1	Project Status Homeless Services Briefing to City Council December 5, 2005
2	Overview Additional information will be provided under separate cover by Mr. Mike Rawlings, Homeless Czar
3	Purpose of Briefing Areas of Discussion Good Neighbor Policy Public Safety Enhancements Meal Distribution Day Resource Center (DRC) Plan to Reduce Homelessness Zoning Homeless Assistance Center (HAC) Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Strategy
4	City-Wide Good Neighbor Policy City staff has begun meeting with downtown neighbors to secure input regarding “Good Neighbor Policy” Recommendations are expected to be presented to Council in January 2006 Recommendations will be both general with city wide application potential and specific to the downtown community City Staff has researched good neighbor policies in other cities and is receiving technical assistance from the Community Shelter Board – Columbus, Ohio
5	Being A Good Neighbor at the Day Resource Center Various City of Dallas Department representatives meet monthly with the Stakeholders housed near the Day Resource Center. Meetings are hosted by the Weisfeld Center The focus is the day-to-day activities related to the Day Resource Center
6	Being A Good Neighbor at the Day Resource Center Main areas of concern (February 2005) Trash from the Food Providers Noise from the Food Providers Lack of adequate public toilets Contact person and number needed to be identified to assist the Stakeholders immediately Wanted the City of Dallas to take an interest in their concerns
7	Public Safety Enhancements Day Resource Center February 2005, DPD began monitoring 1000’ radius around the Dallas Resource Center daily from 6:30 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. Homeless interventions (sleeping in public) conducted at 2 week intervals Monthly meeting held with stakeholders to solicit concerns and gauge their satisfaction Enforcement Activity (February – September 2005) 659 arrests made in 1000’ radius- 60 at the DRC 372 city ordinance citations 174 traffic citations
8	Public Safety Enhancements The Skywatch Tower is deployed in the area and is intermittently manned to perform observation of the area Decoy vehicle and Mobile Storefronts are utilized in the area Part One Crime reduced 7% during this period Solicitation Enforcement Proactive presence throughout Dallas to address issue – citywide enforcement initiative Officers to target locations with known frequent violations All officers to take enforcement action on solicitors when observed-arrest in lieu of citations 2 officers on day shift/2 officers on evening shift at each of 6 patrol stations to staff paddy wagon for transport of violators 1 officer in marked squad car for full time enforcement action at each patrol station
9	Public Safety Enhancements Solicitation Enforcement (Continued) City Municipal Administrative Judge Jay Robinson has committed to magistrate all arrest for solicitation at the City Detention Center (CDC) during regular business hours CDC will pick up all prisoner transfers from the CDC to Lew Sterrett Jail Judges will also consider giving solicitation offenders the option of community service and/or City of Dallas work release in lieu of jail time Offenders will be transported to and from the community service worksites by City of Dallas personnel who are also responsible for the supervision of these individuals while they work Staff from Environmental and Health Services will also meet with individual offenders in an effort to introduce them to social services which might lead to a reduction in recidivism
10	Meal Distribution
11	Meal Distribution Public forums were held to: Give the public an opportunity to voice any questions and/or concerns about the ordinance changes Solicit public suggestions on the best locations to serve meals Obtain input from the food providers on how the City of Dallas can partner with the providers to assist in informing the homeless of valuable services Public Forum Dates July 9, 2005 July 16, 2005 July 23, 2005
12	Meal Distribution Challenges Some Food Providers resist regulating what they see as their mission Monitoring will be labor intensive For food providers who ignore the new ordinance notice of violations then citations will be issued Safe Food Training Dates July 30, 2005 August 13, 2005 August 27, 2005 September 24, 2005 October 29, 2005
13	Meal Distribution Expectations To date, 215 individuals have registered and received Safe Food Training at no cost Safe Food Training is taught by City of Dallas Sanitarians Goals Decrease in foodborne illnesses Food Providers will unite with the City of Dallas to inform reluctant homeless people about available services
