
SPECIFIC REOUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) Q BACOMPOUN7 AAD JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
This responds to the Board's October 31, 1989, order directing the Social
Service Director to present for Board of Supervisors' action on November 7,
1989, an Armory Shelter Program for non-General Assistance eligibles for
the period from December 1, 1989, to March 31, 1990; recommends adoption of
an Armory Shelter 26227 Program for persons not entitled to County aid; and
recommends additional Board actions on shelter programs for the homeless.
The Social Service Director recommends the following Board actions:
1) Approve and authorize the attached Armory Shelter 26227 Program as a
Program ,as a non-mandatory program under Government Code Section
26227, for persons not entitled to County aid under the Board of
Supervisors ' General Assistance standards.
2) Authorize the Social Service Department Director and the
Director of Emergency Services to negotiate contracts with the
National Guard to use Armory facilities in Richmond and Pittsburg from
December 1, 1989, through March 31, 1990, for joint operation of the
Armory Shelter Program for General Assistance eligibles and the Armory
Shelter 26227 Program for persons not entitled to County aid.
3) Authorize the Social Service Director to negotiate contracts
with Volunteers of America and Shelter, Inc. , to operate the Armory
Shelter Program for General Assistance eligibles and the Armory
Shelter 26227 Program for persons not entitled to County aid at the
Richmond and Pittsburg armories for the period of December 1, 1989,
through March 31, 1990, in the amounts of $160,000 and $155, 000
respectively.
- continued
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT; ,X_ YQS iIONATYR6:
RECOMMENDATION Or COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RQC MEND T N Of A COMM TTQQ
APPROVE -� OTHER
T= �c-
s 19MTURE1 s 1:
ACTION OF BOARD ON November 7, 1989 AP►ROVED AS RECOMMQNOQD X and OTHQR X
Also, amended to add the following:
6) Set a goal of rotating the temporary shelter programs to different
host communities in subsequent years, where such programs may be
needed again, and where appropriate support services can be made
available .
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HERESY CERTIFY THAT THIS 18 A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT 11I ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES. AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHDWN.
cc: County Administrator ATTESTED
County Counsel PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD Of
Social Services Department SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
County Auditor-Controller
CHART (via CAO)
M362i7-83
I r • •
Board Order - November 2, 1989 Page 2
Subject: Report on Shelter Programs for the Homeless
1) Approve appropriation adjustments from various funding
-sources in the amount of $315,000 for the 1989/1990 Armory Shelter
Program for General Assistance eligibles and the Armory Shelter 26227
Program for persons not entitled to County aid as follows:
National Guard Armory Programs:
Richmond and Pittsburg Armories
December 1, 1989 - March 31, 1990
Fundinv 6ources: Dtiartment
General Assistance. . . . . . .$120,600. - Social Service
Minter Relief
(1988-89 balance) . . . . . . 38, 000. - Housing Authority
Community Services. . . . . . . 11,400. - Community Services
FEMA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50, 000.
Developer contribution. . . 45, 000. - County Administrator
Housing Bond Trust Fund. ., so.-OD-9 , - Community Development
. Total. . . . . . . . . 315,000.
5) Direct the County Administrator to develop and seek funding for the
establishment of a homeless shelter sited on county-owned property at
845 and 847 Brookside Drive, Richmond, to be opened by April 1, 1990,
as designated in the Board's October 3, 1989, order on Homeless
Shelter Site Selection, at an estimated cost of $568, 000.
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ARMORY SHELTER 26227 PROGRAM
WINTER, 1989-1990
UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 26227
FOR PERSONS NOT ENTITLED TO COUNTY AID
ARMORY SHELTER 26227 PROGRAM
WINTER 1989-90
UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 26227
FOR PERSONS NOT ENTITLED TO COUNTY AID
SUMMARY
The 1989-90 Armory Shelter 26227 Program is designed to provide
housing for homeless adults who are not General Assistance
eligibles, who meet program requirements, at the National Guard
Armories in Pittsburg and Richmond. The program will provide
night shelter, 3 meals, a daytime program, and supportive
services designed to assist the homeless person in becoming
employed, self-sufficient, or in receiving needed treatment. A
screening process will require identification, and compliance
with minimum program standards, and shelter entitlement will be
for specific, limited terms. The County will contract with two
private non-profit agencies to provide shelter management and
operation.
It is recommended that Contra Costa County undertake to house
homeless single non-General Assistance eligible adults in
National Guard Armories during the Winter of 1989-1990, within
the following program parameters:
ESTIMATED COSTS
The estimated cost of operating the Armory Shelter 26227 Program
during the Winter of 1989-1990 is $194,400. Breakdown. of costs
is as follows:
Basic Shelter for persons not entitled to County Aid. . .$184 , 400.
Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10. 000,
Total. . . $194, 400._
ARMORY SHELTER 26227 PROGRAM BASIC OPERATIONS
1) Open Armories 12/1/89: Richmond
Pittsburg
2) Negotiate with California National Guard for:
a) Assured continuous use from 12/1/89 to 3/31/90.
b) Favorable terms for "Drill Nights" .
c) Storage of shelter equipment inside Armory buildings.
3) Negotiate contracts with private, non-profit agencies to
administer the. 1989-1990 Winter Shelter 26227 Program in
conjunction with the Armory Shelter Program for General
Assistance eligibles:
a) One joint program contract per Armory shelter.
ARMORY SHELTER 26227 PROGRAM Page 2'
b) Two separate sources of funds are proposed:
1) Social Service Department funds will provide
$12/day/person and transportation costs for home-
less General Assistance and Immediate Need
Eligibles (Welfare and Institutions Code Section
17000) under the Armory Shelter Program for
General Assistance eligibles.
2) Funding to provide $12/day/person and transporta-
tion costs for homeless persons not entitled to
County Aid (Government Code Section 26227) will be
provided from:
Balance of 1988-89
Winter Relief Fund. . . . . . . . . . . .$ 38,000.
Community Services EPT Fund. . . . . 11,000.
FEMAFunds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50, 000.
Developer Contribution. . . . . . . . . . 45, 000.
Housing Bond Trust Fund. . . . . . . . . 50, 000.
Total. . . . . . . . $194 ,400.
4) Both Volunteers of American (VOA) and SHELTER, Inc. , have
expressed interest in running the 1989-1990 Armory Shelter
Programs.
5) Shelter contractors will:
a) Operate the dormitory program at the Armory at night.
b) Provide daytime support services at an off-site
location.
c) Provide three (3) meals per day. Dinner and breakfast
at the Armory and lunch at the off-site service center.
In the event that residents cannot be present for lunch
(e.g. , appointments for job interviews or medical
appointments) , bag lunches will be provided.
d) Provide bed, blankets, linens, toiletries, for each
resident.
e) Provide storage for property at the owner's risk.
6) Shelter Contractors will provide supportive services,
including the following:
a) Intake and Assessment
b) Case Management
c) Housing search assistance
d) Referrals to drug, alcohol treatment as appropriate
ARMORY SHELTER 26227 PROGRAM Page 3
e) Referrals to employment services
f) Coordination with other agencies offering services to
'the Homeless.
g) Information & Referrals to other services, medical and
financial resource
h) Grievance conciliation and Discharge Planning.
SCREENING PROCESS:
Because this is a Winter program, admission of drop-ins is
anticipated. Drop-ins will be screened through the intake
process. While still admitting drop-ins, the 1989-1990 Armory
Program will differ from the previous Winter program in that
stays will be limited to specific terms, it will be more
structured, and more conditions will be placed upon residents.
Residents will have to identify themselves, and will be required
to participate in housekeeping chores and intake procedures. In
addition, residents will be required to negotiate a case plan and
follow through with personal efforts aimed at ending homelessness
and achieving a self-sufficient lifestyle.
