HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/12/2013 03 Winter Homeless SheltersBUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No.
For Meeting of: 11/12/2013
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ITEM TITLE:
SUBMITTED BY:
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
See attached.
10 a.m. Winter Homeless Shelters
Tony O'Rourke, City Manager
Resolution: Ordinance:
Other (Specify):
Contract: Contract Term:
Start Date: End Date:
Item Budgeted: Amount:
Funding Source/Fiscal
Impact:
Strategic Priority:
Insurance Required? No
Mail to:
Phone:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL:
RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ memo
City Manager
Upload Date
11/8/2013
Type
Cover IMleirttno
MEMORANDUM
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Yakima City Council
From: Tony O'Rourke, City Manager
Date: November 6, 2013
RE: Winter shelters
In 2007, the Yakima City Council approved Yakima County Homeless Network's
request to use local churches for temporary emergency cold weather shelters for
homeless people in Yakima. The original request was for 30 days. Every winter since
2007, the Yakima City Council has approved temporary emergency cold weather
shelters.
The County Homeless Network is requesting that the City authorize homeless shelters
in the following churches from November 15, 2013 to March 15, 2014.
• Unitarian Church — 30 men capacity
• Englewood Christian Church — 15 men capacity
• First Baptist Church — 15 women capacity
City staff met with members of the Homeless Network and agreed on the following
requirements that would have to be met in order for the homeless shelters to be allowed
again this year (list attached). Provided the guidelines are met, staff is comfortable
allowing the homeless shelters to assist homeless people during the cold months.
We hope this is the last winter temporary emergency cold weather shelters are needed
given the mutual efforts of the City, County, and Homeless Network to locate a
permanent facility near the downtown.
Proposed
Winter Homeless Shelter
Conditions
1. All facilities must have wireless smoke detectors in all sleeping areas. All detectors
must be interconnected and monitored by a central station monitor or by the City's
dispatch office.
2. No on-site cooking.
3. City of Yakima Fire Department will provide radios at each shelter and train fire
watch volunteers how to use radios. City will also train shelter volunteers on proper
fire watch duties and require a fire watch log be kept at each location. This will
negate the need for professional paid fire watch personnel
4. Prior approval from the City of Yakima of all shelter pick-up and drop-off locations.
5. All participating homeless shelters provide the following to the City of Yakima:
a. Indemnification and hold harmless agreement
b. Evidence of Professional Liability coverage for homeless shelter services with
a limit of $1,000,000 for each wrong act and an annual aggregate limit of
$1,000,000 with an insurance company rating of A -VII or higher in Best's
Guide. Coverage shall remain in effect during the term of this Agreement and
for a minimum of three (3) years following the termination of this Agreement.
c. Evidence of a certificate for commercial liability insurance and commercial
umbrella liability insurance with a total minimum liability of $1,000,000 per
occurrence and $3,000,000 in general aggregate. The policy shall name the
City of Yakima, its elected and appointed officers, employees, agents and
volunteers as additional insured, and shall contain a clause that the insurer
will not cancel or change the insurance without first giving the City of Yakima
written notice. The insurance company provider shall be rated A -VII or higher
by Best's Guide.
6. Churches in any zone other than CBD or GC require a Class 2 use permit to allow
emergency shelters. A notice of the proposed project will be mailed to property
owners within 300 -foot radius of the proposed shelter.
7. Sleeping areas to be located on ground floor, or on other floors with approved
exiting.
8. Floor plan showing dimensions with exits and door swing. An evacuation plan is
also required and volunteers must be trained how to evacuate the building in an
emergency.
9. Letter from Homeless Network of Yakima County indicating that the applicant
(Sunrise Outreach Center) is a certified participant in the Network's Extreme
Weather Shelter program.
Distributed at thea3
Meeting I( -T3
Homeless Network of Yakima County
Winter Shelter Response
For 7 years the Homeless Network of Yakima County in partnership with members
of the Faith community has successfully provided a winter shelter in local churches
for Yakima's homeless. On July 22nd, at a meeting with City of Yakima officials,
the Network was put on notice that the City would no longer grant a waiver to
building codes and allow churches to be used as shelters due to fire safety
concerns.
Following the City's notice, the Homeless Network began searching for a building
to operate as a permanent year-round shelter that would open by November 15th to
serve Yakima's chronic homeless population. On August 2nd, the old DSHS
Juvenile Rehabilitation building located on the corner of 3rd Ave. and Lincoln was
selected as a potential long-term shelter site. On August 5th, the Network met with
City Officials again to share the plans for the permanent shelter location. The next
day, City code inspectors toured the building and gave an okay for the Network to
move forward on the building plans, which the City would require a zoning
interpretation, followed by a public hearing and installation of a sprinkler system.
Additionally the Network would identify a lead agency that would lease and
operate the shelter building, negotiate with the building owner on a lease amount
and term including contingencies for a roof replacement, submitting and paying for
a zoning interpretation and hearing costs and last but not least, request funding
from Yakima County.
