SR-301-004-01 (3)
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FED 1 0 1987
RP:DTA:VR
February 3, 1987
Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: city staff
SUBJECT: Recommendations Related to the possible Use of Public
Facilities Including the civic Auditorium, Miles
Playhouse, and Memorial Park Gymnasium for Short
Term Emergency Homeless Shelter Services
INTRODUCTION
This report provides council with options for consideration
regarding the establishment of emergency shelter services for
homeless people during the winter months. The report recommends
that Council: continue its authorization to the City Manager to
provide short term emergency shelter during periods of extremely
low temperatures on an as-needed basis as described below;
authorize the city Manager to implement a continuous shelter for
up to three months as a substitute to the short term[ as-needed
program as soon as possible; authorize the Manager to select and
contract with a local service provider, if available, to operate
the continuous shelter for no more than three months; and approve
the expenditure of up to $30[000 for these programs to be
operated between now and the end of April[ 1987.
BACKGROUND
On January 20, Council directed staff to develop plans for
housing people on a short term basis during the winter months as
has been carried out by the cities of Los Angeles and West
Hollywood. In consultation with local agencies and service
providers [ and the Homeless Working Group[ a number of City owned
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facilities were reviewed for possible use as shelters.
Considerations included proximity to residential areas, late
night uses of City facilities by the public , the existence of
suitable fire exits, and access to other support services.
Discussion also involved the various programmatic approaches
available to the City in addressing emergency shelter for the
cold winter periods. Special attention was given to developing a
program that could be effectively managed and that would be
consistent with the City's commitment to supporting emergency
services which are coordinated with related programs also serving
the homeless population.
Two meetings have been held to date to discuss these issues with
representatives of CLARE, Ocean Park Community Center, Salvation
Army, st. John's Hospital, Venice Family Clinic and st. Joseph's
Center in addition to involvement by members of the city's
Homeless Working Group. Numerous City staff meetings have been
held as well with representatives of the Police Department, City
Manager's Office, Recreation and Parks Department, and Community
and Economic Development Department.
The following outlines the two options evaluated during this
planning process and discusses the feasibility of each:
1. SHORT TERM FACILITY FOR PERIODS OF EXTREMELY LOW TEMPERATURES
A short term facility would provide shelter only during inclement
weather for the evening and nighttime hours. Agencies would be
notified on the afternoon of a given day when the decision was
made to operate the shelter that evening. Clients in contact
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with local agencies and the Police Department would then be
directed to arrive at the shelter at 9:00 pm. The only services
available would be restroom facilities (no showers). Clients
would be screened by private security guards, hired for that
evening, for weapons, drugs and indications of alcohol or drug
abuse.
Available Facilities
After an extensive review of City owned facilities, staff has
identified two which could be utilized for a short term emergency
shelter. One is the East Room of the civic (which is available
on a very sporadic basis between now and the end of April) and
the other is the Miles Playhouse in Lincoln Park for use when the
East Room is not available. Both provide limited restroom
facilities and could sleep a sizeable number of people.
Shelter Operations
Generally these types of short term facilities have utilized
management staff for needed supervision and private security
guards to maintain order. This allows a city to hire staff on
very short notice. A local security agency with experience in
staffing a skid row shelter suggests it is able to provide
officers within three hours notice. (See budget breakdown
attachment #1.)
Threshhold for Opening Short Term Facility
staff is currently working with the Venice Family Clinic and the
County Health Department to identify climate factors which should
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trigger the opening of emergency shelters to protect the health
of the homeless population. (A temperature of 44 degrees or the
presence of rain has tentatively been suggested for initiating
the opening of such a shelter.)
Feasibility of Short Term Facility
While this option provides a quick response to sheltering
individuals during periods of intemperate weather, staff in
consultation with local service providers, identified the
following potential problems:
1. Difficulty in notifying homeless people that the shelter is
open due to the unpredictability of weather conditions.
2. Possibility of individuals congregating at the facility
before the shelter opens and when the weather improves and the
decision has been made to close it.
3. Conflict with local residents and groups who utilize public
facilities frequently and often until very late hours (11:00 pm
in many cases) .
4. Because of the lack of any agency referral system on such a
short as-needed basis, inability to screen clients for violent
behavior, drug or alcohol abuse, contagious diseases, and
anti-social behavior.
5. Because of lack of showers and client screening, the
difficulty of maintaining minimum health standards to prevent
the spread of disease.
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6. Difficulty in acquiring staff with adequate training on very
short term notice for a very short duration
2. THREE MONTH SHELTER DURING WINTER MONTHS
In discussions with local professional service providers, an
alternative approach developed for winter emergency shelter.
