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TODAY IS NOVEMBER 4TH.[Housing and Homelessness Solutions on November 4, 2025.]
AND I'M GOING TO CALL TO ORDER THE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS COMMITTEE.BUT ESPECIALLY WANT TO SAY, WELCOME TO JAMES ARMSTRONG, OUR NEW DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
JAMES, YOU WANT TO JUST COME AND SAY HI.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR. HELLO.
>> HELLO. COMMITTEE, I'VE TOLD HIM THAT HE HAS AT LEAST ONE MONTH PASS OF ANY REALLY HARD QUESTION.
LET'S ALL BE NICE TO HIM FOR AT LEAST A MONTH.
I KNOW HE'S EAGER TO TALK TO EACH OF YOU AND GET SOME IDEAS AND VISION OF WHERE WE'RE HEADED AND THOUGHTS.
WE'RE VERY GLAD TO HAVE YOU AND WELCOME ON BOARD JAMES.
>> WELL, OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 21ST COMMITTEE MINUTES.
>> THERE'S A MOTION FOR APPROVAL AND A SECOND.
ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR CHANGES? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL. PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU.
WE HAVE SEVERAL BRIEFING ITEMS TODAY THAT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT, AND I HOPE YOU ARE TOO.
THE FIRST ONE IS PRESENTATION THAT THOR IS GOING TO GIVE ABOUT A MAP.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR MANSON. THANKS. THANK YOU COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I AM THOR ERICKSON, DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. GOOD MORNING.
THIS MAP IS A WORK THAT STAFF IS USING TO START TO UNDERSTAND SPATIALLY WHERE SOME OF THE SHELTERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE LOCATED, ALONG WITH HOW MANY BEDS THEY HAVE AND THE CURRENT CAPACITY AND UTILIZATION RATES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE NOT MAPPED ALL OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE PROVIDERS OR EVEN PROVIDERS IN THE CITY, BUT REALLY THE ONES THAT START TO HIGHLIGHT THE LARGER CAPACITY, THE MORE KNOWN ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'VE CURRENTLY WORKED WITH, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO USE THIS UNDERSTANDING TO KNOW WHAT'S BEING SERVED IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AROUND THE CITY AND ULTIMATELY USE IT TOWARDS OUR DEVELOPMENT OF OUR HOUSING PATHWAYS FRAMEWORK.
THAT FULLY UNDERSTANDS THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE, THE CONTRACTS THAT WE PROVIDE, THE POPULATIONS THAT THEY SERVE, SO THAT WE CAN FULLY HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THAT SYSTEM.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR FEEDBACK ON THE TYPE OF DATA, THE TYPE OF RESOURCES YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT, SO WE CAN WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS AT HOUSING FORWARD TO EXTRACT THAT DATA FROM HMIS AND THE PROVIDERS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE FULL UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE SHELTERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE CITY. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. WHO HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MAP, COMMENTS? WELL, I ASKED FOR THIS MAP TO BE PRESENTED FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
FIRST, AS THOR MENTIONED, IT REALLY IS JUST OUR OVERNIGHT SHELTERS, OUR DAY SHELTERING, AND OUR PERMIT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
BUT WHAT WE'VE HEARD VERY OFTEN, BOTH IN PUBLIC COMMENTS, SOCIAL MEDIA, EVEN SOMETIMES IN MEDIA ARTICLES IS A NARRATIVE ABOUT WHERE THE HOMELESS SERVICES ARE LOCATED.
VERY OFTEN, IT'LL BE EXPLAINED THAT THERE'S SOME CONCENTRATION IN SOUTHERN DALLAS, THAT THERE IS AN EFFORT TO MOVE THE HOMELESS TO SOUTHERN DALLAS.
WHAT THIS MAP IS SHOWING YOU ON THE BLUE IS WHERE THE SERVICES ACTUALLY ARE.
WHAT YOU SEE IS ACTUALLY A VERY LARGE CONCENTRATION DOWNTOWN, AS WELL AS SERVICES ALL THE WAY TO OUR NORTHERN BOUNDARY.
BUT WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IS SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN ANY OVERNIGHT SHELTERING, DAY SHELTERING OR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
WELL, THE SEVEN DISTRICT, ALL OF THOSE.
>> NUMBER SEVEN AND NUMBER SIX.
>> NUMBER SEVEN AND NUMBER SIX ARE NOTED, BUT YOU'LL NOTICE THEY'RE GRADED OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT OPEN.
THEIR FACILITIES WE OWN, YOU'LL KNOW THEM AS THE HAMPTON FACILITY AND THE INDEPENDENCE FACILITY.
THEY DON'T CURRENTLY SHELTER ANYBODY.
WE ALSO HAVE NUMBER 10 THAT'S ALSO GRAYED OUT.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE NEW SALVATION ARMY, IT'S BEING BUILT. IT'S NOT YET OPEN.
BUT OF COURSE, THAT WILL ALSO CANCEL OUT THEIR EXISTING SHELTER.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE FACTS, SO THAT WE REALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE ARE THE SERVICES, WHERE ARE THEY BEING PROVIDED? EVEN AS YOU ARE POINTING OUT THE BULLET OF SEVEN DOWN OFF A 20, I'LL SAY FOR DISTRICT SEVEN, THE SERVICES, AGAIN, ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE CORE OF THE CITY.
THEY'RE NOT ON THE SOUTHERN PART OF THAT.
SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, HAVE BEEN OPERATING UNDER THIS IDEA THAT WE WOULD HAVE SERVICES AVAILABLE EMERGENCY OVERNIGHT SHELTERING,
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DAY SHELTERING, AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, THAT THESE WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN EVERY DISTRICT.IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF OUR CURRENT PRIORITIES FOR THIS COUNCIL?
>> EXCUSE ME. THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT HAS BEEN AN EFFORT THAT WE WERE DRIVING FORWARD OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, YES.
>> I THINK AS WE GO FORWARD, WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT AND WHAT'S NOT AVAILABLE AND WHERE IT'S NOT AVAILABLE.
THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, YOU AND I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT SOME SMALLER SERVICES THAT ARE EITHER SUPPORTIVE OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, I'M JUST GOING TO USE THE LEGAL AID EXAMPLE.
LEGAL AID IS SOMETIMES EMBEDDED IN SOME OF OUR SHELTERS.
THEY HAVE A LOCATION OF COURSE DOWNTOWN.
BUT WE ALSO SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME SMALLER SUPPORTIVE TYPE SERVICES THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO NOTE THAT ARE INDEED IN THE SOUTHERN SIDE.
BUT AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT OVERNIGHT SHELTERING ANYBODY, THEY'RE NOT PROVIDING EVEN THE DAY SHELTERING OR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
THANK YOU FOR JUST LEVEL SETTING WHAT THE FACTS ARE SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THIS, AGAIN, THEY'RE USING REAL INFORMATION.
LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, IT IS A PRESENTATION ABOUT COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE.
THIS IS A LOCATION IN AUSTIN THAT MANY OF US HAVE VISITED, I DON'T KNOW.
I'VE BEEN THERE I THINK 3 TIMES, 2 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.
IT'S REALLY AN EXTRAORDINARY LOCATION THAT IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF IT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY DO IT, AND VERY HAPPY TO WELCOME SARAH, LENOIR.
>> YES, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING. CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME OKAY?
>> WE CAN. IS IT POSSIBLE YOU HAVE A CAMERA THAT YOU CAN SHOW AS WELL?
>> THERE WE GO. PERFECT. WE JUST HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS. YES. THANK YOU.
>> HI, GOOD MORNING [LAUGHTER]. SO HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
AM I GOOD TO GO AHEAD, GET STARTED, MADAM CHAIR?
>> AWESOME. WELL, MY NAME IS SARAH, LENOIR.
I AM THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RELATIONSHIPS HERE AT MOBILE LOAVES AND FISHES.
MOBILE LOAVES AND FISHES IS THE 501(C)(3) THAT HAS COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE AS OUR BIGGEST PROGRAM.
I WANT TO TAKE YOU THROUGH HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHAT WE'RE UP TO NOW.
I'M GOING TO TALK A LOT, BUT I REALLY WANT THIS TO BE CONVERSATIONAL WHEN WE GET TO Q&A.
WE LIKE TO BE OPEN BOOKS AND TRY TO GIVE A LITTLE DOSE OF HOPE TO EVERYBODY BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S A BIG PROBLEM.
JUST SIT WITH ME IN THAT TODAY AND EXCITED TO BE HERE.
IN 1998, ALAN GRAHAM, OUR FOUNDER AND CEO, WAS SITTING IN A MEN'S RETREAT AT HIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, ST. JOHN NEWMAN HERE IN AUSTIN, AND FELT THIS CALLING, THIS PULL, THIS NEED TO LOVE HIS NEIGHBOR, A LITTLE MORE LOUDLY.
HE AND A COUPLE FRIENDS HOPPED INTO A GREEN MINI VAN WITH THE INTENTION OF FEEDING OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THAT VERY QUICKLY TURNED INTO GETTING A CATERING TRUCK, A FORMAL 501(C)(3) DESIGNATION.
IT TURNED INTO A GREAT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE CHURCH.
IT SPREAD ACROSS OTHER CHURCHES, AND WE STILL HAVE 10-12 TRUCKS, DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF YEAR, OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TODAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR SERVING FOOD TO BROTHERS AND SISTERS ON THE STREETS.
THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WE REALLY STARTED TO HAVE THIS RECOGNITION THAT THE SAME PEOPLE WERE COMING UP TO US FOR FOOD TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
WE REALLY ZEROED IN ON THE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, WHICH I'M SURE EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM KNOWS, IS A HUD DEFINITION, HAS BEEN EXACTLY, HAS BEEN LIVING CONTINUOUSLY IN A PLACE NOT MEANT FOR HUMAN HABITATION FOR 12 MONTHS AND HAS AT LEAST ONE DISABILITY.
AS YOU PROBABLY ALSO KNOW, THAT'S EPISODICALLY OVER 3 YEARS EQUALING A YEAR AS WELL.
WE STARTED BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE PEOPLE.
WE REALLY REALIZED THAT THEY HAD KIND OF SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS, WE'LL GET TO SOME STATISTICS AROUND THAT IN OUR AREA.
ALAN PUT HIS HEAD TOGETHER WITH THE VOLUNTEERS AT THE TIME, WITH THE BOARD AND STARTED TO LIFT INDIVIDUALS OFF THE STREETS INTO PRIVATE RV PARKS BY FUND RAISING ONE AT A TIME.
THAT'S WHERE THE IDEA OF COMMUNITY FIRST CAME FROM A LITTLE BIT OF PLAY ON WORDS ON HOUSING FIRST.
HOUSING IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL IN ANY SERVICE TO THE HOMELESS, BUT WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT COMMUNITY PIECE AS WE GO.
THEN IT WAS A PRETTY LONG 10 YEAR JOURNEY TO GET THE LAND FOR COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE.
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WE WOUND UP IN THE ETJ, WE LINE RIGHT UP TO THE CITY LIMITS, AND WE USE CITY POWER, CITY WATER.BUT OUR ROLL UP AUTHORITY AND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNER IS ACTUALLY TRAVIS COUNTY.
WE CAN GO IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
WE MOVED IN OUR FIRST NEIGHBOR IN 2015, AND ACTUALLY LAST MONTH CELEBRATED 10 YEARS AS A VILLAGE, COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE.
I'M REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE THE OFFICE I'M SITTING IN RIGHT NOW IS ACTUALLY IN OUR BRAND NEW HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, WHICH IS ON OUR EXPANSION SITE JUST ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ORIGINAL VILLAGE, I'LL GET MORE DETAILED AS WE GO.
BUT HAGI SOUTH OR THE ORIGINAL VILLAGE IS 51 ACRES, IT'S MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY.
THERE'S ABOUT 550 HOMES ON THOSE ACRES.
THERE'S A LIVING ROOM, WHICH IS LIKE A COMMUNITY CENTER.
THERE'S A FRONT PORCH, WHICH IS OUR WELCOME CENTER.
YOU HAVE A 500 ROOM MANSION WITH A LOT OF COURT YARD SPACE.
THERE'S ALSO A ART HOUSE OR A ENTREPRENEURIAL HUB, AS WE CALL IT. THERE'S A CLINIC.
THERE'S JUST A WHOLE HOTBED OF COLLABORATION.
WE CAN ONLY DO THIS WORK WHEN THE COMMUNITY COMES ALONGSIDE US.
WE'RE ABOUT 450 NEIGHBORS TODAY AND GROWING.
IF WE GO BACK TO THAT TRUCK, THAT'S FINE.
THE NEXT SLIDE IS FINE. THANK YOU.
AS WE GO BACK TO THE TRUCK MINISTRY AND REALLY LEAN IN ON THIS ROOT CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS, IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS, AND OUR CONVERSATIONS, WE HAVE REALLY COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT IS A PROFOUND AND CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF FAMILY.
ALAN SAYS, I LIKE TO SAY IN YOUR FAMILIES AND MY FAMILY, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ADDICTION ISSUES, FINANCIAL, DESPERATION, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT PUT PEOPLE IN A DIRE SITUATION.
USUALLY A FAMILY UNIT CAN COME ALONG SIDE OR WRAP UP AROUND THAT INDIVIDUAL.
FOR ABOUT 1% OF 1% OF OUR FOLKS IN TRAVIS COUNTY, THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.
YOU ALL KNOW THIS, BUT, THAT 700-800,000 FOLKS IN THE COUNTRY AT LARGE.
JUST NOT TRUE FOR THEM TO HAVE A SAFETY NET.
THEY'VE SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS.
OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE FOOD AND CLOTHING AND CULTIVATE COMMUNITY AND DIGNITY, FOR OUR HOMELESS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN NEED.
THE TRUCK MINISTRY IS STILL ACTIVE.
WE PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND SUPPORT.
WE HAVE A TRUCK THAT COMES OUT FROM THE VILLAGE.
CLOTHING IS PART OF THAT SERVICE.
WE ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE AT THE VILLAGE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
BUT THAT CULTIVATE COMMUNITY AND PROMOTE DIGNITY IS REALLY OUR BREAD AND BUTTER.
WE MIGHT BE LANDLORDS AND COMMUNITY BUILDERS, BUT THE DIGNITY OF CHOICE AND THE CULTIVATION OF HELPING THE GREATER POPULATION, THE GREATER COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A HUMAN ISSUE, AND HUMANS HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO DO IT IS REALLY WHERE WE SIT IN OUR HEDGEHOG, IF YOU WILL, OUR POINTED SPACE.
OUR VISION ON THE NEXT SLIDE IS TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES INTO A LIFESTYLE OF SERVICE WITH THE HOMELESS.
I JUST WANT TO PAUSE HERE FOR A SECOND, AS MS. CHAIR'S SHARED, THE WORK, THE HOUSING PEOPLE, THE TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE, ALL OF THAT IS VERY INTEGRAL AND VITAL.
BUT REALLY, WE HAVE TO BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS.
WE HAVE TO BRING PEOPLE INTO THE FOLD AND SHOW PEOPLE HOW TO WALK ALONGSIDE OUR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
OTHERWISE, WE'LL JUST KEEP PERPETUATING.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE DIVE INTO AND HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT AS WE GO. LET'S SEE.
NEXT SLIDE IS, I THINK OUR NEIGHBORS.
YES. AWESOME. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO WE SERVE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS DEFINITION.
ON AVERAGE, OUR NEIGHBORS ABOUT 55-YEARS-OLD AND HAVE SPENT 8 YEARS LIVING IN CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS.
NOW, WE HAVE NEIGHBORS WHO WERE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS FOR A YEAR, AND WE HAVE NEIGHBORS WHO WERE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS FOR 40 YEARS.
AS YOU KNOW IN THIS ROOM, THAT'S AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF TRAUMA, WE ARE TRAUMA INFORMED STAFF, WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO ACCLIMATE SOME NEW NEIGHBORS TO THE VILLAGE.
WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR SPACE, IT'S ABOUT 30-60 DAYS PER YEAR THAT SOMEONE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS TO ACCLIMATE.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A PRETTY LONG ON RAMP, WHICH YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH IN YOUR RESPECTIVE SPACES AS WELL.
DEMOGRAPHICALLY, WE'RE ABOUT 70% MALE, 30% FEMALE, THAT'S PRETTY CLOSE TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS, WHICH ARE 65, 35, SO WE'RE PRETTY ALIGNED IN THAT SPACE.
I DON'T HAVE A SLIDE FOR IT, BUT I'D LOVE TO SHARE WITH YOU JUST A LITTLE DETAILS ABOUT THE VILLAGE ITSELF.
IMAGINE WITH ME, IF YOU WILL, I'D BE HAPPY TO SEND A VIDEO FOR ANYBODY WHO HASN'T SEEN THE VILLAGE.
BUT WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOME TYPES.
WE HAVE A MICRO HOME, THAT'S GOING TO BE ANYWHERE 150-225 SQUARE FEET.
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THAT IS THE MOST COMMON HOUSING TYPE HERE AT THE VILLAGE.THAT'S A SINGLE OCCUPANCY, TWIN BED, SOMETIMES A WALL THAT SEPARATES THE BEDROOM FROM THE LIVING AREA, AND THEN YOU HAVE A KITCHENETTE IN THOSE SPACES.
YOU'VE GOT A FRIDGE, A MICROWAVE, SOME WATER STORAGE, A COFFEE POT, CROCK POT, COLLAPSIBLE SINK.