Since August, when the City of Yakima agreed to shelter plan, the Network
received approval from Yakima County to fund up to $200,000 in the first year for
leasing, building operations and startup costs and up to $150,000 to lease and
operate the shelter for a second year. Yakima County contracted with The Office
of Rural and Farmworker Housing, a project consultant, to help develop a long-
term operations and funding plan for the shelter building. The County also
selected a lead agency, Triumph Treatment Services, through a formal Request for
Proposal process. Realizing that the shelter building may not be ready by the
November 15 deadline, Network members met with City Officials on September
3rd to update the City on the shelter plans and to ask the City if they would consider
a waiver again this year if the shelter building wasn't ready on time. City staff
stated that they would consider a request.
Since the beginning of October, County staff, the Lead Agency, (Triumph
Treatment Services), Project Consultant (ORFH) and project partners (Sunrise
Outreach and Yakima Neighborhood Health Services) have been meeting to
finalize initial plans and develop a formal Letter of Intent to the owner. On
October 31St, a Letter of Intent was signed by Triumph Treatment Services, after
being approved by the Agency's Board of Directors, and was sent to the building
owner, that same afternoon, the Homeless Network Executive Committee met to
approve a letter to the City asking for a variance to City code allowing Churches to
serve as Winter Shelters as they have done since 2006.
The City responded and asked for a meeting with Network members to discuss
shelter issues with a caveat this meeting focus only on the extreme winter shelter
program. On Monday, November 4, members of the Homeless Network of Yakima
County met with City of Yakima Officials to discuss using the churches for winter
sheltering of the homeless. The City staff presented a list of nine conditions that
would need to be met to grant a waiver for the churches to be used as shelters. One
of the conditions was to hire off-duty firemen or a professional security firm to
provide fire watch rather than trained volunteers. Prior to the meeting, the
Network acquired an estimate from a security firm on what it would cost to
provide 14 hours a day of fire watch at three shelters through the end of March.
The estimated cost came back at $120,000, figuring a cost of $17 an hour including
time and a half for three holidays. If paid with government funds, prevailing wage
would have increased the hourly rate to $42.72 for a total estimate cost of over
$300,000.
The City staff and Network members negotiated an alternative plan to the paid fire
watch and the following is the revised list of conditions:
1. All facilities must have wireless smoke detectors in all sleeping areas. All
detectors must be interconnected and monitored by a central station monitor
or by the City's dispatch office.
2. No on-site cooking.
3. City of Yakima Fire Department will provide radios at each shelter and train
fire watch volunteers how to use radios. City will also train shelter
volunteers on proper fire watch duties and require a fire watch log be kept at
each location. This will negate the need for professional paid fire watch
personnel
4. Prior approval from the City of Yakima of all shelter pick-up and drop-off
locations.
5. All participating homeless shelters provide the following to the City of
Yakima:
a. Indemnification and hold harmless agreement
b. Evidence of Professional Liability coverage for homeless shelter
services with a limit of $1,000,000 for each wrong act and an annual
aggregate limit of $1,000,000 with an insurance company rating of A -
VII or higher in Best's Guide. Coverage shall remain in effect during
the term of this Agreement and for a minimum of three (3) years
following the termination of this Agreement.
c. Evidence of a certificate for commercial liability insurance and
commercial umbrella liability insurance with a total minimum liability
of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 in general aggregate.
The policy shall name the City of Yakima, its elected and appointed
officers, employees, agents and volunteers as additional insured, and
shall contain a clause that the insurer will not cancel or change the
insurance without first giving the City of Yakima written notice. The
insurance company provider shall be rated A -VII or higher by Best's
Guide.
6. Churches in any zone other than CBD or GC require a Class 2 use permit to
allow emergency shelters. A notice of the proposed project will be mailed to
property owners within 300 -foot radius of the proposed shelter.
7. Sleeping areas to be located on ground floor, or on other floors with
approved exiting.
8. Floor plan showing dimensions with exits and door swing and evacuation
plan.
9. Letter from Homeless Network of Yakima County indicating that the
applicant (Sunrise Outreach Center) is a certified participant in the
Network's Extreme Weather Shelter program.
The revised conditions will be presented at a Yakima City Council Study Session
on Tuesday, November 12th at 10:00 am. Sunrise Outreach, the shelter provider, is
contracting with a local alarm company to install and monitor smoke detectors in
each of the three shelters. Total cost for the equipment and monitoring will be
over $9,100. Yakima County will fund this cost as well as provide $50,000 to
Sunrise Outreach to operate the shelters.
Time has run out, temperatures are dropping every night and we need to act fast to
open shelters to the homeless.
Tim Sullivan
Homeless Network of Yakima County
H 4.1500d
TR,OCLAorfTIOOWN
911WEA/L-Sg an estimated 4,500 Yakima County residents are without safe, decent,
and affordable permanent housing; and
�!1gams'r homelessness is a substantial and pervasive problem that has a powerful
negative impact on our community and our citizens; and
WSITWAS, it is in the best interest of all Yakima residents to see a reduction in the
level of homelessness within the City of (Yakima; and
SZP1L, the.7fomeless Networkof (Yakima County is a consortium of 37 service
providers and consumers focused on reducing chronic homelessness in (Yakima County 6y 2014;
and
W27 -0-5977,1S, the 9fomeless Networkof (Yakima County has a Ten (Year Plan to End
Chronic ./fomelessness in (Yakima County 6y 2014 6y coordinating and linking resources to
build a comprehensive system that will- 1. end chronic homelessness, and 2. prevent return to
homelessness, and 3. move homeless ind'vidua(s and families beyond short-term shelter to
permanent housing and self-sufficiency; and
iSIM the (Yakima City Council and the Jfomeless Networkof (Yakima County
have determined that a united community commitment to carrying out these approaches and
strategies wilCpositiveCy impact those who are already homeless, as well as those a riskof
becoming homeless, and that by doing so the quality of life of zndividuats andfamilies, as well
as that of the Citizens of the City of (Yakima and (Yakima County as a whole, can and wit( be
enhanced
MaT/1" 1'1'7'2!d; 1, Paul -P. George, Mayor of the City of (Yakima, and on behalf
of the City Council- do hereby proclaim our support of the goals and strategies expressed in the
.7fome(ess Networkof (Yakima County Ten Tear flan to End Chronic Jfome(essness, and urge
adCto support their efforts insofar as they are able.