This approach, similar to that utilized by the City of Los
Angeles, involves utilizing a city facility for a three month
period, during the cold winter months, and structuring a program
to allow for more controls of the client population, client
screening, and the availability of related services. The
approach also ties into the service network in Santa Monica which
provides access for homeless people to income assistance, medical
services, mental health screening, and job opportunities.
Available Facilities
A shelter could be set up in the Memorial Park Gym, five or seven
nights a week, from lO:30pm - 7:30am. (These hours would
minimize conflict with evening and morning uses of the gym by
members of the general public and allow adequate time for cleanup
of the facility.)
Shelter operations
Shelter clients would be admitted only with referral vouchers
from local agencies who would screen adult men and women for
admission. (This arrangement has been used successfully at
Turning Point Shelter to prevent potential clients from gathering
at the facility seeking admission.) Shelter clients would enter
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the building from the Olympic side only, while gym users exit
from the north (parking lot) entrance. The size of the shelter
would be limited to 50 persons.
The Salvation Army would continue to offer its early morning
breakfast program at Memorial Park where the st. John's Outreach
Team visits Monday mornings to provide mental health services.
Both of these services would be accessible to shelter clients.
It is anticipated that the shelter clients would return to local
agencies during the day to continue their work on jOb search
and/or applications for public assistance.
The Health Department would be consulted before opening the
shelter to assure that it is run in a manner which meets basis
health standards.
The shelter would be run by a director who would be expected to
recruit volunteers and donations of supplies from area residents
and businesses. (See budget breakdown attachment #1.)
Feasibility of Three Month Program
While this option is more resource-intensive than the first and
provides for a more structured program, it offers the following
advantages:
1) It encourages homeless people to develop a relationship with
a local service agency as a condition of entry to the shelter
thereby screening and limiting those admitted and increasing the
likelihood that the person will receive needed help.
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2) Because of pre-screening, it avoids the problem of clients
congregating at the facility seeking admission and decreases the
possibility of violence and anti-social behavior.
3) By providing showers, cleanliness can be maintained reducing
the possibility of disease for the individual client and the
shelter as a whole.
4) It provides continuity of staffing and experienced staff able
to handle the particular needs of homeless individuals.
However, the use of Memorial Park, a heavily utilized City park,
will add to the numbers of activities which currently are held
and would require security to prevent conflict betwen those
activities. An active communication network would have to be
developed between park users and the shelter director to avoid
difficulties which could potentially arise.
FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPACT
Funds are available in non-departmental contingency account
#01-700-274-000-785.
RECOMMENDATIONS
It is recommended that Council:
1. continue its authorization to the City Manager to provide
short term emergency shelter during periods of extremely low
temperatures on an as-needed basis as described above.
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2. Authorize the City Manager to implement a continuous shelter
as described above for no more than three months as a substitute
to the one operated on an as-needed basis as soon as possible.
3. Authorize the City Manager to select and contract with a
local servce provider, if available, to operate a continuous
shelter, as described above, for no more than three months.
4. Approve the expenditure of up to $30,000 for these programs
from the non departmental contingency fund #01-700-274-000-785
for these programs to be operated between now and the end of
April, 1987.
Prepared by: Vivian Rothstein
Assistant to the Director
Recreation and Parks
Barbara Stinchfield
Manager, Community and Neighborhood Services
Dept. of Community and Economic Development
Attachment
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BUDGET BREAKDOtvN FOR ElfERGENCY SHELTER PROGR.M-1 OPTIONS
Option I: Short Term Emergency Shelter (45 nights)
Management/Supervision $ 7,500
Unarmed Security Guards
(2 per night, 11 hours/night, at $7.50/hour)
$165 x 45 nights (estimated) 7,425
Custodial service ($20/day) 900
Utilities ($20/night x 45 nights)
Mats 100 @ $4.00
900
400
Consumable Supplies
3,000
$20,125
Option II: Three Month Emergency Shelter (90 nights)
Shelter Director $2,200/month x 3 reonths
Fringe Benefits
6,600
800
Shelter Assistants or Unarmed Security Guard
$7.50/hour x 10 hours/night
utilities $340/month
Custodial $475/month
6,750
1,202
1,425
Mats 40 @ $4.00
200
Consumable Supplies
6,000
22,795
If contracted to service provider,
administrative overhead at 20% of total
budget
5,699
$28,493
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Mr. Dennis Zane Councilmember
Santa Monica City Council
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, Calif.-90401
Dear Mr. Zane:
1142-18th Street
Santa MOnica, Ca1if.-90403
Phone , 453-3916
February 16, 19R7
It was extremely ~ratifyin~ to me, when you spoke up
at the City Council meeting on februarv 18th, and asked fo~ a copy
of my speech on participating housing bonds, a8 . funding source
for puhlic housing.