THEN YOU WOULD RELY ON COMMUNITY LAUNDRY SHOWER FACILITIES, RESTROOM FACILITIES AND A COMMUNITY KITCHEN FOR YOUR BIG PLUMBING NEEDS.
THIS MODEL HAS BEEN REALLY FRUITFUL FOR US BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO REPLICATE, IT'S SO MUCH MORE COST EFFICIENT.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD COMMUNITY WITHIN THAT, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO COOK DINNER AT THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN.
OUR HOPE IS THAT MAYBE YOUR FRIEND OR YOUR NEIGHBOR IS ALSO COOKING A DINNER, YOU MIGHT BUILD A CONNECTION THERE.
WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE MORE THAT YOU CAN INGRATIATE THAT CULTURE, THE MORE THAT PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF THEIR VILLAGE, TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, AND THIS IS OUR MENTALITY.
>> ANOTHER HOME TYPE WE HAVE IS THE PARK MODEL RV OR PMRV, YOU MIGHT HEAR ME SAY.
THOSE ARE TECHNICALLY RVS BECAUSE THEY COME ON TRUCKS.
BUT WE PUT THEM ON CINDER BLOCKS AND THEY'RE ABOUT 399 SQUARE FEET MADE OF TRADITIONAL BUILDING MATERIALS.
WE REALLY LOVE THOSE. WHEN WE FIRST GOT STARTED TEN YEARS AGO, WE HAD TRADITIONAL RVS.
BUT AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, THOSE ARE NOT SUPER RELIABLE FOR WEAR AND TEAR, AND THERE'S A LOT OF CUSTOM RETROFITTING, AND THESE PMRVS ARE MADE BY PLATINUM COTTAGES OUT IN ATHENS, TEXAS, AND WE THINK WE'LL GET 30 OR 40 YEARS OUT OF THEM, AND WE CAN JUST RUN TO LOSER HOME BOW IF SOMETHING BREAKS, WHICH IS REALLY A BLESSING.
THEN THE THIRD HOME TYPE WE HAVE, WHICH WE ROLLED OUT RECENTLY AS A PROTOTYPE IS CALLED A TINY TOWN HOME.
THEY HAVE A SHARED PLUMBING CLOSET AND HAVE A TOILET AND A SINK.
BUT THEN YOUR KITCHEN LAUNDRY SHOWER WOULD STILL BE OFF SITE IN THOSE COMMUNITY SPACES.
AS YOU PROBABLY COULD IMAGINE, WITH OUR POPULATION, ESPECIALLY AGING IN PLACE, WHERE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
WE REALLY THINK THAT BATHROOM IS GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER.
WE'LL HAVE ABOUT 150, I THINK, A NEW OF THOSE HOUSES ON OUR EXPANSION SITE, WHICH I AM SAVING FOR THE END SO I'LL GET THERE.
[LAUGHTER] OTHER THINGS THAT GO ON AT THE VILLAGE, I SHARED EARLIER, WE ARE A COLLABORATIVE MODEL, SO WE'VE GOT A PARTNERSHIP MODEL.
WE HAVE COMMUNITIES FOR RECOVERY ON SITE TO DO ADDICTION SUPPORT.
WE HAVE LIFE ANEW TO DO CONFLICT RESOLUTION, SOMETIMES CRIMINAL DIVERSION.
WE HAVE FAMILY ELDER CARE HELPING US DO, THIRD PARTY PAYEE, SOME CASE MANAGEMENT, SOME BENEFITS ENROLLMENT.
WE HAVE INTEGRAL CARE, WHICH IS OUR COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARTNER, AND WE HAVE COMMUNITY CARE, WHICH IS OUR COUNTY PRIMARY CARE PARTNER.
THAT IS A CLINIC THAT'S OPEN HERE AT THE VILLAGE DURING THE WEEK.
IF A NEIGHBOR NEEDS A SPECIALTY APPOINTMENT, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A FULL TIME STAFF MEMBER WHO WILL DRIVE YOU TO YOUR SPECIALTY APPOINTMENT.
I DON'T PRETEND TO ASSUME EVERYBODY KNOWS THE INS AND OUTS OF AUSTIN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, I DON'T KNOW DALLAS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, I AM A TEXAS GIRLIE, BUT HERE IN AUSTIN, CAT METRO HAS A BUS LIKE AN UBER, BUT A BUS.
BUT THE JURISDICTION JUST DOESN'T TOUCH OUR SPECIALTY MEDICAL PARTNERS.
WE'VE ADDED THAT INTO OUR OPERATING BUDGET, WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY FRUITFUL.
I THINK WE HAD 700 RIDES LAST YEAR ALONE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE TRUCK MINISTRY, COMMUNITY FIRST.
THERE'S A LOT TO DIGEST THERE.
THEN OUR THIRD PROGRAMATIC BUCKET IS COMMUNITY WORKS OR DIGNIFIED INCOME.
EVERYBODY THAT LIVES AT THE VILLAGE PAYS RENT, AND THAT RENT IS HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED.
ABOUT 300 TO 500 GIVE OR TAKE, AND IT'S BY UNIT, NOT BY PERSON.
MOST OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE AND RECEIVING SOME SORT OF SSI, DISABILITY, OR VETERANS BENEFITS.
WE KEPT THAT CAP IN MIND WHEN WE SET THOSE RENTS, BUT THEN WE ALSO TRY TO SUPPLEMENT WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN AN INCOME HERE ON SITE.
THOSE ARE LIKE 1099 CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH JANITORIAL, PROPERTY BEAUTIFICATION, EVENT SETUP AND TEAR DOWN.
THERE'S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY IN OUR ART HOUSE TO CREATE A MASTERPIECE AND PUT IT FOR SALE AND KEEP 90% OF THAT PROCEEDS.
WE HAVE A HUGE MARKET AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME, WHERE THAT IS REALLY THE SHOWCASE AND THE BIGGEST REVENUE DRIVER FOR OUR ARTIST NEIGHBORS.
