Warming Centers

The County failed in its critical role in protectint the health and safety of all unhoused people during severe cold weather emergencies during the winters of 2021-2022 a d m22-2021. We disagree wholly with this statement. We do not agree that the County failed in its role in protecting the health and safety of u nhoused people during the cold weather emergency of the time periods described. The County convened all ofthe appropriate stakeholders duringthose events such as the cities, county departments, service providers, homeless providers, first responders, State personnel, schools, PG&E, the National Weather Service and others to ensure we are informed of weather events and addressing any gaps, particularly in the unhoused population. The County opened a warming center during the events at the Veteran's Hall Building. The County coordinated approprlate messaging to homeless service providers regarding the weather events and coordinated with homeless providers regarding the location of open warming centers. County teams updated a QR-code based English-Spanish flierthat links folksto updated information during lhe 2022-2023 event. The County team developed COVID-19 mitigation strategies and disseminated them to stakeholders during these events in an effort to protect the health and safety of our unhoused population we also provided hotel rooms and warm resources such as blankets for those unwilling to come in out of the elements.

lnadequate coordination between the various involved County agencies led to an inefficient and less effective response to cold weather emergencies that negatively affucted the health and safety of unhoused people. We disagree wholly with this statement. The County coordinated appropriately during both winter events with the National Weather Service to determine the appropriate alerts to be disseminated throughout the community including to the unhoused population. Messaging went out to all homeless providers and existing shelters. The County actively worked with the cities as well as homeless service providers during these events to coordinate the appropriate care and shelter for the unhoused in our community. Daily status and check-in calls were convened by the Department of Emergency Management to address any needs and to receive updates. The Community Development Commisslon's Ending Homelessness unit collaborated with homeless providers to determine open shelters and any needed shelter capacity. The County also opened a warming shelter at the Veteran's Hall Building in Sonoma during both events that was not well attended by the unhoused population. COVID-19 protocols were also addressed duringthis time, in particular durinB the 2021-2022 event and appropriate resources such as masks were stocked at the centers via Department of Health Services medical unit.

A lack of clear definition and unde6tanding of the responsibilities of various county departments regarding the cold weather protection of unhoused people increases their health risks. we disagree with this finding in part as there has been clear understanding ofthe responsibilities of County departments, but this has not been spelled out in writing until the recent approval of the Department of Emergency Management's Operations Annex. County departments have coordinated and worked in collaboration during these events with cities and homeless service providers to mitigate health risks to the unhoused population. lthink it is important to point out that our unhoused population are often resistant to coming into congregate warming centers, although temporary, this is often the appropriate set up during these events.

Providing temporary shelter for unhoused people during weather emertencies does not receive the priority from the County to enable appropriate funding for staff, supplies, transportation, and other expenditures to meet this critical need. We disagree wlth this finding. The County spends approximately $70M annually in funding (an underestimate at best) for housing, services, and supportsforour unhoused population. TheBoard provided over 5850K in emergency funding for those in encampments throughout the county, providing critical urgent reliefto many experiencing weather events, crisis, etc...

At the time of the complaint and throuth the winter ol2O22-2OZ3 lhe County failed to assign responsibility to an agency or individual to declare that a cold weather emergency existed. We disagree with this finding. The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) takes the lead regarding this responsibility. The Department of EmerBency Management works closely with the National Weather Service who declares the weather event and DEM will send out a declaration should weather conditions meet the appropriate criteria. DEM will work closely with the County Health Officer who may also send out a separate declaration. DEM works closely with all county stakeholders to provide updates on weather conditions as they are received from the National Weather Service. During severe events, daily convenings are hosted by DEM where a National Weather Service representative is always present to provide real-time updates so decisions can be discussed and implemented as necessary.

At the time ofthe complaint and through the winlet ol2O22'ZO2!,the County failed to consistently determine when the temperature and other weather conditions constituted a cold weather emerBency. We disagree with this finding. The Department of Emergency Management works closely with the National Weather Service to determine when the temperature or other weather conditions constitute a cold weather emergency. These events must meet established criteria. Oncethese weather events meet criteria the appropriate weather emergency is declared. DEM works closely with all county stakeholders to provide updates on weather conditions as they are received from the National Weather Service. During severe events, daily convenings are hosted by DEM wherea National Weather Service representative is always present to provide real-time updates so decisions can be discussed and implemented as appropriate and necessary.

The County failed to consistently collec and utilize data such as costs, staffing, facilities, and the number of unhoused individuals who took advantage ofthe limited number of warming centers in the County, which hinders the ability to plan for firture cold weather emertencies. we disagree with this findinB. The County did collect data from cities and homeless providers and provided a summary report to previous CAO leadership. The number of individuals taking advantage ofthe warming centers is reported out in the DEM convenings and was provided to the County upon request. This information assisted in planning number of supplies needed, staffing capacity, and has served to gauge future funding needs for warming center efforts. Response to Grand Jury Report Form Title: Report Warming Centers Date: Report June 18,2023 Response by: Jeff DuVall Title: Director for the Department of Emergency Management Name: Agency/Department Sonoma County Board of Supervisors FINDINGS: F LL, FTz I (we)agree with the findings numbered I (we) disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: Ftt Ft2 (Attach a statement specifying any portions of the findings that are disputed with an explanation of the reasons.)