Title:
Title
Railroad Shelter Program Report [Oral Report]
End
FileID
File ID: 2019-01017
Location
Location: Citywide
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Receive and file.
Contact: Emily Halcon, Homeless Services Coordinator, (916) 808-7896; Andrew Geurkink, Program Analyst, (916) 808-7816, Office of the City Manager
Body
Presenter: Andrew Geurkink, Program Analyst, (916) 808-7816, Office of the City Manager
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Railroad Shelter Written Report
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: To address the needs of people experiencing homelessness during the winter months, the City opened the Winter Triage Shelter (Railroad Shelter), which added up to 200 shelter beds accessible by referral through the City’s Police IMPACT teams and City outreach partners through the City’s Pathways to Health + Home program from December of 2017 through April of 2019. Over the course of the shelter operations, City staff produced a weekly data report which provided up-to-date program outcomes and an overview of guests enrolled. While the weekly data presented the community with some information on the progress of the shelter, the final report provides more extensive information on the shelter program and its impacts to the community.
On October 24, 2017, Council approved a funding agreement with Volunteers of America (VOA) to serve as the operator for the City’s Winter Triage Shelter. In addition to approving the funding agreement with VOA, Council requested that staff return after the program ended to provide a thorough analysis of the impact of the program.
Policy Considerations: The contract for the Railroad Shelter required active coordination with the homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) and participation in the community’s coordinated entry and assessment program as well as the City’s Pathways to Health + Home (Whole Person Care) initiative. These programs align with the federal directive that funding for addressing homelessness follow a “housing first” approach and a part of a larger strategy to lowering barriers to accessing services. Housing first principles ensure that emergency shelter be provided with few to no barriers to access and focus on linking clients with permanent housing as quickly as possible. In housing first programs, supportive services are offered (but not required as a condition of tenancy) in shelter and ongoing to help people keep their housing and avoid returning to homelessness. This evidence-based approach is consistent with the strategies and funding priorities of the other public agencies working to end homelessness in Sacramento. The final report details outcomes of the shelter program in the context of housing first principles.
Economic Impacts: None
Environmental Considerations: None
Sustainability: None
Commission/Committee Action: None
Rationale for Recommendation: The final report on the Railroad Shelter (originally operating under the name Winter Triage Shelter) spans program operations from December 8, 2017 to April 30, 2019. This report provides an overview of activities and outcomes connected to shelter which have been coordinated through the City and its partner agencies through Pathways to Health + Home, Volunteers of America, and Downtown Streets Team, and the City’s Front Street Animal Shelter.
Financial Considerations: None
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable