Give Me Shelter an Inquiry Into the First Year of Operation of Connections Housing

Commendations 12

• CM1
  Having a food category in the budget would allow better planning and stability. Fact: The Health Center opened in January of 2013 and in the original CUP was allowed to be open seven days a week. Fact: The Health Center is only open Monday through Fridays, eight hours a day.
• CM2
  Health Services need to have more accessible hours, including weekends. Fact: There are two people on PATH’s street outreach team.
• CM3
  More than two people would greatly improve the ability to address the needs of the homeless in the targeted area. Fact: The Depot was closed during most of the month of December 2013.
• CM4
  There is more need for the Depot to be open during the Holidays. Fact: Both PATH and Alpha Project have counseling responsibilities for the interim and SRO residents.
• CM5
  This dual responsibility has caused confusion for the SRO residents. Fact: SRO tenants are not given a key fob which allows entry to the Community room and Patio.
• CM6
  SRO tenants pay rent and are entitled to use the Community room and adjacent Patio without having to wait to be escorted. Fact: The Community room is closed at night and on weekends.
• CM7
  Because of the limited time the Community Room is open it is under- utilized. 11 SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2013/2014 (filed May 28, 2014)
• CM8
  The participants appeared to not respond well to being rushed through the meal. Fact: Lunch is not served to the regular residents. Fact: The regular residents must leave Connections Housing in order to eat lunch. Fact: Food vending machines are located in the dining room. 10 SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2013/2014 (filed May 28, 2014)
• CM9
  Vending machines are not accessible during hours when residents are more likely to need them. Fact: There is no funding for food in the Fiscal 2014 budget. Fact: Urban Angels currently donates the food for the interim residents.
• CM10
  Connections Housing is accomplishing its goal of reducing the number of homeless in the quarter mile radius around the facility. Fact: PATH was hired to do the street outreach and general planning for Connections Housing. Alpha Project was chosen to counsel and support interim residents.
• CM11
  By splitting the responsibilities Alpha Project and PATH sometimes disagree on the selection and handling of residents for the Interim Housing beds. Fact: Some members of the Grand Jury visited Connections Housing on December 8, 2013 and served breakfast to the residents. Fact: Many residents do not partake of food provided.
• CM12
  Urban Angels is commended for its generous contribution of food to the interim residents of Connections Housing and for the time and energy its members spend in serving and communicating with its residents. The founder and chef are to be commended for their monetary contributions to Connections Housing. FACTS AND FINDINGS Fact: San Diego has the fourth largest homeless population in the country. Fact: A large number of San Diego’s homeless population lives in the downtown area. Fact: Nearly 50 community meetings were held to discuss plans for the operations of Connections Housing. Fact: Homelessness has decreased by 70 percent around Connections Housing. Fact: The primary goal of Connections Housing is to end homelessness in the quarter mile area around it. Finding 01: Connections Housing is accomplishing its goal of reducing the number of homeless in the quarter mile radius around the facility. Fact: PATH was hired to do the street outreach and general planning for Connections Housing. Alpha Project was chosen to counsel and support interim residents. Finding 02: By splitting the responsibilities Alpha Project and PATH sometimes disagree on the selection and handling of residents for the Interim Housing beds. Fact: Some members of the Grand Jury visited Connections Housing on December 8, 2013 and served breakfast to the residents. Fact: Many residents do not partake of food provided. Finding 03: The participants appeared to not respond well to being rushed through the meal. Fact: Lunch is not served to the regular residents. Fact: The regular residents must leave Connections Housing in order to eat lunch. Fact: Food vending machines are located in the dining room. 10 SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2013/2014 (filed May 28, 2014) Finding 04: Vending machines are not accessible during hours when residents are more likely to need them. Fact: There is no funding for food in the Fiscal 2014 budget. Fact: Urban Angels currently donates the food for the interim residents. Finding 05: Having a food category in the budget would allow better planning and stability. Fact: The Health Center opened in January of 2013 and in the original CUP was allowed to be open seven days a week. Fact: The Health Center is only open Monday through Fridays, eight hours a day. Finding 06: Health Services need to have more accessible hours, including weekends. Fact: There are two people on PATH’s street outreach team. Finding 07: More than two people would greatly improve the ability to address the needs of the homeless in the targeted area. Fact: The Depot was closed during most of the month of December 2013. Finding 08: There is more need for the Depot to be open during the Holidays. Fact: Both PATH and Alpha Project have counseling responsibilities for the interim and SRO residents. Finding 09: This dual responsibility has caused confusion for the SRO residents. Fact: SRO tenants are not given a key fob which allows entry to the Community room and Patio. Finding 10: SRO tenants pay rent and are entitled to use the Community room and adjacent Patio without having to wait to be escorted. Fact: The Community room is closed at night and on weekends. Finding 11: Because of the limited time the Community Room is open it is under- utilized. 11 SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2013/2014 (filed May 28, 2014)

No Responses Found 1

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