PERFECT. RULES OF THE VILLAGE, EVERYBODY PAYS RENT, EVERYBODY FOLLOWS THE LAW, AND EVERYBODY FOLLOWS THE HOA COMMUNITY GUIDELINES.
NOW TO GET INTO THE EXCITING PART, WE ARE GROWING.
WE HAD 51 ACRES ORIGINALLY ON OUR FIRST VILLAGE.
WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 51 ACRES HERE ACROSS THE STREET OF HOG EYE.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN ORIENTATION, WE'RE BASICALLY LIKE ALMOST NORTHEAST AUSTIN.
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IF THERE'S A ROAD CALLED MLK FROM UT'S CAMPUS, IF YOU TOOK THAT 6 OR 7 MILES EAST, YOU'LL BUMP IN TO US CLOSE TO THE GIGA FACTORY, IF ANYBODY'S BEEN THERE.JUST ACROSS THE STREET, WE'VE GOT 51 MORE ACRES, WE'RE GOING TO DO 600 HOMES OVER HERE, AND WE HAD A BIG CELEBRATION MARKING THE UNVEILING OF THIS SITE AND OUR TENTH BIRTHDAY ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
THAT'S WHERE I'M SITTING TODAY, SO SUPER EXCITING.
THEN JUST BEYOND THAT, BY OUR AUSTIN AIRPORT ON BURLESON, WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 76 ACRES.
IT'S ABOUT 15 MINUTES FROM THE VILLAGE HERE, AND THAT WILL OPEN TOWARD THE END OF NEXT YEAR OR EARLY 2027.
THE EXTRA EXCITING PIECE ABOUT THE BURLESON EXPANSION IS THAT WE ARE DOING THAT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES.
NOT SURE IF Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES.
THEY'RE A NONPROFIT APARTMENT HOUSING PROVIDER HERE IN TOWN.
>> SARAH, I'M JUST GOING TO INTERRUPT YOU FROM.
WE HAVE 5 MINUTES LEFT FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY REALLY FOCUSED BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE GOT SOME GREAT INFORMATION COMING UP.
>> PERFECT. I CAN SQUEEZE IT OUT.
[LAUGHTER] FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES, THAT'LL BE 100 SINGLE OCCUPANCY UNITS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR VILLAGE.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
TO WRAP UP, I REALLY JUST WANTED TO SHARE A FEW STATS.
WE HAD A STUDY WITH BCG RECENT TOWARD THE END OF LAST YEAR, AND WE LEARNED THAT OUR MODEL ACTUALLY SAVES THE PUBLIC ABOUT TEN TO $18,000 PER PERSON BY MITIGATING EMERGENCY SERVICE USE.
WE HAVE ABOUT AN 85% STABILITY OR RETENTION RATE.
THE NUMBER ONE REASON THAT PEOPLE LEAVE US IS ACTUALLY PASSING AWAY.
THEN THERE ARE ABOUT THREE DOZEN ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY US TO REPLICATE OUR MODEL IN SOME WAY OR FORM.
WE HAVE A WHOLE REPLICATION TEAM, AS I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW.
WE HOST SYMPOSIUMS TO HELP ORGANIZATIONS JOIN THIS WORK AND MAKE IT WORK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TODAY, GUYS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING.
I KNOW I TALK A LOT AND TALK QUICKLY, SO APPRECIATE IT.
ANY QUESTIONS. I HAPPY TO ANSWER.
>> WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK MAYOR PRO TEM AND I ACTUALLY HAD THE TOUR FROM YOU EARLIER THIS YEAR.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS SO FASCINATING TO SEE YOU HAD THE FIRST 3D PRINTED HOME THAT WAS MOVED TO YOUR SITE.
>> AT THE TIME, YOU HAD NOT OPENED UP ACROSS THE STREET.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THAT'S HAPPENED.
COMMITTEE, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND HOW THIS WORKS. MAYOR PRO TEM.
>> THANK YOU. CAN YOU REMIND ME HOW THE SITE WAS ACQUIRED?
>> YES. OUR LAND IS PRIMARILY PURCHASED AND THEN DONATED FROM A DONOR.
JUST LIKE OUR OPERATING BUDGET, WE ARE ABOUT 78% PRIVATELY FUNDED THROUGH DONATION.
ANCILLARY INCOME AND INTEREST INCOME MAKE UP THE REST.
BUT VERY LITTLE OUTSIDE OF THAT, AND ACTUALLY OUR ONLY DANCE WITH PUBLIC DOLLARS HAS BEEN WITH OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.
>> THANK YOU. I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT A FEW TIMES, ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AS YOU WERE LOOKING AT THE MAP EARLIER ON WHERE THE SERVICES TYPICALLY ARE CLOSE TO THE CITY CORE.
THIS IS OUTSIDE OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR HOSPITALS AND OTHER SERVICES.
HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO STILL BE SUCCESSFUL, NOT BEING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE TRY TO HAVE EVERYTHING BASIC NEEDS WISE HERE AT THE VILLAGE, BUT WE ALSO ARE BLESSED TO HAVE A CITY BUS STOP ON SITE.
THAT WILL EXTEND TO THE STREET ACROSS THE TWO PHASES HERE.
A LOT OF NEIGHBORS ACTUALLY HAVE CARS AS WELL OR MOTORCYCLES.
WE HAVE THE PRIMARY CARE OPPORTUNITIES HERE.
A LOT OF CASE MANAGERS COME TO US.
WE HAVE THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK DELIVERS BOXES EVERY MONTH, AS WELL AS A MOBILE SHOPPING TRAILER THAT'S HERE WEEKLY.
YEAH. I WOULD LOVE TO, IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC NEED WE'RE CHECKING ON?
>> I KNOW IT'S OUTSIDE OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
BUT IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THERE'S COMMUNITIES, SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY.
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HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WORKS, AND IF THERE'S ANY CONFLICTS THERE.>> YEAH, I'D LOVE TO. BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE ETJ, THE NIMBISM AND EVERYTHING WAS TAKING CARE OF FOREST.
