Warming Centers County Action Needed Now

Conclusions 7

• CL1 Page 19
  The City Manager (or designee) will be notified by the Fire Department of the need to open an Extreme Weather Warming Center based on forecasted conditions provided to the Fire Department by the NWS. She/he will take the necessary steps to identify and open an Extreme Weather Warming Center with the lead department, either indoor or outdoor, at a facility or in coordination with the City’s homeless services operator in support of the unsheltered population.
• CL2 Page 20
  If an Extreme Weather Warming Center needs to be opened on a weekend or holiday, the same procedure applies. The City Manager (or designee) will be the first notified of the need to open an Extreme Weather Warming Center.
• CL3 Page 20
  Once the location of the Extreme Weather Warming Center is determined, the lead department will notify the City’s Communications Officer, who will then coordinate with any affected department(s) to provide public notifications including media releases, social media messaging and publication to City websites/newsflash items. a. Individuals seeking an Extreme Weather Warming Center will be advised: • The Extreme Weather Warming Center is a drop-in place to warm up and charge devices, it is not a shelter and no cots for sleeping will be provided. • No television or radio will be available at the Extreme Weather Warming Center, but visitors may bring, charge and use their own devices. • Light snacks and beverages may be provided. • Food that is ready to eat is permissible; kitchen access will not be available. • Due to space limitations, no more than one small tote and daypack per person is allowed. • The City of Santa Rosa or it’s contractor(s) will not be responsible for lost or stolen items. • Visitors must comply with the City’s Standards of Behavior/Code of Conduct (attached). • Pets other than service animals may be permitted at the Extreme Weather Warming Center at the sole discretion of the City’s homeless services operator. • Information about Sonoma County Animal Services ‘Warming Van’ or other arrangements will be shared, if it is available.
• CL4 Page 20
  The Fire Department will contact Sonoma County Animal Services to determine their availability; the current contact is Brian Whipple, Operations Manager, 707-565-7101, [email protected]
• CL5 Page 20
  The lead department will contact Catholic Charities to determine their availability; the current contact is Matthew Verscheure, Chief Program Officer, 707-525-0227, [email protected].
• CL6 Page 20
  Information that is disseminated to the public and is vital to the health and safety of the community should be coordinated for translation into alternative language(s), as necessary, by the Communications Officer and made available to the City Council, Sonoma County Emergency Services, Sonoma County Public Health, Catholic Charities and the American Red Cross (when applicable) prior to the final media release to the public. a. Note: In the event immediate translation is needed, and the services are unavailable, it is acceptable to utilize the translation feature on the public facing website (www.srcity.org ) for translation purposes.
• CL7 Page 8
  Because of the real health risks that unhoused people in Sonoma County face during severe cold weather, it is essential that protecting them be a high priority for the County. Key to this protection is the existence of warming centers needed to get people out of the cold. Providing that protection is a complex challenge because warming centers that are easy to get to must be identified as well as secured with necessary agreements, staffing, and funding. Also, communication with unhoused people must be done effectively so that they know where to go, how to get there, and what rules there are for accommodations. Additionally, it must be made clear to everyone involved when this kind of cold weather emergency exists so that protecting unhoused people can be achieved. Adding to that complexity is the reality that many unhoused people are hesitant to take advantage of the warming centers, so they must be protected in other ways, such as with blankets, tents, and sleeping bags. Because of the complexity of the solutions involved in protecting unhoused people during these weather emergencies, clear policies and protocols need to be in place. Careful advance planning is essential to avoid deficiencies in the response due to last-minute mobilization, poor coordination, and inadequate communication. These policies must leave no doubt as to who is responsible for each part of the response, and how the various agencies and departments must coordinate with each other. The major theme of the Grand Jury’s findings and recommendations involve the development of policies and protocols that address the critical need for temporary shelter in extreme weather, initiated and overseen by the County Board of Supervisors, with direct participation of County-level departments and jurisdictions within the County.

Agency Responses 1

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