Dated this 15th day of Ee6ruary, 2005
Paul -P. George, . Mayor
d
Yakima, Washington
2010-2014 Consolidated Plan
17 November 2009
Jurisdiction
HOMELESS
Homeless Needs (91.205 (b) and 91.215 (c))
*Please also refer to the Homeless Needs Table in the Needs.xls workbook
Homeless Needs— The jurisdiction must provide a concise summary of the nature
and extent of homelessness in the jurisdiction, (including rural homelessness and
chronic homelessness where applicable), addressing separately the need for facilities
and services for homeless persons and homeless families with children, both
sheltered and unsheltered, and homeless subpopulations, in accordance with Table
1A. The summary must include the characteristics and needs of low-income
individuals and children, (especially extremely low-income) who are currently housed
but are at imminent risk of either residing in shelters or becoming unsheltered. In
addition, to the extent information is available the plan must include a description of
the nature and extent of homelessness by racial and ethnic group. A quantitative
analysis is not required. If a jurisdiction provides estimates of the at -risk
population(s), it should also include a description of the operational definition of the
at -risk group and the methodology used to generate the estimates.
3-5 Year Strategic Plan Homeless Needs response:
EXTENT OF HOMELESSNESS
A 10 -Year Plan to End Homelessness in Yakima County was developed by the
Partners of the Homeless Network of Yakima County in 2005, an association of
emergency housing providers, service providers, community leaders, and other
interested persons or entities who were concerned about addressing the emergency,
transitional, and permanent needs of the homeless.
The Homeless Network of Yakima County in association with the Yakima County
Department of Human Services has conducted annual Point -in -Time (PIT) surveys of
the homeless in Yakima County since 2006 to determine the population of homeless
that have the most severe lack of housing opportunities.
The number of homeless within any community is not a static number and the
number of homeless within Yakima County may be increasing in the current
economic climate. The results of the 2009 Point -In -Time (PIT) survey indicated there
were 1,314 homeless individuals or 667 homeless households in Yakima County,
representing a substantial increase in the numbers of homeless from the previous
year (1,055 individuals). Another 317 homeless children were identified by the
Yakima School District and DCFS that were not included in the preceding totals. (The
number in Yakima declined slightly from 448 in 2008 to 418 in 2009.)
The Plan to End Homelessness in Yakima County by 2014 identified 3 main
categories of homeless within Yakima County - each with different housing needs.
• Episodically Homeless - are those who often use the shelter system but are
not considered chronically homeless.
■ Transitionally Homeless - are individuals and families who may only
experience 1 episode of homelessness in their lives.
3-5 Year Strategic Plan 109 Version 2.0
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■ Chronically Homeless - are unaccompanied individuals who have had 4 or
more episodes of homelessness within the past 3 years and have a disabling
condition; or, an unaccompanied individual who has been continuously
homeless for a year or more with a disabling condition.
Chronically Homeless individuals, although a small proportion of the total Yakima
Homeless population (7% of the total counted in 2008 or 73 individuals), likely
consume the most public resources in terms of contact with the criminal justice
system and health system.
Nationally, the chronically homeless make up approximately 23% of the homeless
population. The Yakima community recognized the local chronically homeless
population will require long-term housing with associated supportive services and
made this a priority within the Plan to End Homelessness in Yakima County by 2014.
Description of Yakima County Homeless Population
The 2009 PIT surveys were conducted by the combination of interviews at service
centers and shelters and street outreach to the places where surveyors were likely to
encounter homeless people. Surveys were conducted in Sunnyside, Wapato,
Toppenish and Yakima. Homeless participants received food and supplies at localized
staging areas.
The 2009 PIT survey was conducted in January 2009 by a combination of
inter -viewing those homeless persons who participated in Project Homeless Connect
in Yakima and Sunnyside and through outreach volunteers who sought out those
who were not aware of nor chose to participate in the Project Homeless Connect
events. Homeless Point -in -Time surveys were also held in Toppenish, and Wapato.
Homeless in Yakima County
The number of homeless individuals in Yakima County declined slightly from 1,991
homeless in 2005 to 1,055 homeless in 2008 then increased again to 1,314 in 2009.