THAT TEN YEAR JOURNEY OF GETTING THE LAND WAS MOSTLY DUE TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND CITY COUNCIL, AND THERE WAS EVEN ONE TIME THAT ALLAN HAD TO BE A ESCORTED OUT BY A COP, A POLICE OFFICER, EXCUSE ME, FOR HIS OWN SAFETY.
I MEAN, IT WAS DEFINITELY INTENSE.
WHEN WE MOVED INTO OUR ORIGINAL VILLAGE, WE BACK RIGHT UP TO A SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD FROM A TRADITIONAL HOME BUILDS.
THERE WASN'T A LOT OF DRAMA, BUT THERE WAS A LITTLE CONCERN.
I THINK IT'S REALLY JUST ABOUT PROVING OURSELVES.
I MEAN, NOW THAT WE'RE HERE 10 YEARS, EVEN AT THE FIVE YEAR MARK, WE OFFERED TO BUILD A NEW FENCE FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AS WE WERE GROWING AND BUILDING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THEIR BORDER.
BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO BUILD AND IN THAT GOODNESS, THEY ACTUALLY WANTED US TO PUT A GATE IN SO THEY COULD STILL COME VISIT.
WE'VE HAD ZERO INSTANCES OF OUR NEIGHBORS CREATING CONFLICT IN ANYBODY ELSE'S IN THEIR SPACE.
WE HAVE HAD A FEW TEENAGERS STEAL A COUPLE OF GOLF CARTS FROM US, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
WE WORK THROUGH THAT. WE THINK THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH.
YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S JUST ABOUT PROVING OURSELVES, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE VILLAGE IS UTOPIA BY ANY MEANS.
WE LIKE TO SAY WE HAVE A SIDE SALAD OF TENSION.
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH EMS AND TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF ARE VITAL.
I MEAN, THEY'RE HERE EVERY DAY.
BUT ONLY ABOUT 10% OF OUR 911 CALLS ARE CRIME RELATED.
THEY'RE MOSTLY REGULAR CHECKS OR CASE MANAGEMENT.
>> YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AROUND A PROVEN MODEL NOW.
HOW DO PEOPLE FIND YOU? ARE YOU GUYS DOING OUTREACH IN THE CITY? ARE THEY REFERRALS? HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE ARE LINKED IN.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THERE'S ABOUT A DOZEN, MAYBE PROBABLY MAYBE MORE LIKE 15 OR 16, WHAT I CALL BOOTS ON THE GROUND ORGANIZATIONS.
WE ARE SOMEBODY TO BE REFERRED TO AS A SERVICE PROVIDER.
THERE'S A SUNRISE NAVIGATION CENTER, THE DOWNTOWN CITY COURT, SHELTERS.
THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE CHARLIE CENTER HERE IN AUSTIN.
ALL OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE HELPING NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THROUGH THE COORDINATED ENTRY PROCESS, WHICH FEEDS INTO THE HOMELESS INFORMATION SYSTEM OR ECHO HERE IN AUSTIN.
THAT NUMBER THAT ELIGIBILITY SCORE FOR THE COORDINATED ASSESSMENT DESIGNATES IF SOMEBODY MIGHT BE A GOOD FIT HERE AT THE VILLAGE.
THEN THEY COME DO THEIR OWN PROSPECTIVE NEIGHBOR TOUR.
WE HAVE OUR OWN MINOR APPLICATION PROCESS.
ALSO ON THE FOOD TRUCKS, WE'RE GIVING OUT A LITTLE HOW TO GET A HOME CARDS, AND A LOT OF STAFF MEMBERS AND A LOT OF ACTUALLY DONORS WILL KEEP THOSE IN THEIR CARS TO PASS OUT TO FOLKS THAT THEY MEET OUT AND ABOUT.
HERE IN AUSTIN, THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IS IT'S OBVIOUSLY FOCUSED DOWNTOWN, BUT I MEAN, I LIVE AN HOUR SOUTH AND IT'S THERE TOO.
IT'S PRETTY WIDESPREAD IN TERMS OF GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION.
BUT THE FOOD TRUCKS WERE HONESTLY A GODSEND AND GIVING US SOME CREDIBILITY WITH THIS POPULATION BECAUSE LIKE WE'RE DEPENDABLE, WE'RE THERE EVERY DAY.
THE LOGO IS FAMILIAR, ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE FIT INTO THAT.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO END WITH THIS.
THE MEMORIAL THAT YOU HAVE FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE PASSED ON REALLY BRINGS DIGNITY.
WE SEE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT UNFORTUNATELY DIE ON OUR STREETS WITH PEOPLE, NOT EVEN KNOWING THAT THEY PASSED AWAY.
THAT SPACE THAT HAVE CREATED IS REALLY IS POWERFUL.
>> THANK YOU, MS. LENOIR. I HAD A QUESTION TOO? THIS IS AMAZING.
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO COUNSEL LIAISON FROM MY OFFICE FARA ALI, WHO HELPED BUILD ONE OF THE STRUCTURES EARLY ON AND HAS TOLD ME SO MUCH ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE.
IN LOOKING AT YOUR RESIDENCE, HOW MANY QUALIFY UNDER THE HUD DEFINITION OF NOT BEING HOMELESS OR STILL BEING HOMELESS? BECAUSE I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON THE STRUCTURE AND WHETHER IT'S PERMANENT OR NOT.
DO YOU ALL DIVIDE IT OUT THAT WAY?
>> WE'RE PERMIT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
I BELIEVE WHEN SOMEBODY MOVES INTO COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE, THEY ARE CONSIDERED HOUSE.
>> BY THE DEFINITION, THOSE WOULD COME OFF OF YOUR NUMBERS.
>> I BELIEVE SO. I WOULD LOVE TO TRIPLE CHECK AND CONFIRM WITH YOU BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT HUD VOUCHER ELIGIBLE AT THIS TIME, SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT CONFLATING TWO DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS.
