HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/04/1988, 5 - CONSIDERATION OF CITY PARTICIPATION IN A HOMELESS SHELTER PROGRAM LOCATED ON COUNTY-OWNED PROPERTY AT SOUTH HIGUERA STREET AND PRADO ROAD USING MODULAR STRUCTURES. III 'h/ f - METING DATE:
'130111111111110 ��� C� o san lues osispo October 4 1988
ITEM
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT "u
FROM
Toby Ross, Assistant City Administrative Officer
SUBJECT
Consideration of City participation in a homeless shelter program located
on county-owned property at South Higuera Street and Prado Road using
modular structures.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Direct staff to work with the County to prepare a program for a homeless
shelter on the County's Prado Road site to be presented first to the
County Board of Supervisor's and then to the City Council.
BACKGROUND
On September 20, 1988 during consideration of the drop-off point for
clients of the Army's bus program, representatives from the Salvation Arm
advised the Council they would terminate their program effective October
31, 1988 if a more suitable site was not found.
On September 23, 1988, Mayor Dunin and Councilmember Settle requested that
the Council consider participation with the County in a shelter program
that would place modulars on county-owned property at the corner of South
Higuera and Prado Road.
The City Council had previously authorized $31,800 to provide homeless
services through December 1988. The Council additionally has approved
funding a comprehensive shelter program beginning in December 1989 in the
amount of $22,500.
The Council postponed a decision on a site for a shelter program pending
an application for a shelter being filed with the city by the Salvation
Army and the Coalition for the Homeless. At the same time, the city urge
the County to be the lead agency for a long-term shelter program.
ANALYSIS
COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY AT SOUTH HIGUERA AND PRADO ROAD
The County of San Luis Obispo has offered this 2. 5 acre parcel as a
temporary homeless shelter location. This property is zoned C-S-S
(Service Commercial with Special Consideration) and is sheduled for a new
Department of Social Services building in approximately two years. It is
extremely close to basic and special services such as the Department of
Social Services, Employment Development Department and the Department of
Motor Vehicles. The site is close enough for people who work in San Luis
Obispo and is located on public transportation routes.
The cost of acquisition/lease is minimal because the property belongs to
the County and will consider a minimal cost lease arrangement.
This site is located across the street from Rancho San Luis, a mobile hom
park whose residents are mostly retired people. They have informed the
Coalition, County and the City they are opposed to the site primarily for
���n���►►u�IIIIINIII�' l��lU city of San tins OBISpo
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
safety reasons. The Margarita Villa Homeowners Association has also
submitted a correspondence in opposition to the Prado 'Road site. There are
three additional mobile home parks located nearby and although opposition
from these residents has not surfaced, it is reasonable to beleve -it will.
The site, which requires a temporary use permit may be approved by the
City's Community Development Director. The Director's decision could be
appealed and the matter may come before the City Council for final
approval.
The Coalition for the Homeless has analyzed this site and identified it as
their preference for a shelter program.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
1. The Council has asked the County to be the lead agency for a long-tern
shelter program.
The current proposal has been prepared with the assistance of the
county staff, however, the Board of Supervisor's has not considered nor
approved the specific proposal.
2. The Council also agreed that future requests for emergency shelter
funding assistance should come through the city's grants-in-aid process a
do other non-profits seeking awards from the city.
No additional funding is being requested at this time. Money
authorized for a long-term shelter program could be committed following
Council review of the program. Additional funding requests of the city
are likely.
3. The Council has asked that the HRC review proposals on the homeless
issue.
Due to the short time available, the current situation has not been
reviewed by the HRC.
ALTERNATIVES
1. The Council may agree to participate with the county on a program to
acquire modulars and place them on the Prado Road site for a homeless
shelter.
2. The Council may postpone any decision until the County, Coalition for
the Homeless and shelter providers propose a shelter program.
FISCAL IMPACTS
It is difficult to determine exact costs associated with purchasing the
modulars, start-up funds and operational expenses. The County previously
identified several expenditures in order to establish a shelter program o
the county-owned site and they are:
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►�n�►��►�Iilllpplll�lll city of San lues OBISpo
8j;% COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
1. Lease/Purchase of modulars $ 40,000
5 modulars at $8,000 per unit
2. Site preparation, mitigations and landscapings $ 50,000
3. Architectural fees $ 21000
4. Operational costs for one year $290,000
382, 000
More com'lete estimates are expected from the County prior to the October
4th meeting.