14	Day Resource Center Areas of Discussion Current/Enhanced Operations Interim Solutions
15	Day Resource Center
16	Day Resource Center Current/Enhanced Operations Intake, Assessment and Referral Emphasis on customer satisfaction Basic Necessities: hygiene kits, community voicemail, clothing, etc. Dallas MetroCare (Behavioral Healthcare) Legal Aid of North West Texas Veterans Administration (Employment/Education) Parkland HOMES Program (Physical Health) Other agencies that offer services on a rotating or scheduled basis: Dallas Housing Authority, Social Security Administration, and AIDS Services of Dallas
17	Day Resource Center Current Operations
18	Day Resource Center Current/Enhanced Operations as of August 2005 Intensive recruitment of employment partners Provide a voice for the clients in the Day Resource Center through monthly public forums In the process of establishing a DRC Partnership Board Maintain a volunteer unit comprised of members of the community and clients Community Projects: The Cedars Association Clean Up Project, Downtown clean up
19	Day Resource Center New Partnerships Educational Opportunity Center Assist clients in finding resources for college, GED AIDS Interfaith Network HIV Education American Diabetes Association Project HOPE Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous Meetings
20	Day Resource Center New Partnerships Mosaic Family Services HIV Testing and Education Dispute Mediation Services Anger management, problem solving techniques Promise House Youth and Family problem solving techniques
21	Day Resource Center New Partnerships The Cedars Neighborhood Association Business community and homeless people conduct bi-annual clean ups in the neighborhood Dallas Life Foundation (DLF) Partnership allows people who have been banned from various shelters a second chance DLF offers four programs designed to entice clients into treatment, employment and/or housing DLF’s basic services consist of beds, laundry and showers
22	Day Resource Center Results of Program Changes 824 Persons housed in temporary and permanent housing 1154 Persons entered into treatment (substance abuse and/or mental health)
23	Day Resource Center Interim Solutions Options Extend lease at Day Resource Center New Lease/Different Facility (relocate to smaller building) Potential Real Estate transaction (to be covered in executive session)
24	Day Resource Center Option A Extend Lease – 901 South Ervay Street Building Description Average daily usage – 400 – 500 persons 28,000 square feet 1 Kitchen 2 urinals, 2 toilets, and 4 showers for men 4 toilets and 3 showers for women Offices Dock area Rental Rate ($7,695 per month) Across the street from City Hall Pros 24 Hour access to restrooms, showers and laundry Mental Health, Intake, Assessment and Referral services available daily Basics services provided: showers, laundry, mailing address, Veterans Administration’s Compensated Work Therapy Program Cons Improvements ($151,500): Exhaust fans in men’s and women’s shower areas $15,000 Men’s and Women’s shower stalls replaced $40,000 Men’s and Women’s lavatories replaced $1,500 First Floor Replacement $70,000 Paint and repair sheetrock walls on the first floor area $25,000 In addition, the Landlord is requesting the following Extra police officers 2 additional officers inside facility (24/7) in addition to the 2 officers that currently patrol in 1000’ radius Solicitation enforcement which we are already performing On Friday, Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. received communication from the landlord identifying additional requests which are being reviewed
25	DAY RESOURCE CENTER Option B Alternative Site 1 811 South Akard Building Description Approximately 15,500 square feet of space available for lease (total building size 23,500 sf) 100% HVAC Commercial kitchen 6 restrooms and 8 showers available Offices available Dock area 13 fenced parking spaces Total land area = approximately 40,600 sf Rental Rate: $15.50 psf ($20,020 monthly, includes taxes and insurance) Across the street from Dallas City Hall
26	ALTERNATE SITES DAY RESOURCE CENTER Alternative Site 1 811 South Akard Pros Landlord willing to do finish out Lease term of 5 years with ability to terminate after 3 years Further away from DISD school site than current Day Resource Center Proximate to service providers Approximately $150,000 to retrofit building to DRC needs (included in rental rate) Could be ready for occupancy on January 31, 2006 Away from churches and liquor stores DART accessibility Cons Close proximity to Convention Center and Black Academy of Arts and Letters Still within 1,000 square feet of the DISD school site Smaller than the area currently in Day Resource Center (reduction in services) Will need to be adapted for handicap accessibility