In 2009 PIT surveys 51.5% were male and 48.5% female. The 2009 homeless by
age group were:
• 11.7% - 0-5
• 16.3% - 6-12
• 8.1% - 13-17
3.8% - 18-20
• 6.3% - 21-25
■ 14.3% - 26-35
• 14.4% - 36-45
• 12.0% - 46-55
• 5.0% - 56-64
1.4% - 65+
6.7% - unknown or refused
Education levels were:
■ 19.8% - K-6
• 12.9% - 7-9
• 11.9% - 10-11
• 16.9% - GED or high school diploma
• 7.3% - post high school
• 21.3% - refused to answer
3-5 Year Strategic Plan 110 Version 2.0
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• 9.9% - no schooling
The percent of homeless that were recently released from:
• 5.7% - jail
• 2.3% - treatment facility
• 3.1% - medical hospital
• 0.6% - psychiatric hospital
• 0.4% - work release
• 0.5% - foster care
The number of individuals who have been homeless in Yakima County for 1 year or
longer more than doubled from 164 in 2008 to 410 in 2009 even while those who
have been homeless for less than 1 month remained relatively stable at 142 in 2008
to 145 in 2009. Following are the reported lengths of time from the 2009 PIT for
those who responded:
• 15.2% - one month or less
• 15.4% - 2-3 months
• 26.4% - 4-12 months
• 43.0% - more than one year
The registered increase in the number of long term homelessness may be due to
improvements in point -in -time data collection methods for successfully counting
individuals who have been homeless for a longer period of time.
The number of homeless veterans in Yakima County declined from 71 in 2005 to 98
veterans in 2008 to 54 veterans in 2009. According to the 2008 PIT results, only 14
veterans were receiving any sort of Veteran's benefits and 22 of the 98 total in the
2008 PIT Survey have been homeless for longer than 1 year.
Disabling Conditions
Of those homeless listing a disabling condition in the 2009 PIT Yakima County
survey:
• 23.3% - listed untreated dental,
• 21.1% - alcohol or drug abuse,
• 20.0% - a permanent physical or medical condition,
• 18.7% - mental illness, and
• 16.9% - visual impairment.
The top 5 services needed by the reporting homeless in 2009 were:
• 29.0% - food
• 28.1% - clothes
• 15.4% - job training and placement
• 14.9% - health care
• 12.6% - dental care
Unsheltered Homeless
In 2008, there were 24 unsheltered individuals and 10 unsheltered families. In 2007
there were 50 unsheltered individuals and 24 unsheltered families. This data was
derived from the COC HUD report which relies on PIT data and which classifies
sheltered homeless as follows:
• Unsheltered Homeless - the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act
defines the unsheltered homeless are those who reside in a place not meant
3-5 Year Strategic Plan 111 Version 2.0
Jurisdiction
for human habitation, such as vehicle, out of doors, in parks, in abandoned
buildings, in garages, under bridges, etc.
• Sheltered Homeless - the sheltered homeless are those whose primary
nighttime residence is a supervised public or private emergency shelter,
transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, or temporarily living with
family or friends. The McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act does not
recognize as homeless those that are currently living in permanent supportive
housing or that are doubled up with family or friends.
Reasons for Homeless in Yakima County
The top reasons cited by the homeless of Yakima County in the 2009 PIT survey for
those that provided a cause for experiencing homelessness were:
• 37.7% - inability to pay the rent or mortgage
• 24.8% - job loss
• 19.0% - alcohol or drug use
• 18.6% - family break-up
Substance abuse was cited as the number one reason for homelessness each year
from 2005 to 2007. In 2008 and 2009, substance abuse was surpassed by the
inability to pay the rent or mortgage and job loss.
The survey results indicate the importance of services connected with housing and
could lead to further support of the Housing -First model in Yakima County. Low -
barrier shelter and housing would give homeless individuals who are also active
substance users access to housing not predicated on sobriety and engagement in
services.
Sources of Income
2009 PIT data indicated Yakima County homeless received income from the following
top 5 sources:
• 50.7% - public assistance
• 16.0% - none
• 13.3% - Social Security
• 11.0% - relatives, partners, or friends
• 9.0% - other including selling blood or plasma, panhandling, making and
selling goods
The 2009 PIT data indicates 16.0% of the homeless population has no income at all
from any source. This implies that any housing developed would need substantial
operating support, targeting incomes at 0 to 30% of Area Median Income (AMI).
Rents from tenants could not be expected to help cover operating expenses.
Places of Shelter
Data from the PIT surveys from 2005 to 2008 indicate that an average of 8% of the
homeless population went unsheltered, 16% were staying in an emergency shelter,
and 22% were staying in transitional housing.
It appears from PIT data from 2005 to 2008 that a significant portion of the Yakima
homeless population is doubled up with family or friends or couch -surfing. In 2008
43% of homeless individuals spent the previous night with family or friends
compared with an average of 31% of the total population surveyed for the years
2005 through 2008.
3-5 Year Strategic Plan
112 Version 2.0
Jurisdiction
The 2009 PIT data indicated the homeless were living in the following conditions:
• 46.7% - temporarily living with family or friends
• 13.8% - in emergency shelter
• 13.5% - in other type of shelter including motel, hotel, detox, etc
• 8.2% - living outdoors
8.0% - living in transitional housing
2.3% - living in vehicle
1.8% - in abandoned buildings
5.6% - refused or no response
This is consistent with general national characteristics of rural homelessness where
fewer individuals are found sleeping on the streets and more individuals, who might
otherwise be homeless, are found couch -surfing or doubled -up with family and
friends. These individuals are at great risk for becoming street bound.