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT TAKING THE RECOMMENDED ACTION
The Salvation Army is scheduled to cease operation of the bus program
October 31. Without policy support for the improvements in the facilitie
_it's unlikely the program would be extended. _Mayor Duninand Council+ ember
Settie-=nt�nd to meet with the Salvation ArmtQ reagf.—t_tbat tbM P-- �� tbe tus --
urc=am bWond October 31
RECOMMENDATION
Direct staff to work with the County to prepare a program for a homeless
shelter on the County's Prado Road site to be presented first to the Board
of Supervisor's and then to the City Council
Attachment: Update on Homeless Programs
SH/pradoroad
.S-3
County of San Luis Obispo
4=:
COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER SAN LUIS OHUPO,CALIFORNIA 93408 • (805)549-5011
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OFFICE OF THE
TIM NESS, ACTING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR COUNTYADMINMIUTOR
FROM: DAVE ION '1��
DATE: SEPTEMBER 21, 1988
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON HOMELESS PROGRAMS
To say the least, the attempted development of a permanent homeless shelter
program in San Luis Obispo has been dynamic. Prospects for alternative sites
and facilities, service providers, community support, opposition, funding
requests, and media attention seem to change by the minute. The issue has been
in the news recently, and as several milestone events converge, next week looks
to be especially noteworthy. The purpose of this memo is to provide you with a
brief background, a summary of recent events, a forecast of things to come, and
a request for ideas or additional direction. I hope the information contained
herein will also assist you in handling any related inquiries.
Background
The issue of homelessness represents a vacuum in public policy at both the
state and federal levels. Legislative mandates and associated funding are
markedly absent at both levels. Virtually everything the county does in the
area of social services is mandated by the state, and .principally funded by the
state. The Board of Supervisors has exhibited a. commitment to human welfare by
carrying out its mandated responsibilities and providing substantial
over-matches in the areas of health and social services. However, there is a
well expressed reluctance to step in and completely "take up the slack" for the
state while simultaneously trying to show the need for legislated mandates and
funding. Legislation and associated funding do not flow into areas that appear
to be adequately covered by other local means.
In the absence of definitive, mandated responsibilities in the area of homeless
programs, the county has not become a direct service provider. It has taken
its lead from the most successful programs throughout the state, which involve
public-private partnerships in addressing the issues. The previously stated
Board philosophy includes:
- In. the absence of specifically mandated responsibilities, the problems
of homelessness belong to everyone in the community, and all segments
should participate in the development of solutions.
- Support for the activities of the San Luis Obispo Coalition on the
Homeless by recognizing the member organizations' expertise in
providing services to the county's homeless populations, considering
their recommendations for Board action, and providing active
participation and staff support to Coalition activities. 1,6- Z/
I
- Support for the concept of public-private partnerships in addressing
homeless issues by funding its fair share an!d providing staff support
to homeless programs within the county
The Board's actions, as well as county staff activities, have all been
consistent- with this philosophy. In addition to! funding, the county has
provided considerable staff support to the Coalition and service providers, and
a site for the Salvation Army operation. County owned land at Prado Rd. and
So. Higuera was also made available as a prospective site for a temporary,
consolidated shelter facility.
At the 1988-89 budget hearings, the Board appropriated $75,000 for homeless
programs, for the first half of the fiscal year. A full-year budget request
could not be developed prior to the hearings because of the many unresolved
variables associated with the establishment of a permanent shelter facility.
The appropriation provided the county's share of funding for both the People's
Shelter and the Salvation Army programs from July to December. As you'll
recall , the People's Shelter works with employable men, women with children,
families, and mentally ill clients with non-disruptive behavior. The program
operates in space provided by local churches on a month-to-month basis. The
Salvation Army provides overnight shelter to the more seriously mentally ill ,
substance abusers, and others who would disrupt the People's Shelter program.
This program replaced Brad Goans' Zedakah House bys operation, temporarily
transporting clients to two mobile home units on county property out on Kansas
Ave. until a more suitable site could be developed. I'it was a condition of the
agreement with the Army that the Kansas Ave. site be temporary, because their
mission is not to merely warehouse people. On-going 'case management is where
real assistance is given; connecting clients with the agencies and services
specifically designed for their needs.
For most of this year, the Coalition has been working to develop a consolidated
shelter, combining both programs at a separated, single site. The most
cost-effective and flexible alternative would be the use of movable modular
units on city or county owned property. Using realistic projections of
available funding from all sources, the Coalition wasipursuing selection as a
demonstration project for a concept developed by the Environmental Design
Foundation (EDF), which would have included approximately $150,000 worth of
donated equipment and a free relocation of the facility. While this plan was
being developed, the People's Shelter continued to operate in church facilities
and the Salvation Army out on Kansas Ave. Morale of Salvation Army workers
declined as time went on, given the conditions under which they worked and the
duration of the temporary arrangement. Not only do they serve a difficult
clientele, but the shelter facility only consists of the two trailers, portable
toilets, a picnic table, a campfire ring, and a hose. In addition, the
operation of the program was overwhelming the small local chapter of the Army
in competition for staff time and other administrative resources. To their
credit, however, the shelter staff did begin to perform active case management
with a number of their clients.