27	ALTERNATE SITES DAY RESOURCE CENTER Alternative Site 2 2601 Swiss Avenue (at Good Latimer) Building Description approximately 21,500 s. f. of space 3 restrooms Dock with overhead door, semi-truck and pickup truck accessible 8,000 s. f. parking lot 6 air conditioned offices Total land area: 28,275 s.f. Rental Rate: $6 psf (includes taxes and insurance) plus the cost of improvements (Approximately $27,416 per month)
28	ALTERNATE SITES DAY RESOURCE CENTER Alternative Site 2 (continued) 2601 Swiss Avenue Pros Lease term of 5 years with ability to terminate after 3 years Outside of CBD Landlord willing to lease to City and do finish out Could be ready for occupancy by January 31, 2006 Cons Only 7,500 square feet of the building is air conditioned Some of the 8,000 square feet parking lot would be lost to allow dock access Needs more finish out than Alternate Site 1 (previously used for coffee vending warehouse) Close proximity to a church Close proximity to Meadows Foundation and surrounding agencies Outside of downtown loop Located away from service providers Cost to retrofit building has been estimated at $600,000 by staff
29	ALTERNATE SITES DAY RESOURCE CENTER Option C Potential Real Estate Transaction (to be briefed in executive session)
30	Site Comparisons
31	Actions Required to Complete A Lease New Lease Lease terms negotiated by December 15, 2005 Lease scheduled for council agenda on January 11, 2006 Lease signed by January 20, 2006 Lease Extension with Rader Lease terms negotiated by December 30, 2005 Lease scheduled for council agenda on January 11, 2006 Lease signed by January 30, 2006
32	Special Use Permit Both sites will require an SUP for use as a day resource center Application process to be started November 21, 2005 Expected completion date: TBD
33	Plan to Reduce Homelessness How do we do this? The 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness identifies the following steps for implementation in 2006: Continued prioritization of projects for funding under the Continuum of Care Review of discharge planning and admissions between housing providers and public systems Review of level of services need to maintain chronic homeless in “housing first” type models of care Strengthening evidence-based and promising practices of support services and service providers
34	Plan to Reduce Homelessness Continued development of agency capacity through technical assistance and training Continued development of crisis response strategy Development of a public information campaign dealing with public perception and understanding of homelessness
35	Plan to Reduce Homelessness Performance Goals for the City of Dallas staff are: Focus on areas that have concentrated/consolidated populations Respond to calls on encampments within 48 hours Placement of 250 persons in Housing Entry of 170 persons in treatment programs Goals to be reached through a system of aggressive outreach, assessments and referrals Continue seeking funding for additional outreach workers as spelled out in the 10-year plan
36	Zoning Issues Interim DRC site, including current, and permanent HAC site will require zoning DRC site zoning expires on 1/31/06 Zoning process Initiation – Owner’s permission or authorized hearing Community meeting CPC CC Typical time line 3 months – will have to be expedited
37	Zoning - SROs Nearest Existing classification – Residential Hotel Allowed in MF, MU and CA when separated by 1 mile Otherwise by SUP in those districts Steps needed to change current code Develop recommendations for new code Refine definition Possibly allow in commercial districts Allow social services as part of use Present to ZOAC Present to CPC Approval by City Council Time Frame – 5 months
38	Homeless Assistance Center Additional information will be provided under separate cover by Mr. Mike Rawlings, Homeless Czar
39	HAC Timeline Begin Design December 2005 End Design September 2006 Advertise September 2006 Start Construction November 2006 End Construction January 2008
40	Site Recommendation Designated site is comprised of 3 parcels and street abandonment of St. Louis creating approx. 3.41 Ac. (148,539 s.f.) Two of the parcels closed on May 24, 2005 for $560,000 The large 2.3 Acre (100,056 s.f.) parcel is currently owned by TXU.
41	Next Steps Provide recommendations on Good Neighbor Policy in January 2006 Full implementation of the enforcement aspect of the Street feeding registration in January 2006 If lease extension is not granted, move forward on obtaining an interim facility Request SUP for interim facility Request Council approval of contract for architect for the HAC