HomeMy WebLinkAboutR04-Economic Development Agency
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DBVBLOPIIBKr DBPARrllBKr
OF TIIB CITY OF SAK BBIllfARDIRO
REOUBsr FOR COIR[SSIOK/COURCIL ACTION
From:
KENNETH J. HENDERSON
Executive Director
Subject: AlULYSIS OF TIIB RATIOllALB
FOR HO!IKLBSS INDIVIDUALS
BOT UTILIZIBG AVAILABLE
BMBRGBlICY SHELTERS
Date:
May 27, 1992
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SvnoDsis of Previous C~ission/Cnnn~il/r.~tttee Actionls):
On May 26, 1992 the Housing Committee received and filed the subject
staff report and requested staff to forward same to the Community
Development Commission.
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Re~ft..~ded Motionlsl:
lC----tty Develomlent C~ission)
IIlTION
That the Community Development Commission receive and
file the attached analysis of the rationale for homeless
individuals not utilizing available emergency s~elters.
A~rator
~~OK
Executive Director
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Contact Person(s):
Kenneth J. Henderson
Phone:
5081
Project Area(s):
All
Ward(s):
All
Supporting Data Attached:
Staff ReDort
FlIl'lDING REQUIREMENTS:
Amount: $ N/A
N/A
Source:
Budget Authority:
ilIA
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Commission/Council Notes:
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KJH:dle:5748R
COII!IISSION IIBBTIBG AGBlIDA
Meeting Date: 06/01/19~~
Agenda Itl!ll Number: ~
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DEVELOPMDT DBPAJmowr.r
STAFF IlBPORT
Aft-Ivsis of the latiftft_le for Boaeless PeoDle
.ot UtiliziftD Avsilable Shelter
In response to concerns regarding the incidence of homeless individuals living
on the streets of downtown San Bernardino, the following information, obtained
via videos, random site visitations, and interviews of homeless people is
provided as a preview to staff's annual homeless report forthcoming in June,
1992.
BackJr.rol1nd
The City of San Bernardino has established itself as a leader in the
development of solutions to home1essness. The City's homeless services have
expanded significantly over the last year and have positively impacted more of
the homeless than any other city in the County. In the last year and a half
the City has been directly responsible for the following programs, projects
and activities:
1.
2.
0 3.
4.
5.
The provision of emergency shelter through the Emergency Shelter
Grant Program;
the prevention of home1essness through the Rent/Deposit Guarantee
Program;
the provision of utility assistance through the Homeless Shelter
Utility Assistance Program;
the development of a transitional housing program; and
the formation of a countywide homeless coalition
The Problem
The incidence of homeless individuals living on the streets of downtown San
Bernardino is problematic. It is a problem in terms of human SUffering and
because it does not present a positive image of the City. Research indicates
that many of the homeless prefer to live in downtown areas of the city because
the location provides access to: (1) food (stores and soup kitchens); (2)
shelter (bridges, doorways, alcoves, overpasses); (3) income (panhandling, can
collection, part-time employment); and (4) social support (other homeless
individuals and counseling agencies).
lIethodoloJrV
From May 14, 1992 through May 19, 1992, interviews were conducted with
homeless individuals in the downtown area to determine the extent of the
problem and the needs of this population. Homeless individuals were sought at
the following locations:
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KJH:dle:5748R
COIMISSIO. IIDTIK AGDDA
lIeeting Date: 06/01l19~j
Agenda Itl!lllllumber: ~
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DEVELOPIIDT DBPAn'Iulu" STAFF REPORT
RE: AlULYSIS OF JIOIIILBSS PEOPLE BOT UTILIZIRG AVAILABLB SBBLTBIl
May 27, 1992
Page lIuIIber -2-
* The overpass at the junction of 2nd Street and Mt. Vernon Avenue;
* Parkways by the 2nd Street and 1-215 on and off ramps;
* Mervyns on Rialto Street;
* The old Sam Goody's record store;
* The 101 North I Street Building;
* Fifth Street (around the Salvation Army Shelter); and
* Waterman Avenue and the 1-10 freeway.
The following homeless shelters were contacted to determine the degree and
extent of resources available during the interview period.
* Salvation Army
* Frazee Community Center
* Good Shepard Ministries
* Samaritan Social Services
Results
Twenty-three (23) homeless individuals were interviewed. Of those
interviewed, nineteen (19) were males and four (4) were females. Following
are their responses to various questions:
1.
Where did you sleep last night?
Shelter = 4
Outdoors = 10
Friend = 5
Own place = 5
2. Would you stay in a shelter if one were offered to you?
yes = 5
no = 16
maybe = 2
3. When there is room in the shelter, why do you NOT sleep there?
(See specific comments in Exhibit I)
4. How difficult is it to get into a shelter for the night?
(See specific comments in Exhibit II)
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K.JH:dle:5748R
COIMISSIOK MElTIRG AGDDA
Meeting Date: 06/0l/l9~~
Agenda Item __ber: ~
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DBVELOPIIDT DBPAJr.omao: StiFF RBPORr
HE: AlW.YSIS OF IIOIIBLESS PEOPLE lOT UTILIZIBG AVAILABLE SHELTER
May 27, 1992
P8&e Kuaber -3-
On May 18, 1992, the above stated shelters were contacted regarding the
availability of beds the previous night. The results were as follows:
Salvation Army
Frazee Community Center
Samaritan Shelter
Good Shepard Ministries
12 available beds
2 available rooms
o available beds
o available beds
In addition, the Salvation Army stated that they had some beds available
throughout the period that homeless individuals were interviewed.