Persons who choose not to meet the conditions of continued
residence at the shelter will not be authorized extended shelter,
will be given notice to vacate, and will be offered discharge
planning services.
A three-stage program is planned:
1) IntAke (Up to 5 days)
Adults without children will be accepted at the shelter
initially with or without ID, but they must:
Within 2 days:
Provide acceptable ID documents. (Program Director
may extend this time limit an additional 3 days if
appropriate. )
Within 3 days:
a) Have a Life History interview and assessment by
the Case Manager in the Daytime Program;
b) Receive and participate in chore assignments.
within 5 s:
a) Be screened by Social Service for eligibility to
welfare programs;
b) Negotiate and commit to a shelter services
contract.
ARMORY SHELTER 26227 PROGRAM Page 4
2) Shelter Contract (up to 30 days)
Applicants for shelter services who are not General
Assistance and Immediate Need Eligibles will be offered
limited-term shelter provided that they comply with
intake requirements. An agreement for shelter services
will be signed by the applicant within five (5) days of
admission.
Limited-term shelter will be limited to 30 days in
addition to the 5 intake days. An extension of up to
10 additional days may be granted when extenuating
circumstances exist.
Extensions may be granted upon the recommendation of
Project Director and approval by the Social Service
Department.
3) Case Planning Requirements
Residents must agree to develop and follow a case plan
as a condition for continued residence. The case plan
will be individualized and will have as its objective
obtaining housing, and restoring the person to self-
sufficiency, either through employment or through
qualifying for disability programs. In implementing
this case plan, shelter staff will offer support
services similar to those available in rehabilitative
shelters such as VOA's Lifeline Shelter Program in
Richmond. Failure to follow the case plan will result
in termination from the shelter on 3 days notice for
failure to comply. Persons being terminated for
failure to comply will be offered discharge planning
services by the Case Manager.
4) Failure to cooperate
Persons who do not cooperate with the conditions for
continued residence will be authorized to stay for the
balance of their program stage or a period not to
exceed 3 days, whichever is less. The Case Manager
will offer to assist them in discharge planning,
including arranging transportation.
SECURITY
The Armory building will be supervised by both a Shelter Security
person and a National Guardsman. The off-site daytime service
center will maintain staff to supervise the facility, its staff
and clients.
During the registration process, on the first night of
admittance, the enrollee will be presented with a written list of
rules and expectations of the shelter. These rules will be
ARMORY SHELTER 26227 PROGRAM Page 5
explained and discussed by shelter staff and the client will sign
acknowledging his/her understanding and acceptance of these
rules. Rules will cover not only conduct within the shelter, but
within the neighborhood as well. Residents of the shelter who
panhandle, steal, or commit other misconduct will be subject to
immediate expulsion or termination upon 3 days notice, depending
upon severity of the misconduct.
Shelter residents may enter the Armory Shelter only between the
hours of 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Once admitted to the Armory, a
resident may not leave and then come back in again, unless
specifically authorized to do so by shelter staff (e.g. , for job
schedule or medical treatment) . Residents must vacate the Armory
by 7:30 a.m. each morning. During the daytime, residents will be
assigned to report to the Service Center or to pursue their case
assignments. It is anticipated that since lunch will be served
at the Service Center, residents will tend to gather there rather
than loiter throughout the neighborhood.
Persons who, in the opinion of shelter staff, are inebriated or
under the influence of drugs to the point of being disruptive or
being a danger to themselves or others will be subject to
immediate termination. The Shelter Supervisor will take
appropriate action: Call police, transport the person to
Detoxification Centers, etc.
In instances where residents attack staff, each other, carry
weapons, commit theft or other crimes on the premises, etc. , the
police will be called and residency will be terminated
immediately, without right of readmission.
RE-ADMISSION
Fifteen (15) days after termination, persons will be eligible for
re-admission provided that they have acceptable identification
and are not excepted from re-admission (e.g. , those previously
expelled for violent behavior are excepted from re-admission) .
APPEALS UPON TERMINATION
Termination upon expiration of a program stage is not subject to
appeal.