BUT I'M HAPPY TO CHECK WITH LAURA GREEBLE.
SHE'S OUR DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS, AND SHE WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPERTISED IN THAT SPACE.
[00:30:03]
>> I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT THEN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I'VE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT YOUR SITE A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE GREAT WORK YOU'RE DOING.
I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, DEVIL'S ADVOCACY, IF YOU WILL.
WE'RE LOOKING AT EXPANDING OUR SERVICES IN THE CITY.
ONE OF THE BIG TALKS OF CONTENTION, IF YOU WILL IS THE SEGREGATION OF SERVICES, AND YOU TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT.
I KNOW THAT LOOKING HISTORICALLY AT WHEN THIS CONCEPT WAS FIRST RAISED, AND YOU ALSO TOUCHED ON THIS, THE ORIGINAL PLOT OF LAND THAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSER IN TO CITY CENTER. THAT'S ACCURATE.
>> IT'S WHERE THE SOCCER STADIUM IS NOW.
>> THERE WAS A PRETTY POWERFUL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THAT THROUGH GOOD OLD NIMBISM, IT PUSHED WHAT WAS MEANT TO BE THE IDEAL LOCATION IN THE FOUNDERS EYES A LITTLE BIT FURTHER OUT TO ACCOMMODATE FROM THOSE DISSENTING VOICES.
>> YEAH, I'LL BE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE LIBERTY AND CHARACTERIZE AS ALLAN DOES THE STRIFE AND THE BACK AND FORTH.
I THINK COMING INTO THE ETJ SOLVED A LOT OF PROBLEMS AT ONCE.
NOW THE COMMUNITY OR THE CITY IS GROWING UP AROUND US.
I MEAN, NOW THERE'S APARTMENTS RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
WE'RE GETTING RESTAURANTS. NATURAL GROWTH HAS BACK INTO THE FOLD.
>> EVEN SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS IS COMING UP AROUND YOU?
>> WELL, BUT FOR THE GUESTS EXPERIENCE PER SE, BEING DEPENDENT ON Y'ALL'S CAPITAL METRO.
WHAT'S THE AVERAGE TIME? I'VE READ SEVERAL REVIEWS FROM RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO SPEAK ABOUT HOW MUCH OF A HINDRANCE IT IS FOR THEM TO GET TO THE CORE SERVICES, THE CITY CENTER, AND IT'S ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF EACH WAY ON USING TRANSIT.
IDEALLY, HOW OFTEN DOES THAT ISSUE COME UP WITH YOUR RESIDENTS, AND WHAT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE YOU MADE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS TO CREATE ACCESS TO THE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE WERE TAKING THIS TREK TO AND FROM?
>> I DEFINITELY NOT A SUPER EXPERT IN EXACTLY THOSE SERVICES.
WHEN I'VE TAKEN THE BUS FROM THE VILLAGE DOWNTOWN, AND IT WAS ABOUT 53 MINUTES, I BELIEVE.
SIDE NOTE, AS A STAFF, WE TAKE AN ANNUAL STREET RETREAT, THAT'S OPTIONAL WHERE WE SPEND 24 HOURS DOWNTOWN.
BUT ANYWAY, SO I WOULD LOVE TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT TIMING.
WE ARE HOPEFUL AND WE DO BELIEVE THAT THE BUS SERVICE IS GOING TO BE EXPANDED AS THEY CONTINUE BUILDING HOUSING AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS AREA.
ONE THING I DIDN'T TOUCH ON ARE OUR MISSIONAL NEIGHBORS.
ABOUT 10% OF OUR POPULATION ARE CALLED MISSIONALS.
YOU CAN THINK OF THEM AS MISSIONARIES IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.
THOSE ARE FOLKS OR FAMILIES WHO HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, BUT FEEL CALLED TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY WITH OUR NEIGHBORS.
THAT IS A WONDERFUL, LIKE A BUDDY, A GOOD EXAMPLE WHO WILL DRIVE YOU TO A SPECIALTY APPOINTMENT, MAYBE THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE MEDICAL SCOPE OR WE'LL TAKE YOU GROCERY SHOPPING.
WE ALSO DO COORDINATED GROCERY SHOPPING TRIPS EVERY THURSDAY.
WE HAVE SPACES THAT ENCOURAGE AND DO OUTREACH TO BRING EVERYTHING FROM THE VET CLINICS TO THE HAIR SALONS OUT TO OUR SPACE TO OFFER THOSE SERVICES ON A REGULAR CADENCE, TRYING TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MESH EVERYBODY INTO THE SAME SPACE.
I HATE THE WORD FIELD TRIPS, BUT IF YOU WILL, TO BASEBALL GAMES AND ART MUSEUMS AND REALLY DIG INTO NEIGHBOR ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING TO COVER ALL THOSE BASES OF LIVING IN THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU. I KNOW IT'S CLASSIFIED AS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, BUT ANOTHER ONE OF THE, I GUESS, NEGATIVE FEEDBACKS THAT I SAW IN RESIDENTS EXPERIENCES SPECIFICALLY WAS THE LACK OF INDIVIDUAL PLUMBING.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, AND WHAT IS THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR YOUR GUESTS?
[00:35:03]
IS THE NEW PHASED MODEL THAT YOU ALL ARE OPENING UP GOING TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF INDIVIDUAL PLUMBING AND UTILIZATION OF YOUR OWN RESTROOM, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES?>> THE NEW PHASE, AS WELL AS THE PAST PHASE, BUT ESPECIALLY OVER HERE.
WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO MAKE EVERYTHING MOBILITY DEVICE FRIENDLY, EVERY ROAD, EVERY RAMP, EVERY JOURNEY.
WE ALSO WILL RETROFIT OR CUSTOM FIT HOMES, SHOULD SOMETHING IN THAT SPACE CHANGE.
