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Home My WebLink About2021-02-18; WINTER SHELTER PROGRAM; Galluci, NeilTo the members of the: ~ITY COUNCIL Date .t/1~/2t1 CA L CC ✓ CM / ACM ✓ DCM (3) / -- Feb. 18,2021 To: Honorable Mayor Hall a cil Memorandum From: Via: Re: Neil Gallucci, Chief of P I c-..o....i-- Scott Chadwick, City Ma ag WINTER SHELTER PROGR {cityof Carlsbad Memo ID #2021044 This memorandum provides an update on the Winter Shelter Program operated by Interfaith Shelter Network of San Diego. Background Interfaith Shelter Network of San Diego operates an annual winter shelter program throughout San Diego County from the months of October-April. It is a seasonal emergency shelter that rotates from the various faith-based congregations and serves single men, single women, families with children, and people from all sexual orientations and gender identity who are experiencing homelessness. Their model is rooted in "self-sufficiency" and they focus on ·· individuals and households who are situationally homeless. Many people, especially women and families, who are newly homeless are reluctant to enter traditional shelter systems and are more comfortable participating in the faith-based, winter shelter. Interfaith Shelter Network staff screens its participants very carefully. Because many of the programs are volunteer-run and staff is not onsite, they disqualify anyone who has an active substance use disorder, untreated mental health illness, is a registered sex offender, has an active restraining order or a · criminal background. In the homeless world, this model is considered a "higher barrier shelter" and is not aligned with the Housing First Model passed by the State of California in 2016. The agency historically works with congregations of all denominations in the North Coastal Region from Del Mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, to Vista. Different congregations take turns offering their facility as a temporary overnight homeless.shelter for two or four weeks a year to allow participants to stay onsite as they provide temporary beds, meals, transportation, and light case management services. Discussion To maintain the health and safety of both the participants and faith-based volunteers, Interfaith Shelter Network received a grant from the County of San Diego in 2020 to operate a hotel voucher program in several different regions of the county. The contract started in fall 2020 and ends June 30, 2021, or when the funding is exhausted. The network's staff said they have launched a separate fundraising campaign with the local faith-center and have raised $40,000 to sustain the program past June 30, 2021. Police Department 2560 Orion Way I Carlsbad, CA 92010 I 760-931-2170 t Council Memo -Winter Shelter Program Feb. 18,2021 Page 2 The Interfaith Shelter Network has decided, independently of the city, to select the Motel 6 off Pio Pico Drive as their North County coastal hotel. The program officially began on Jan. 25, 2021, and is currently operating six rooms housing four families and two single females, one of whom is pregnant. Participants can stay in the hotel for 12 weeks before they are discharged and need to find an alternative housing placement. Staff actively tries to develop an exit plan when participants begin the program. The program has also received short-term rental funds known as "rapid rehousing dollars" to help participants successfully find housing. The program manager reported the average length of stay per participant is five to eight weeks and their clients have a 58% placement rate to transitional or permanent housing. Each participant receives weekly case management by the nonprofit, Community Resource Center, food resources, and transportation support. There is no security provided onsite. The city's homeless program manager asked how the Homeless Outreach Team could refer an appropriate person or family experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad to the program. Interfaith Shelter Network staff said the Homeless Outreach Team could work with Community Resource Center or call or text the network's shelter intake phoneline. The client will then participate in a phone intake session, a background check and in-person screening. They said most clients are placed in housing the same day after their in-person screening. The Interfaith Shelter Network staff said smoking has been the biggest issue at hotels they have operated in other regions of the county, as guests have not been compliant with the hotel rules. Staff stated they had to call the police five times at their South County location due to participants not wanting to exit the program and mental illness. The Interfaith Shelter Network staff said they have a comprehensive policy on COVID-19 screening protocols. They said they complete daily room checks with temperature checks on participants and health screening. They provide participants with masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant. They said they had three clients present with COVID-19 symptoms at their South County location and they have had them self-isolate and get tested. The homeless program manager discussed the importance of screening participants before they enter the program and asked that any participant displaying COVID symptoms be directed to the county's isolation and quarantine hotel placement rooms. Interfaith Shelter Network staff agreed to do so. The homeless program manager explained her role and told the network about some of the resources available from the city, such as with masks at the Emergency Operation Center, meals through the O'side Kitchen Collaborative, and the Homeless Outreach Team. Next Steps Interfaith Shelter Network staff and the homeless program manager agreed to meet in a few weeks with the Homeless Outreach Team to continue building a strong and transparent working partnership. Council M~mo -Winter Shelter Program Feb. 18, 2021 Page 3 CC: Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager Celia Brewer, City Attorney Holly Nelson, Homeless Program Manager