Limitations of Point -in -Time (PIT) data
There are debates on the ability of Point -in -Time (PIT) counts to accurately capture
the number of homeless in a community. However, for Yakima County this is the
only comprehensive count of the homeless that occurs. Reliability/accuracy problems
include:
• relying on volunteers to accurately gather data;
• ability to find all the homeless people within a community in 1 day;
• not encountering couch -surfers; and
• those unwilling to be identified or counted.
The count provides only a snapshot of the number of homeless in the community.
Due to the inherent inability of any point -in -time count to capture all of those who
may be homeless on any given day, many homeless advocates believe that the
point -in -time survey vastly undercounts the actual total number of homeless in the
community.
Priority Homeless Needs
1. Using the results of the Continuum of Care planning process, identify the
jurisdiction's homeless and homeless prevention priorities specified in Table 1A,
the Homeless and Special Needs Populations Chart. The description of the
jurisdiction's choice of priority needs and allocation priorities must be based on
reliable data meeting HUD standards and should reflect the required consultation
with homeless assistance providers, homeless persons, and other concerned
citizens regarding the needs of homeless families with children and individuals.
The jurisdiction must provide an analysis of how the needs of each category of
residents provided the basis for determining the relative priority of each priority
homeless need category. A separate brief narrative should be directed to
addressing gaps in services and housing for the sheltered and unsheltered
chronic homeless.
2. A community should give a high priority to chronically homeless persons, where
the jurisdiction identifies sheltered and unsheltered chronic homeless persons in
its Homeless Needs Table - Homeless Populations and Subpopulations.
3-5 Year Strategic Plan 113 Version 2.0
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3-5 Year Strategic Plan Priority Homeless Needs response:
ESTIMATE OF UNMET NEED
Housing
The Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing (ORFH) estimated unmet need using
HUD's April 2006 instructions for Calculating Unmet Need for Homeless Individuals
and Families. The numbers were arrived at by looking at the number of unsheltered
homeless from Yakima County's 2009 Continuum of Care (COC) application, the
approximate percentages of chronically homeless, episodically homeless and those
who might benefit from transitional housing from the 2009 Point -In -Time survey and
the number of units already in existence identified in Yakima County's 2009 COC
application.
Table 40: Estimate of Unmet Housing Need 2009 by Housing Type
Emergency shelter beds units
Beds for individuals
42
Family units
3
Transitional housin
9
Beds for individuals
56
Family units
4
Permanent Su
PP
ortive Housing*
Units for individuals
44
* Permanent Supportive Housing targets chronically homeless individuals only.
Source: Housing for the Homeless in Yakima County 2009 Feasibility Study, Office of
Rural & Farmworker Housing (ORFH)
The estimate was further informed by interviews with homeless service providers and
those locally knowledgeable about the Yakima County homeless population.
Interviews were used to help estimate the number of homeless who need each
category of housing, namely emergency shelter, transitional housing or permanent
supportive housing. ORFH's estimation of unmet need is summarized below. The
estimate takes into consideration all vouchers that are currently available to
homeless families and individuals.
When determining the number of units to construct it is a common underwriting
practice to have demand levels at 1 and 1.5 times the number of units (or beds) that
are constructed. The purpose is to assure an adequate market exists for the potential
units/beds that are being created. Based on the ratio of 1.5 beds of demand for each
bed created, the following number of beds was recommended:
In Most Need
The greatest need in Yakima County is housing for homeless individuals who are not
already engaged in services. These individuals are likely those with substance abuse
issues and/or permanent mental or physical disabilities and are the most difficult to
engage.
Although in 2008 the inability to pay rent or mortgage was cited as the top reason
for homelessness, the primary population identified through available data from
years 2005 to 2007 are active substance abusers not already engaged in services.
Housing options for those with active substance abuse issues appear to be severely
limited. Recovering homeless may be able to access the clean and sober units in the
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community and those engaged in treatment services can take advantage of provider
housing. However, those with untreated issues have few, if any, options available.
Services
Interviews suggest that Yakima has a full continuum of services available to the
homeless, although employment services, job training, inclusive case management
and mentoring could be enhanced to better serve the homeless population.
Homeless Inventory (91.210 (c))
The jurisdiction shall provide a concise summary of the existing facilities and services
(including a brief inventory) that assist homeless persons and families with children
and subpopulations identified in Table 1A. These include outreach and assessment,
emergency shelters and services, transitional housing, permanent supportive
housing, access to permanent housing, and activities to prevent low-income
individuals and families with children (especially extremely low-income) from
becoming homeless. The jurisdiction can use the optional Continuum of Care
Housing Activity Chart and Service Activity Chart to meet this requirement.
3-5 Year Strategic Plan Homeless Inventory response:
EXISTING HOUSING OPTIONS FOR THE HOMELESS
Emergency Shelter
According to HUD's 2007 Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Housing
Inventory Chart Report and local information there are 6 organizations in Yakima
County providing a total of 216 year-round emergency shelter beds. This number
does not include Extreme Winter Weather beds. Of the permanent emergency shelter
beds, 86 are reserved for families and victims of domestic violence and 4 are
reserved for special needs clients. The remaining 80 beds in Yakima are provided by
the Union Gospel Mission.
