HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05251993 - S.2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Jeff Smith Contra
COSta
Sunne Wright McPeak County
DATE: May 25, 1993 `Cou' "y
SUBJECT: Homeless Program Issues
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) 8c BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive report from Supervisors Smith and McPeak regarding visits to the Concord
Homeless Shelter and meetings with some of the residents and approve the
following actions:
a. Receive report from Housing Authority regarding complaints from
some residents presented at a meeting on May 13, 1993.
b. Receive report from Shelter, Inc., regarding the results of a meeting
with residents scheduled for May 20, 1993.
c. Request County Counsel to complete.review of proposed amendments
to operations rules for the homeless shelters as submitted by the
Homeless Advisory Committee and report to the Board of Supervisors
within 60 days.
d. Adopt a resolution in support of the Shelter, Inc., Board of Directors
and Executive Director for their dedicated service to the community
and heartfelt commitment to the homeless.
BACKGROUND:
On May 13, 1993, Supervisors Smith and McPeak met with a group of current and
former residents of the Concord Homeless Shelter to listen to their complaints.
The Housing Authority staff was present and asked to review the complaints.
Also, Shelter, Inc., announced their intent to meet with all residents of the
Concord Homeless Shelter on May 20, 1993, to discuss issues or concerns of all
residents. It is appropriate for the full Board of Supervisors to hear reports of
these meetings.
Further, although there were complaints about the operation of the Concord
Homeless Shelter that appeared to be made in all sincerity, the Board and
Executive Director of Shelter, Inc., are very dedicated public servants to the
homeless, and it is appropriate that the county recognize their efforts.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENTS YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON MaW 25, 1993 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER X
See Addendum attached for speakers and Board Action.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED May 25, 1993
Housing Authority Phll Batchelor, Clerk of the Board of
Contact: Karen Nitchoff SupervisorswWCounty AdminishWr
MVR9/7-a• BY , DEPUTY
ADDENDUM TO S. 2 OF MAY 25, 1993
The following persons appeared and presented their views:
1. Phil Berthenthal, P. O. Box 2289, Richmond, representing the
Contra Costa Legal Services Foundation;
2 . Bruce Oberlander, 2047 "C" Arnold Industrial Way, Concord;
3 . Tom Koch, 2682 Bishop Drive, # 206, San Ramon;
4 . Kathy Renfrow, 1213 Grove Way, Concord;
5. David Kukkola, 2100 Monument Boulevard, Pleasant Hill, for
Shelter Inc.
6. Susan Prather, 525-8286, who requested that the Board develop
standards and practices that services providers who contract with
this county to serve the homeless must live up to, stating that
the homeless are required to follow rules, not only with GA, but
in the shelters, and if they don't follow the rules, they lose
their bed. She suggested that rules need to be adopted to
prevent mis-treatment and violations of civil rights, and that
there is a need for training of shelter staff. She advised that
Phil Berthenthal has offered to do a training on the rights of
the residents and rights of the homeless for shelter staff which
training has never been asked for or implemented. She commented
that the residents that are being served need to be protected.
Richard Martinez, Director of the Housing Authority of Contra
Costa County submitted a written report, attached hereto as
Exhibit A, regarding complaints from some shelter residents
presented at a meeting on May 13 , 1993 .
Merlin Wedepohl, Executive Director of Shelter, Inc. , submitted a
written report dated May 24, 1993 , attached hereto as Exhibit B,
relating to the homeless program issues.
Supervisor Smith moved the recommendations contained in S2 , with
the stipulation that it include the recommendation from Legal
Services with respect to amendments to shelter operation rules;
and that the Board and the Housing Authority commit to an ongoing
monitoring process and ongoing dedication to try to solve this
problem the best way it can with as much input from as many
different aspects of the community as the Board can possibly get.
The motion was seconded and unanimously carried.
Phil Berthanthal requested that a draft of the rules be
circulated a week before the matter appears on the Board's
Agenda.
IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
In the Matter of Honoring )
SHELTER, INC.for Its ) RESOLUTION NO. 93/286
Dedicated Service to the )
Homeless )
WHEREAS, in 1987, community leaders concerned about the growing homeless population in
Contra Costa Countyformed the non profit, community-based organization called Shelter, Inc.;
and
WHEREAS, the members of the Board of Directors of Shelter, Inc., serve as volunteers in
sustaining the organization's efforts to serve the homeless and are sincerely dedicated to
addressing the plight of the homeless; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Mary Lou Laubscher as Chair of the Human Services Advisory Commission
and convener of the first Contra Costa County Homeless Task Force has been in the forefront
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