Diseussion Aftd .ec~~d.ti0D8
Since during the period of this study there was room in the shelters, these
results indicate that there is a sub-population of the homeless which chooses
not to utilize homeless shelters. In addition, several (10) of the
individuals who appeared homeless actually had a house or apartment in which
to sleep. The primary reason for not utilizing the shelters appears to be a
desire to avoid institutional rules. Most (12) of these individuals stated
that they do not want to be told that they cannot drink and do not want to be
told when to sleep, eat or when to avail themselves of the restroom and shower
facilities. Simply stated, they resent and elect not to abide by rules
established for homeless shelter guests. Other reasons stated include: (1)
fear of the unknown; (2) need to be near people they know; and (3) a perceived
prejudicial attitude by shelter employees. Several (9) individuals stated
that they utilize the shelters during the winter on very cold nights, but
choose not to when the weather is mild.
It should be noted shelters have shifted their priorities from single men to
women and children. This is in response to policies initiated by the City in
funding decisions regarding the Emergency Shelter Grant Program.
Additionally, the shelters have found that orienting their services toward
homeless males is quite difficult because of the incidence of drug and alcohol
abuse and the stated willingness on the part of many homeless males to live on
the streets, rather than in emergency shelters. Removing these people from
specific locations is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the
following reasons:
1. Many of these individuals refuse to sleep in shelters. Some of these
homeless individuals prefer to sleep outside rather than in shelters.
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KJH:dle:5748R
CO!lllISSIOIl MDTIlIG AGDDA
Meeting Date: 06/01/1991
Agenda It. lIuIIber: ~
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DBVILOPMElIr DBPAR1:1unr S'l.U'i' IlBPORr
RB: AlULYSIS OF IIOMBLBSS PEOPLE IIOT UTILIZIBG AVAILABLB SHELTER
May 27, 1992
Page Bumber -4-
2. Placina these individuals in shelters -.y DOt solve the problea. Based
on current trends in the growth of homelessness, it is reasonable to
assume that the removal of specific individuals will result in them beina
replaced by new homeless. There are environmental and social reasons why
people stay in these locations.
3. There is DO shelter which senes this population. The majority of
these individuals are sinale men. Shelters previously senina only
sinale men have recently chanaed their priority to women and children.
It is a given that the City has limited resources and is not in a position to
solve the problems of a national recession; nor is the city in a position to
force homeless individuals into homeless shelters if they wish to remain on
the streets. This conclusion is readily apparent by the reviewina a samplina
of comments made by the homeless inteniewed durina the periods of 5/14/92
through 5/20/92 (Exhibits I and II).
In conclusion, it seems clear that the City has done an excellent job of
respondina to the needs of the homeless with its limited resources. Further,
the problem of shelterina the homeless continues on a nationwide level with no
absolute solutions identified as yet. At best, the task is staggerina and it
will be frustratina and unrealistic if one assumes that the city could be
successful in housina that portion of the homeless community that voluntarily
chooses not to live in available shelters.
On May 26, 1992, the Housina Committee received and filed the subject report
and requested staff to forward same to the Community Development Commission.
Based upon the foregoing, staff recommends adoption of the form motion.
OB, Executive Director
Depar ant
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K.JH:dle:5748R
CO!lllISSIOB MUTIlIG AGDDA
Meeting Date: 06/01/1992
AgeDda It.. B1IIIber: L
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Statements by Downtown Homeless
(Collected 8/14/82 through 8/20/82) .
· "IIoat of the peopla out hera are afraid of D.., thlqa.
!hq bow what to apect OIl the atreeta.-
· -People __11,. leaya .. al_ out here.-
· -I dn't eYer ao to tile .altera, !ha re..n I'. OIl tile
.treet la hca_e I drlDJt,-
· ~ aIlould I ao to a place where tIlq treat .. lib a
little kidr-
.
-j. lot of people are acared of the eI1elter. !hq
tJalDJt.. .what vUl tIla people at the .elter tJalDJt of ..r
You'ye alrea4J' bea rejected eYer,. d.,. of J'01Ir life. !he
laat tIllua ,.ou want la to ao to a eI1elter aad aet rejected
tIlerel"
· "People do what tIl.,. VUIDa do. It'. alv.,.. lib thet.-
· -It depeDda OIl ftlell .elter, ..e are better tIlaD other..-
· "!hq _'t let .e .leep tIlere. I aot kicked out.-
· "0 v.,.. !heJ' tell J'01Ifta to ut, WeD to .le." eYa
fta to ao to the batllroOll. ADd tIlq treat a_ people
better tIlaD otller....
· "IC1 frlada are out here...
Exhibit I
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Statements by Downtown Homeless
(Collected 8/14/92 through 8/20/92)
· ".ov it'. pret~ eaq, if J'oa vmt to. WlIlter it'. tOUlh."
· "I'. DOt lIltere.ted III the &belter."
· "I uuallJ' dOD' t lIa.e ~ troable aettiDa lIlto the
ahelter."
· "they VOIl't let .e III the ahelter ~ aore. I aot real
aa4 ODce."
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· "tho.. ~. dOD't c.r. aboat .....DO ODe oat here doe.
either."
· "I 0DlJ' trJ' III the viIlter. UauallJ' I cm aet lIl."
· "I'. ju.t pa..lIl' throuah."
Exhibit It
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