According to anecdotal information, many homeless individuals are reluctant to make
use of the Union Gospel Mission shelter system due to restrictions placed on the
shelter stay. Ultimately, for single homeless adults in Yakima there is no alternative
emergency shelter to the Union Gospel Mission. Yakima County may be able to reach
a significant portion of individuals reluctant to use the Mission by providing an
alternative low -barrier shelter/resource center.
Table 41: Homeless Housing Inventory 2009
Organization T
Occupant
Units Beds
YWCA*
1 Family shelter
Family
15
37
Lower Valley Crisis and Support
Services - LVCSS
DV shelter
Family
8
24
YWCA*
DV shelter
Individuals
and families
3
25
Noah's Ark
Emergency shelter
Individuals
30
Central WA Comprehensive
Mental Health - CWCMH
Crisis beds
Individuals
4
Union Gospel Mission*
Emergency shelter
Individuals
80
Total in Yakima County
Total in Yakima*
26
216
18 142
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Source: Housing for the Homeless in Yakima County 2009 Feasibility Study, Office of
Rural & Farmworker Housing (ORFH)
In addition to the year-round shelter units listed above, the Extreme Winter Weather
shelter system operates within Yakima from November to March and offers a
maximum of 62 beds of which 12 beds are reserved for families and 50 beds are for
individuals. The beds for individuals operate at near capacity each night.
Because the winter shelters are located in churches not intended for the purpose of
an emergency shelter and may not be up to current building code standards, the
winter weather shelter system requires a special waiver and authorization from
Yakima each year.
The Extreme Winter Weather shelter is funded by Yakima County, administered by
Sunrise Outreach, and is dependent upon volunteers for operation. The shelter
system was never intended to be a permanent solution to the need for additional
year-round shelter beds in the Yakima. The Plan to End Homelessness in Yakima
County by 2014 lists as a number one priority the creation of emergency services to
serve the homeless and has the goal to develop non -religious emergency shelters.
Transitional Housing
There are approximately 180 transitional housing beds and 56 units available to
individuals and 139 transitional housing units available to families in Yakima County
of which 12 of the family transitional units are located at the Union Gospel Mission
and 28 units are provided to families through Yakima County housing vouchers. The
remaining 99 units are restricted to the clients of service providers.
In addition to the transitional housing units available to families, there are 56
vouchers and 180 transitional housing beds available to individuals who are
homeless. Only the housing vouchers are available to the general homeless
population and not restricted to a specific population.
Table 42: Transitional Housing Inventory 2009
Organization Tvpe
Occupant Units Beds
Triumph Treatment Services*
Transitional housing
Families
51
Triumph Treatment Services
Transitional Housing -
Granger/Toppenish
Families
5
Union Gospel Mission*
Transitional housing
Families
12
Yakima Neighborhood Health
Services*
Transitional housing
Families
4
Yakima County
Transitional housing -
vouchers
Families
28
Triumph Treatment Services*
Transitional Housing
Families -
Individuals
39
128
Yakima County
Transitional housing -
vouchers
Families
56
Central WA Comprehensive
Mental Health
Transitional housing -
homeless veterans
Individuals
11
Next Step Housing*
Transitional housing -
drug and alcohol free
Individuals
16
Union Gospel Mission*
Transitional housing -
drug and alcohol free
Individuals
20
Yakima County
Transitional housing -
Individuals
5
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HIV/AIDS
Total in Yakima County 195 180
Total in Yakima* 102 164
Source: Housing for the Homeless in Yakima County 2009 Feasibility Study, Office of
Rural & Farmworker Housing (ORFH)
Permanent Supportive Housing
There are 156 beds of permanent supportive housing available in Yakima County of
which 133 are reserved for clients of service providers. Of the remaining units, 11
are drug and alcohol free and 6 are in a group home. Of the permanent supportive
housing units, 6 are through Triumph Treatment Services available to the general
homeless population who are not already engaged in services.
Table 43: Permanent Supportive Housing Inventory 2009
Organization T Occupant
Units
Beds
Next Step Housing*
Permanent supportive
housing - drug and
alcohol free
Families -
Individuals
11
(11)
Sunnyside Housing Authority
Permanent supportive
housing - group home
Individuals
6
Triumph Treatment Services*
Permanent supportive
housing
Families -
Individuals
6
55
Central WA Comprehensive
Mental Health
Permanent supportive
housing
Individuals
80
Yakima Interfaith Coalition*
Permanent supportive
housing
Individuals
4
Total in Yakima County 17 156
Total in Yakima* 11 59
Source: Housing for the Homeless in Yakima County 2009 Feasibility Study, Office of
Rural & Farmworker Housing (ORFH)
Existing Service Options for the Homeless
There are currently 41 organizations that offer a full range of services to the
homeless in Yakima County. Services available include clothing and supplies,
transportation assistance, mental health, employment and training, legal, medical
and dental services. Examples of some specific services offered include:
• Salvation Army: Vision Care
• Northwest Justice Project: Legal Services
• Triumph Treatment Services: Chemical Dependency Treatment
• Yakima Interfaith Coalition - 107 House, a local walk-in service center for the
homeless where people can get referrals, gas vouchers, bus tokens and
hygiene packs. The Hygiene Center is open for 2 hours per day and offers a
place to shower. Laundry tokens are available at the Hygiene Center.