Summary of Recent Events
In July, the Coalition received notification from EDF that it had not been
selected for the demonstration project. This was especially disappointing,
since all previous communication with them had been encouraging. Loss of the
project was another major setback in the Coalition's three-year effort to
secure and develop a site. It was decided to continue operating the two
shelter programs separately while a new plan was developed.
At the time that the Coalition's proposal was submitted to EDF, it was
important to the foundation that the owner/operator of the shelter be an agency
with longevity and a proven track record. When the project was lost, it was no
longer imperative that the Salvation Army be our primary operator. In light of
the overwhelming demand on local Army resources, and expressed concerns about
overhead charged by their headquarters, Captain Dan Hughes requested that the
shelter program be transferred to another local agency, such as the Economic
Opportunity Commission (EOC). The transfer would have little operational
impact, since the same shelter staff and facilities would be used. In August,
the EOC board narrowly voted to take over the program, but with the condition
that a site more suitable than Kansas Ave. be secured prior to the transfer.
This development, once again, prompted an all-out search for a replacement
site. That's when staff looked at the old barracks building behind El Chorro
Park. It appeared to suit the program needs, the structure was sound, and it
Is obviously a long way from anyone's backyard or neighbof•hood. However, the
County Office of Schools has expressed several concerns regarding the
building's proximity to the area in which it operates the Rancho E1 Chorro
Environmental Education Campus Program. At a time when county staff is
actively negotiating with County Schools for water to support the Jail
expansion, the homeless shelter could be an exacerbating issue.
Meanwhile, the People's Shelter has located a site, available for lease, which
would meet its needs. The site is a house located on Johnson Ave., next to the
Telegram-Tribune. The use permit comes before the city's Planning Commission
next Wednesday, September 28th. As of this writing, it does not appear that .
the staff report will recommend the permit, and the "word on the street" is
that neighborhood opposition is substantial .
If all that weren't enough, the Salvation Army announced yesterday that' it will
discontinue operation of the Kansas Ave. shelter, effective November Ist. With
no progress toward a suitable facility, they find it impossible to keep staff
and operate a safe shelter at that site. The Army plans to continue case
management for its clientele during the day, and is currently looking for
office space in the city.
Forecast of Things to Come
Needless to say, the levels of discouragement and "burn-out" among the members
of the Coalition for the Homeless are currently very high. Opposition to their
efforts, in the form of an endless parade of seemingly legitimate issues
regarding any particular site or program, has produced the pervasive conclusion
that they are trying to provide -a service in a community that doesn'•t want. it
provided. Nationwide attention to homeless issues, and local attempts to
educate and dispel the common stereotypes and generalizations, have not been
successful.
I mentioned at the beginning of this memo that next week will be eventful. In
addition to the Planning Commission's consideration of the People's Shelter
permit, which promises to garner considerable media attention, the Coalition
meets Monday to discuss all of the recent developments. At this point, closure
of the Kansas Ave. site appears certain. If People ; Zhelter is unsuccessful
in securing a use permit for their lease site, and if offerings of space in
churches are not forthcoming, that program could also be in jeopardy. If the
Coalition decides they are at the end of the line until they receive the
support of the community, and winter approaches without at least an overnight
shelter, I would predict that. focus will come back to government to do
something.
I will keep you apprised of further developments, and would appreciate any
Ideas or specific direction. Staff will continue to operate under the
philosophy I described above, supporting the efforts of the Coalition. Please
contact me if you Crave any questions or need any additional information.
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Facilities Cost and Financing Summar p-7-Ross
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Shelter Capacity: 32
ITEM Unit Cost Quantity Extension
Dormitory Module $ 172500 2 $ 35,000
- 12' X 60' Single Wide
- Capacity: 16 People
Plumbing Module $ 27,500 1 $ 27,500
- 12' X 30'
Lobby Module $ 13,500 1 $ 139500
- 12' X 40'
Kitchen/Dining Module $ 25,000 1 $ 25,000
- 12' X 40'
Office Module $ 172500 1 $ 179500
- 12' X 30'
Stair Unit $ 300 6 $ 19800
Indoor Furniture $ 225 / 32 $ 7,200
person
Outdoor Furniture $ 25 / 32 $ 800
person
Total Equipment Costs: $128,300
Site Preparation Costs: $ 50,000
- Utilities, Paving, Fencing, Landscaping
Total Facilities Costs: $178,300
Estimate of Lease-Purchase Financing:
--------------------------------------------
Interest Rate: 8.25 % RECEIVED
Annual Payment on 5-year Agreement: $ 41,530 OCT, 3 )98b
CITYCLAnnual Payment on 7-year Agreement: $ 31,900 LUISoe�
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