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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12201994 - 2.5 2.5 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on December 20, 1994 , by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Smith, Bishop, DeSaulnier, Torlakson and Powers NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: Report on Homeless Shelter Rules The Board had before it a report from the Health Services Director in response to Board direction of November 8, 1994, commenting on the rules for admission and residence at the homeless shelters. Susan Prather, Homeless Advocate, no address listed, and Bruce Oberlander, P. O Box 31, Concord, appeared and spoke on the issue. IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the attached report of the Health Services Director is ACCEPTED. I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and ontored on the minutes of the Board of superyjsors one date shown. ATTESTED: Q"" ° ' a?0, /9 9/— PHIL BATCHELOR,Clerk of the Board Of Supervisors and County Administrator Deputy cc: County Administrator Health Services Director 1 C Contra Costa County The Board of Supervisors HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR Tom Powers, 1st District Mark Finucane, Director Jeff Smith,2nd District Gayle Bishop,3rd District 20 Allen Street Sunne Wright McPeak,4th District sE LMartinez,California 94553-3191 Tom Torlakson,5th District �!_=` " •o (510)370-5003 County Administrator -- FAX(510)370-5098 Phil Batchelor 'A" aiM s County Administrator ,, d `�o December 19, 1994 srA,coiinr� TO: The oard f pervisors FROM: Ma i uca` Health Services Director SUBJECT: REPORT ON HOMELESS SHELTER RULES Staff from the Health Services Department have been meeting with representatives from Shelter Inc. and the Homeless Advisory Committee on the issue of the emergency shelter program and the emergency shelter rules. In addition, staff have visited the shelter sites, interviewed case managers, Shelter Inc. staff, and Homeless Advocates, and have reviewed Shelter rules drafts prepared by County Counsel and Legal Services. We have also begun consulting with Homeless Program Managers and Advocates throughout the Bay Area. The issue of the Shelter rules is complicated and is related to the implementation of the Shelter Program and consolidation of the Case Management Programs. Final resolution on a new set of rules will have to await completion of that process, including unification of the Case Management System. However, there are two rule changes that we have discussed with Shelter Inc. and will be implementing immediately: 1. Participants that are disqualified from Shelter participation because of an infraction of the rules shall normally be discharged during the morning part of the day. If the infraction occurs during the afternoon or the evening, the participants will be discharged from the Shelter normally not sooner than the following morning. Exceptions are when the participant's behavior continues to disrupt the Shelter or poses a threat to the safety of residents or staff. Participant discharges during the afternoon or evening hours shall be reported to the Shelter Director the following morning who will evaluate the appropriateness of the immediate discharge. 2 . The draft disqualification and appeal policy from 12/91 (attached) is formally adopted, pending a complete Merrithew Memorial Hospital&Clinics Public Health • Mental Health • Substance Abuse Environmental Health Contra Costa Health Plan Emergency Medical Services • Home Health Agency Geriatrics A-345 (2/93) redrafting of the shelter rules. This appeal process allows the participant to remain in the shelter pending appeal, in all but the most severe infractions. Applications for reinstatement after indefinite disqualification will be heard by the Homeless Program Manager of the Health Services Department, or her or his designee. These changes are consistent with recommendations from the Homeless Advisory Committee and respond to some of the major immediate concerns that have been raised about the functioning of the rules. A complete clarification and redrafting of the rules will be done in the process of evaluating and consolidating the Homeless Shelter Program.