• Yakima Neighborhood Health Services - Connections: Health and Dental
Treatment
Homeless Strategic Plan (91.215 (c))
1. Homelessness— Describe the jurisdiction's strategy for developing a system to
address homelessness and the priority needs of homeless persons and families
(including the subpopulations identified in the needs section). The jurisdiction's
strategy must consider the housing and supportive services needed in each stage
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of the process which includes preventing homelessness, outreach/assessment,
emergency shelters and services, transitional housing, and helping homeless
persons (especially any persons that are chronically homeless) make the
transition to permanent housing and independent living. The jurisdiction must
also describe its strategy for helping extremely low- and low-income individuals
and families who are at imminent risk of becoming homeless.
2. Chronic homelessness—Describe the jurisdiction's strategy for eliminating chronic
homelessness by 2012. This should include the strategy for helping homeless
persons make the transition to permanent housing and independent living. This
strategy should, to the maximum extent feasible, be coordinated with the
strategy presented Exhibit 1 of the Continuum of Care (CoC) application and any
other strategy or plan to eliminate chronic homelessness. Also describe, in a
narrative, relationships and efforts to coordinate the Conplan, CoC, and any other
strategy or plan to address chronic homelessness.
3. Homelessness Prevention—Describe the jurisdiction's strategy to help prevent
homelessness for individuals and families with children who are at imminent risk
of becoming homeless.
4. Institutional Structure—Briefly describe the institutional structure, including
private industry, non-profit organizations, and public institutions, through which
the jurisdiction will carry out its homelessness strategy.
5. Discharge Coordination Policy—Every jurisdiction receiving McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG), Supportive Housing,
Shelter Plus Care, or Section 8 SRO Program funds must develop and implement
a Discharge Coordination Policy, to the maximum extent practicable. Such a
policy should include "policies and protocols for the discharge of persons from
publicly funded institutions or systems of care (such as health care facilities,
foster care or other youth facilities, or correction programs and institutions) in
order to prevent such discharge from immediately resulting in homelessness for
such persons." The jurisdiction should describe its planned activities to
implement a cohesive, community -wide Discharge Coordination Policy, and how
the community will move toward such a policy.
3-5 Year Homeless Strategic Plan response:
Planned Units
Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health (CWCMH) currently has plans for
20 units of permanent supportive housing for adults in Sunnyside if funding is
available. The YWCA has 16 family shelter units in development and Triumph
Treatment Services will be adding 4 additional permanent supportive housing units
for clients within Yakima. These units do not address the housing need of those who
are homeless and not already engaged in services.
ORFH's Feasibility Study Recommended Next Steps
The 2009 Feasibility Study for Housing for the Homeless in Yakima County prepared
by the Office of Rural & Farmworker Housing (ORFH) analyzed a number of
alternative facility development models, sites, and funding strategies. ORFH
recommended the following steps be taken to resolve final proposals and projects to
resolve unmet needs:
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1. Reach consensus on desired model of development in order to identify appropriate
funding sources.
a. A single development will not be capable of serving all the housing needs
identified above, including shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing.
Consider multiple developments over time in distinct locations or phases of
development if on a single site.
b. Both housing and a shelter/service center could be contained on one site given
the following conditions:
i. Housing units were separate and distinct from shelter space.
ii. Residents of housing units were not required to enter units through service
center or shelter.
iii. Site is located in an area where shelter residents have access to
community services.
2. Identify an owner/sponsor willing to take on the housing -first, low -barrier model
of housing to address the highest need population who are those homeless who have
active substance abuse problems and/or mental health and physical disabilities and
who are not already engaged in services.
3. In conjunction with the owner/sponsor, identify sources of operating revenue to
support the long-term operations of the proposed model of development.
4. Secure an appropriate site.
5. Engage and enter into Memorandum of Understanding with service providers.
a. Service providers who provide on-site services to residents will need to closely
coordinate with existing services in the community in order to provide efficient
delivery to residents and to not duplicate efforts.
6. Pursue capital financing.
CONTINUUM OF CARE
Yakima adopted the Yakima County Continuum of Care Plan as city policy. The plan
outlines the continuum of programs and services required to move a family or
individual from homelessness to independent living and self-sufficiency.
The Continuum of Care Plan guides the ONDS's use of resources to reduce the
number of homeless households. The Continuum of Care does this by designating
priority levels to homeless projects and programs and by assessing whether
proposed projects duplicate existing services.
The first priority of the Continuum of Care is to maintain existing resources that
serve the needs of the homeless within the community. The plan identifies new
projects and services that fill critical gaps in prevention services, outreach,
emergency and transitional housing, support services, and long-term affordable
housing.
Support of transitional housing facilities helps homeless families and individuals
transition into independence, and in doing so, helps carry out Yakima's Anti -Poverty
Strategy. ONDS is leveraging resources for implementing the Anti -Poverty Strategy
by providing technical assistance to homeless housing and service providers.
Yakima recognizes homelessness as the most severe housing problem. Beginning in
2005, the Yakima County human service community began the process of creating a
Continuum of Care Plan, a county -wide plan to prevent and end homelessness and to
make self-determination possible for homeless individuals and families.
