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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 03311987 - 2.1 2. 1 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on March 31 , 1987 , by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Schroder, Torlakson, McPeak NOES: None ABSENT: Supervisor Powers ABSTAIN: Supervisor Fanden -------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- SUBJECT: Shelter Supplement Program The Board considered the report (dated March 26 , 1987) from Robert E. Jornlin, Director, Social Service Department, transmitting a proposed resolution establishing a shelter supplement program. Mr. Jornlin also proposed the establishment of a "Shelter Liaison Worker" position to be assigned at the Richmond Rescue Mission with the primary responsibility of screening and directing individuals to appropriate agencies. Elizabeth Arnold, Contra Costa Legal Services Foundation, P . 0. Box 2289 , Richmond 94802, spoke in support of the Shelter Liaison Worker position at the Richmond Mission, but expressed opposition to the resolution that would implement a shelter supplement program. Bruce Peaslee, President, Social Services Union, SEIU, Local 535 , requested the Board to defer establishing the Shelter Liaison Worker position pending completion of the meet and confer process with representatives of Local 535 . Other persons speaking on the homeless issue were: Dorothy Struckberg, 5020 Clinton Avenue, Richmond; Susan Prather, representing the Wild Women of West County, P. 0. Box 236 , Crockett; Jean Siri, Wild Women of West County, 1015 Leneve Place, E1 Cerrito; Carolyn Gould, Ask for Us, 1097 Alberdan Circle, Pinole; Art Schroeder, Gray Panthers, 706 Seaview Drive, E1 Cerrito. Supervisor Fanden advised that she had reservations in taking action on this matter today and therefore would be abstaining from voting. IT IS ORDERED BY THE BOARD that the report of the Social Service Director is ACCEPTED and that the proposed resolution (No. 87/189) is ADOPTED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Finance Committee is REQUESTED .to review the issue of fiscal requirements for an emergency shelter program. 4- IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the County Administrator is REQUESTED to meet with appropriate employee organizations on the proposed Shelter Liaison Worker position. 0 hereby certify that this is a true and to mctco.py of an action taken and entered on the rnlnute; cc: Finance Committee Board of supervisors on the date chovin. Legal Services County Administrator ATTESTeB: �� /. 1,'917 Personnel Director PHIL BATCHELOR, Clerk of £iii Board Director, Social Service Dept. of Supervisors and County Administrator County Counsel BYr SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT` CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MEMO TO: Board of Supervisors DATE: March 26, 1987 FROM: Ro a E. Jornlin, Director CC: P. Batchelor SUBJECT: Shelter Residents ----------------------------------------------------------------------- It has been the policy 'of the Social Service Department in adminis- trating the County' s General Assistance program, to treat shelter residents as ineligible for General Assistance on the ground that they are receiving support. The County' s obligations under Welfare and Institutions Code Section 17000 extend to persons: " . . .not supported or relieved by their relatives or friends, by their own means, or by state hospitals or, other state or private institutions. " The Contra Costa Legal Services Foundation has objected to the Depart- ment's policy on the ground that while the shelters provide food and housing, they do not adequately provide for the personal needs of their residents. Part of the difficulty we have encountered during the past year, with regard to handling people in shelter facilities, has been due to a lack of information, as well as misinformation. We believe that the assign- ment of a "Shelter Liaison Worker" by this Department will clarify some questions and provide us with data needed to assess the problem, as well as enable us to assist the people more effectively. We propose to assign a "Shelter Liaison Worker" for a specified period of time to function in the following manner: 1) Locate at the Richmond Rescue Mission in the mornings. 2) Act as a Screener: a) Screen for Public Assistance linkage/potential eligibility, and refer to Social Service District office. b) Expedite General Assistance for those residents whose time at the Mission has expired. c) Identify persons inappropriate for referral to Social Service, and refer to appropriate place: SSA, VA, Mental Health, etc. Many people need Gen 9c (New 3/86) ✓yam-�� -�'xe:_..•C� .��•UL=� .%' �.,,,C. L� r,a,F, Memo: Board of Supervisors March 26, 1987 Subj : Shelter Residents Page 2 assistance with SSI, SSA, or VA problems (e.g. , missing checks) . d) Screen for County/State of residence; refer to Social Service for "Return to Residence" , as appropriate. 3) Collect data regarding shelter residents: a) Number of people screened. b) Number of people referred to Social Service, and for what. c) Number of people referred elsewhere. d) Number of people at the shelter who are not residents of Contra Costa. We propose that one Eligibility Work Specialist be assigned to this function for a three-month period. At the end of this period, the continuing need for this assignment will be re-evaluated. Because the residents of shelters are being supported and relieved by those institutions, it is inappropriate to include them within the County' s General Assistance program. Insofar as the adequacy of the support provided by shelters has been challenged by the Contra Costa Legal Services Foundation, the Department recommends that the County adopt a non-general assistance program under Government Code Section 26227 to provide assistance for the personal needs of shelter residents. Persons who do not receive the benefit of shelter facilities will be able to apply for General Assistance and receive those benefits, if qualified. The Richmond Rescue Mission has indicated its willingness to contract with the County to provide personal need items including all those listed on the County' s personal needs budget study, as well as clothing, laundry, telephone, and transportation services, to its shelter residents, as needed. Accordingly, we recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt the attached Resolution providing a county program under Government Code Section 26277 to provide for a personal needs shelter supplement program to be operated at the discretion of the Social Service Director to provide for the personal needs of shelter residents either by the means of contracts with shelters or by direct grants, and to provide that shelter residents qualified for the shelter supplement program are not eligible for General Assistance. REJ:sjb 2. lb THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on March 31, 1987 , by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Schroder, Torlakson, McPeak NOES: None ABSENT: Supervisor Powers ABSTAIN: Supervisor Fanden SUBJECT: Shelter Supplement ) Resolution No. 87/189 Program ) Upon the recommendation of the County Administrator and Social Service Director, the Board adopts the following shelter supplement program as a County program pursuant to Government Code Section 26227. 1. The Social Service Director or his designee may, at his discretion, authorize the purchasing agent to contract with persons or agencies which provide shelter facilities in Contra Costa County, to supplement the basic needs of shelter residents. 2 . The Social Service Director or his designee may, at his discretion, provide funds to the extent necessary to persons who reside in shelters, to supplement their basic needs. 3. Persons who reside in shelters and who qualify for shelter supplement program benefits are not eligible for general assistance under Resolution No. 86/574, which is hereby amended accordingly. 4 . The Social Service Director is authorized to adopt procedures and policies for the operation of the shelter supplement program. 1 hereby certify that this is a true and c,crmnt cap!.of an action taken and entered on the minut" of iiia Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: /1X7 PHIL BATCHELOR, Clerk of the Board of Supervisovs and County Administrator Deputy Orig. Dept.: CC: Director, Social Service Dept . Auditor-Controller . County Administrator County Counsel Legal Services Foundation