Along with this letter you will find a copy of the
speech; together with ~his you will f1nd an additioncl letter covering
my own thoughts on what 1 feel is a starting point towards the homeless
situation, this touches on the basic need of cleanliness and self
respect.
I have taken the liberty of sending a.~opy of this
correspondence to each person on the Council Agenda of February 10,
1987.
Mr. Zane I would be very pleased to talk to you in
person, on either of these subject mattera, Bond issues for funding
of public housing, and the homeless sbelter tacility.
Kindly let me hear from you if yeu feel 1 can be of
assistance in any way, I remain,
HOot Slncorly ~
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L--/ '~LD R. CRAWFORD I :
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AN INTEl.LIGEN! COMPROMISE TO MORE ABUNDANT HOUSING
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My name 1s Harold R. Crawford. 1 live at 1142-]8th street in
Santa Monica. Calif.- 90403, my phone ~ 18 453-3916.
I have been associated in a managerial capacity with the Tour
Inn Motel @ 1719 Wilshire Blvd. from November 1979 thru February
6th 1987, when the old motel closed down under the Ellis B111
which became law on July 1. 1986.
During the past few years I prepared & proce..ed 2 applications
before the Santa Monica Rent Control Board in the years 1983 &
1984, with negligible results, & after thinking this situation
over during a hospital convalescence i~ 1984. following major
surgery on a prostatectomy, 1 put myself in the position of the
Rent Board & came to the realization that Mr. Yarmark t"he property
owner & myself made 2 seperate appea~ance. before the Board in an
empty handed & self serving manner. we wanted aomethi~- donet we
all '11
Continueing in this line of thought . 1 a.arched ~ mind for the
answers , to a very perplexing problem ~ came to 80me very realistic
thoughts- what could we do or offer to do that would be of mutual
benefit to everyone concerned. 1 arrived at what 1 would conaider
a workable & viable plan it 11 .a follows.
Demolition permits have been tied to . lS~ low income houling as
a portion of a replacement structure on the property in question.
That sounds like a fair ratio, however 80me replacement structures
possibly might not be appropriate for bou.inS purposes on a commercial
piece of property.
As an alternate to the 15~ ratio in low income housing, it is my
suggestion that a new program be initiated to aell Partielpating
Housing Bonds in an equal amount. to bear 5% interest rate for
10 or 20 year lnaturity dates, so that housing may be constructe~
& controlled on a community basi_ fGr low income tenancy. .
In this manner we can cease the endless bickering & consternation
of Rent Board hearings, & gear all property use changes to .
simplified program along this line.
Property owner arrives at the city office of the Public Housing
Authority requesting that he be allowed to to demolish the existing
structure, or change use. the clerk in charge gets a statement filled
out. giving owner's name, property description & locatloD, typ~ of
change desired, & stated valuation for this change.
Next Page Please
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A suitable appraisal team arrives at a valuation of the property
change, which will be assessed @ 15~ tor the purchase of the
Participating Housing Bonds to be issued by the Public Housing
Authority.
The next step is going into ~scrow company assigned to handle the
arrangement, from then on it is money into escrow, bonda being
issued to the prop~rty owner, along with change permit or demolition
permit as the case may be, to complete the deal.
This reduces the transaction to . strict cash basia to effect the
change, and as most property owners will be making a good profit
above their acquisition cost, they should be very happy to be ~king
a community investment in the City that made this profit possible.
Now the Public Housing Authority can use these funds from the .ale
of the bonds along with Federal matching funds, to build & operate
public housing units for low income tenants.
It is suggested that a tenant occupied structure could go through
a longer escrow if necessary while new units are under construction
to accomodate the displAced tenants.
With a float of housing bond money, the Public Housing Authority
will be able to both purchase land for development~ & in lome eases
buy up proper.ty from apartment house owner. who just aimply want to
retire from businesst
With a public information campaign direct invesement money by publlc
subscription to Participating HOusing Bonds could be made to occur
with local resident., who are otherwise inve.ted in T-Billl, & other
bond issues, . 5~ tax free municiple bond 1- generally equal to 81
or more on taxable iaaues.