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In the years following, the Homeless Network of Yakima County (representing
approximately 46 non-profit and government agencies, housing developers, school
districts, businesses, and neighborhoods) analyzed data and identified gaps and
strategies in the process of updating the Continuum of Care Plan.
The Homeless Network of Yakima County developed a 10 -Year Plan to End Homeless
which included the following goals, objectives, strategies, and activities:
10 YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS IN YAKIMA COUNTY
Goal: Reduce the number of homeless persons in Yakima County by 50% by the
year 2015
Objectives:
• Reduce the number of homeless families and individuals, including: youth
and chronically homeless
• Conduct adequate data collection and planning to efficiently manage
resources for housing and services for the homeless population
Strategies:
• Develop, enhance and expand affordable housing stock
• Prevent homelessness among families and individuals at imminent risk of
losing housing
• Increase household income
• Improve access to health services
Housing Activities:
• Develop new affordable rental housing for families and individuals
• Develop additional clean and sober units
• Increase the number of units available for individuals waiting to get into
treatment
• Increase the number of units of re-entry housing for individuals exiting
institutions
• Develop youth center to include housing and services
• Create additional cooperative or transitional housing for homeless youth
• Support and sustain existing housing for homeless youth
• Increase the number of rental vouchers for homeless families and individuals
• Expand weatherization and home repair assistance to low-income families and
individuals at risk of homelessness
Prevention Activities:
• Secure funding for additional Housing First opportunities
• Increase coordination between benefit and homeless services provider to
create "no wrong door" access
• Provide post placement case management in permanent housing projects
• Create coordinated life skills/home maintenance training
• Create and distribute resource information directory
• Develop advocacy, dispute resolution for landlords
• Create peer support group for homeless households
• Develop on-line housing and services directory
• Develop public services campaign on issues about homelessness
• Conduct case management training and networking program
• Develop interagency agreements regarding discharge planning
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• Increase number of street outreach professionals
• Encourage service providers to designate a youth point person and create a
list of contacts within the community
• Increase outreach workers for contacting homeless youth
Increasing Household Income Activities:
• Establish an Individual Development Account program
• Develop bilingual job readiness program
Improving Access to Healthcare Activities:
• Establish access to bilingual medical and legal services to households not
covered by medical coupons
• Improve outreach to people who are homeless about HIV/AIDS services
• Increase collaboration between mental health and substance abuse treatment
service providers for people needing both treatment services
• Establish program where nurses accompany mental health case managers in
outreach activities
• Establish proactive outreach and harm reduction for people who are injection
drug users
Improving Data Collection and Planning:
• Conduct annual Point in Time Count and publicize results
• Conduct annual Continuum of Care housing inventory and publicize the
results
• Increase Homeless Management Information System participation
INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE
The institutional structure for delivering homeless services including housing that is
currently being implemented adapts evidenced -based models of homeless
prevention, rapid re -housing, jail diversion, and focused re-entry planning. The key
components establish new commitments to increase access to supportive and
mainstream services that are vital to retaining permanent housing.
As called for in Washington State's 10 year plan, the system will shift the focus from
emergency response strategies to prevention and long term housing. The approach
which affects all homeless subpopulations increases efficiencies of the existing
homeless housing infrastructure which consists of low -rent housing, transitional
housing and emergency shelter. The approach saves money by diverting some
individuals away from high-cost institutional facilities. The new institutional structure
commits the community to homeless prevention, rapid re -housing, institution
discharge planning, and supportive services.
DISCHARGE COORDINATION
Discharge coordination in Yakima and Yakima County is handled through the CORE
(Community -Oriented Re -Entry) program. CORE is a team approach to re-entry and
discharge planning with access to tenant -based housing assistance and mainstream
services through the Yakima County Homeless Services Center.
Yakima County criminal justice, substance abuse and mental health systems have
opened a Crisis Triage Center to coordinate services for people with mental health
and/or substance abuse disorders who tend to cycle through the jail and the hospital
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emergency department. The Crisis Triage Center is staffed 24/7 to provide expedited
assessment, stabilizing interventions, and access to services. CORE team members
collaborate with Yakima County Homeless Services Center's rapid exit coordinator
and housing specialist to provide housing solutions.
Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG)
(States only) Describe the process for awarding grants to State recipients, and a
description of how the allocation will be made available to units of local government.
3-5 Year Strategic Plan ESG response:
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Helping others
To the editor — Our city has taken
several actions that have further
distanced the community's poor and
homeless members from the secure
and privileged among us (like myself).
Threatening to displace people in low-
income housing downtown, making it
illegal to ask for help on street corners
and closing cold weather housing are all
acts that will make the poor and home-
less less visible.
People at the margins rely on rela-
tionships with others for survival. The
more well off set aside'our riches and
become less reliant on each other. To
move the homeless and nearly home-
less away'from the mainstream of our
town makes us believe they don't exist.
It makes us less compassionate and
generous to them because it makes our
relationships with them weaker.
Aside from the economic and political
talk that results from this conversation,
we need to be aware that the marginal-
ized need our help. Sharing a moment
in a coffee shop, rolling down the
window to greet a homeless veteran or
volunteering at a winter shelter are ways
we become stronger as a community and
build relationships we otherwise would
not have. Please join me in asking our
city leaders to stop these actions that fail
t� serve the public good.
ROY SIMMS
Yakima