Termination upon 3 days notice may be appealed within 2 days to
the Shelter Supervisor who will offer to meet with the person
affected prior to termination.
Immediate termination is immediately effective, but may be
appealed within 3 days to the Shelter Supervisor who will offer
to meet with the person affected within 2 days of the appeal and
may grant reinstatement.
ARMORY SHELTER 26227 PROGRAM Page 6
END OF PROGRAM
The Armory Shelter 26227 Program will close March 31, 1990.
Notice of _ closing will be given to all persons residing in the
Shelter on March 1, 1990. After March 14, 1990, the Shelter will
stop admitting new residents with the exception of GA and
Immediate Need Eligibles.
STAFF TRAINING
The Shelter staff, both paid employees and volunteers, will
undergo a program of orientation and training before assuming
duties at the Shelter. Selection of staff and the content of
staff training must be approved by the County.
NEIGHBORHOOD INVOLVEMENT
Before opening the Armory Shelters, representatives from the
County will meet with neighborhood groups, representatives from
Cities, local law enforcement, and other interested groups to
explain plans and receive input. After the shelters open,
monthly meetings will be scheduled to discuss how to resolve
problems of ongoing operations.
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CIVICCIsTF-Pt.P.O.BOX 1318•PITTSBURG,CALIFORNIA 81867
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
November 7, 1989
The Honorable Tom Torlakson
and Board of Supervisors
County of Contra Costa
300 East Leland Road, Suite 100
Pittsburg, California 94565
At the Monday, November 6th Council meeting, James Rydingsword of the County
Social Service Department, stated that the county planned on using the
Pittsburg and Richmond armories as homeless shelters from December to March 31,
1990.
Prior to this decision, the Pittsburg armory was to be used only as a backup
shelter.
The Pittsburg City Council has serious concerns regarding the use of the
Pittsburg armory as a primary shelter.
In answer to a specific question, the Council was told that the Concord armory
would not be used as a shelter again because "support" services were not
available. Since Pittsburg has such support services, i.e., Loaves and Fishes,
etc., the homeless would be better accommodated.
In other words, because other cities have not assumed the responsibility for
such services to aid the needy, the City of Pittsburg will be rewarded by
assuming the burden of these cities. It seems rather strange that there are no
other assigned homeless shelters in all of Contra Costa besides Pittsburg and
Richmond. Surely central county has homeless. Surely those people are
entitled to be sheltered somewhere close to their location.
It appears the Concord armory is not to be opened because of the opposition of
people who in April of this year made known their displeasure and desire to see
the site closed.
From December of 1988 to April 1989, the Concord police conducted 200 formal
criminal investigations and made 175 arrests. These investigations related
directly to the shelter users.
The most frequently occuring violations or complaints were in the following
categories (only 5 of 12 categories listed.)
GATEWAY TO THE DELTA
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inpervoor Tom Torlakson
November 7, 1989
age Two
1. Indecent exposures - especially around schools.
2. Annoying school children - frequenting elementary school bathrooms, using
them as sleeping. areas .and washrooms.
3. Loitering in libraries and other public buildings.
4. Setting up camps on public property around the shelter for residency
during non-shelter hours.
S. Setting up camps on private property; i.e., next to private homes or in
their backyards.
We are led to believe that about 75 people daily will be at the shelter then go
to Loaves and Fishes, then across town to St. Vincent De Paul, the facilities
being at opposite ends of our city, with no transportation or other problems.
If the shelter is to be operated at the Pittsburg armory, the City Council
feels strongly that:
1. The Pittsburg Police Department must be contacted by the Social Service
Department prior to opening of the shelter to assist in proper screening
and security functions.
2. The City of Pittsburg be reimbursed for all police costs associated with
the shelter program.
The Council has instructed the city attorney to investigate legal avenues of
preventing the armory shelter program in Pittsburg if the above requests are
not honored.
Very truly yours,
iln"Cny 7LP1A'tzV
NLP/SAD/dk
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