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The It Winds of Change are on this Land '1 and it 1s time to get into
some aggressive program to be competitive tn the market pl~ce tor
public funds ~ developmentS
February 10, 1987
Reapectivly Submitted
q'/~~e-f'~fr/
HAROLD R. CRAWFORD
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Santa MOnica City Couneil
Council Chambers
1685 MAin Street
Santa MOnlca, Calif.-
Attention Mr. Denni. Zane
February 14. 1987
1142-18th Street
Santa MOniea, Cal-90403
Phone 453~3916
Gentlemen:
1 recall your statements during an .arly June 1986 City
Couneil meeting where in you were atre.aing the need for shelter
for the homeless, 1 believe you touched on the tact that the Colorado
place development owed the City of Santa MOnica 50 units of low lncome
housing & you were thinking perhaps they could reduce tbe ai&8 of the
units so a. to supply a greater number of total ualta.
Mr. Zane please let me relate to you aome personal experiences
r have had in .,.latanee to a few of the homeless, ~/ # 1 attempt w~s
befriending a man named John who came down the alley in the rear Gf
1719 Wilshire Blvd., where I manased an old motel. John vas pUlblng a
cart filled with goodies from the dumpster...
John was a friendly person vho had been tD~Viet-Nam, hi_
mother & father live in San Diego, where hi, tather i. . buildin~
contractor, but unfortunatly John had. drinking habit, & hi. parents
tend.d to shun him. he .ald that they just did not want him around
because of the drinking.
The second time I got into a conversation with John, 1 reali-
-zed he eould stand a bath & a shave & bave hie clothes laundered, so
1 let him into one of the vacant unite 10 that he could bath & shave,
& while this was going on 1 put his dirty clothes in the laundry and
had them clean & dried when he got out ot the bath, & ne.dl... to say
he left feeling much better than before, this atarted out in the early
part of 1984, thereafter when ever I happened to be around when John
came by he asked to use the far-lllty, aa time vore en he ~ot to the
point where he would be waiting when I ~ot up in the morning, then one
day he di.appeared, & we did net aee him for several montha, then when
he finally returned, he related that he had been struck by a train,
he was in a coma in the hospital in Indio. & he showed me a scar from
the upper ch~st to the pubic hair where they had performed an operatlon
on him.
John had certainly gone through a terrible experience, & now
he had given up the booze, in fact he stayed off the booze tor 89 days
co~ing back each day to get into shape & keep his self respect up,
then one day he came by and said he had taken up drlnking again. &
I have not seen him for the last 4 months.
In the meantime 2 more fellows started coming by for the
shower & clean-up program.
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Mr. Zane:
My conclusion from these fellows coming by and enjoying
the use of the shower & laundry facilities, i8 that this gave them
a lift up for their self respect. & it did some good for me tool,
I kind of felt needed in the scheme of things. .
But I am sure bo th you & I know we can't open up a flood
gate for this small city of ours, if we ever did, within 2.3 year.
this town would be wall to wall sleeping bags, from West Loa Angeles
to the beach, so we will need to plan our action to assist, not to
creat a dependency, I have juse such a plan, 1 would like to participate
in th. pl.nnlns of . Way Station, wi~h ~h. obj.c~lv. of 8.ttlna all
street people into a facility for bathing, Shaving, laundering, & the
supplying of a short order meal, such as coffee, sandwiches, & IOUP
from surplus food stocks .
To do this on an economical basis we will need a warehouse
type facility with 8ingle phase power. we will construet individual
shower house modules, ~h@se will be designed on an affordable &
portable basis, 80 that all wa~er supply & sewer outlets may be hooked
up to above ground pipes & drains, in this manner nQ sewer pipes will
require breaking up of concrete floors, and in the event of a move to
new building everything will be absolute simplicity, jU8t bring in a
fork lift & load up ~he truck. and away we go.
My concept of the module is
on one end. with toilet & wash basin
& bench to sit on while dressing, we
base of 41 x 8' elevated 12" off the
as tollows, a 36" X 36" shower
on the opposite end, a mirror.
could strive to get this onto
floor for pipe clearance.
We will need 80me 50 gallon water heaters, & washers & dryers
some tables & chairs for eating and lounging, as well as food It.tion~
for coffee urns, & refrigerarors for food storage.
In addition to the above we will need a safe storage area,
behind a wire screen where the person may store his goods whil. he
is in the shower facility.
Mr. Zane we can ~t going on this after 80me short term
planning, I will be very happy to develope the initial bath module
in fact I see this item as a good after market product for other ulage.
so you say the word. & I will get Roing on the prototyPe at my own
expense, don't you think this is good start on a long over due need??
Looking forward to hearing from you real 800n, I r-.ain,
G1=;u;e~-4/
HAROLD R. CRAWFORD r'7
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