THE THING ABOUT THE PLUMBING IS THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS COMING INTO COMMUNE FIRST VILLAGE, THEY GET TO CHOOSE WHAT AMENITIES ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM.
IT'S MORE ECONOMICAL AND MORE AFFORDABLE AND MORE POPULAR AMONG MOST OF OUR NEIGHBORS TO HAVE THOSE SINGLE OCCUPANCY SMALLER UNITS AND THEN RELY ON THE SHOWER FACILITIES, THE RESTROOMS. THOSE ARE ALL ABOUT 100 FEET, MAYBE 120 FEET AWAY FROM ANY GIVEN HOME.
ON THE NEW PHASE, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT IN THE PAST, WE ACCIDENTALLY CREATED A HAVE AND HAVE NOT BY PUTTING THE MICRO HOMES WITH THE COMMUNITY PLUMBING FACILITIES ON ONE SIDE AND THEN THE PARK MODEL RVS ON ANOTHER.
ON THIS PHASE, WE HAVE EXCUSE, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF SITE OPERATIONS, SARAH SATTERLY.
SHE COINED THIS PHRASE NEIGHBORHOOD OF KNOWINGNESS.
IF YOU WILL IMAGINE WITH ME THE PLUMBING FACILITIES AND COMMUNITY KITCHEN.
IN THE CENTER, THE PARK MODEL RVS AROUND THAT, AND THEN ONE FAMILY HOME DESIGNATED FOR A MISSIONAL FAMILY IDEALLY IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BETWEEN 40-50 HOMES, CONGEALING INTO ONE SMALL COMMUNITY SO THAT WHEN WE GET TO 1,900 HOMES.
NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO KNOW EVERYBODY, BUT YOU CAN KNOW YOUR POD.
REALLY TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS AS WELL.
THERE'S ALSO A MYRIAD OF PUBLIC RESTROOMS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONS OUR SERVICE BUILDINGS, WHERE WE HAVE A NEIGHBOR SERVICES BUILDING, HEADQUARTERS, WELCOME CENTER, MARKET, AND EVENT HALL.
>> I'M JUST REALLY CURIOUS ON THE DIFFERENTIATION IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING VERSUS TRANSITIONAL.
MOST OF THE MODELS THAT I HAVE MET WITH AND TOURED THAT CONSIDER THEMSELVES TRANSITIONAL AND ARE MEANT TO FIND MORE PERMANENT HOUSING.
THIS IS VERY FREQUENTLY, AN AMENITY GAP THAT IS CREATED ON PURPOSE TO NOT ALLOW FOR THERE TO BE THE COMFORT OR NORMALCY OF PERMANENCY AND LOOKING TO HAVE ACCESS TO INDIVIDUAL PLUMBING, ETC AS A GOAL, IF YOU WILL FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
WHEN LOOKING AT THIS MODEL AS PERMANENT, I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE'RE STARTING FROM SCRATCH, IF THIS HAS BEEN ONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING INTO A SECOND PHASE DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU ALL HAVE SEEN COULD HAVE BEEN DONE DIFFERENTLY.
I KNOW THAT ECONOMICALLY, BECAUSE OF YOU ALL'S LOCATION AND BEING UNINCORPORATED, ETC, THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A LOT MORE FEASIBLE ECONOMICALLY TO CREATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED THAT DIDN'T HAVE INDIVIDUAL PLUMBING.
HOWEVER, IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE LONGEVITY HERE AND IN A MODEL THAT WOULD BE PERMANENT, DO YOU SEE THERE BEING A GAP IN NEED FOR FOLKS TO REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE AT HOME AND RESTORE THE LEVEL OF DIGNITY THAT WE'RE HOPING FOR TO PUT PEOPLE IN HOUSING?
>> I MEAN NO, MARKET OURSELVES.
WE ARE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
WE HAVE NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US ALL 10 YEARS.
I BELIEVE OUR AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IS SOMEWHERE 3-4 YEARS, BUT I DO WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
THE NUMBER ONE REASON THAT PEOPLE LEAVE US IS ACTUALLY PASSING AWAY.
I MEAN, WITHOUT GETTING TOO PHILOSOPHICAL, WE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CREEPING AFFLUENCE AND DECIDING WHAT PEOPLE NEED, WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF WHAT THEY MIGHT WANT OR ACCEPT OR WISH FOR AS OPPOSED TO MAYBE THE SITUATION THEY'RE IN.
WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME HAVING COMMUNITY EVENTS, DECORATING EACH HOME TO SUIT INDIVIDUAL DESIRES.
WE WANT IT TO FEEL LIKE HOME FOR A LONG TIME.
OUR AVERAGE NEIGHBOR IS 55-YEARS-OLD AND THEIR AVERAGE AGE OF DEATH AT THE VILLAGE IS 60.
WHICH AS YOU ALL KNOW, TAKES A LOT OF TIME OFF YOUR LIFE TO EXPERIENCE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS.
SORRY, I FEEL A LITTLE STUCK. I WOULD
[00:40:02]
LOVE TO TALK TO ALAN ACTUALLY ABOUT THAT I HAVEN'T EVER GOT THAT QUESTION BEFORE, BUT WE HAVE NOTICED THAT DIGNITY OF CHOICE AND THAT CYCLE.AT LEAST ANECDOTALLY WITH THE RELATIONSHIPS I HAVE WITH NEIGHBORS.
THAT IS NOT A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION THAT I GET.
>>THANK YOU SO MUCH [INAUDIBLE].
>> ABSOLUTELY, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU. COUNSELOR GRACIE.
>>THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION IN THESE THIS DEVELOPMENT.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT JUST THE DEVELOPMENT.
HOW IT WAS HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN THERE? I MISSED THAT PART.
>> WE OPENED THE FIRST 51 ACRES IN 2015.
THEN THIS PHASE THAT I'M SITTING ON NOW, WE BROKE GROUND IN LATE 2022. ABOUT THREE YEARS.
>> I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD I INTERRUPTED. I APOLOGIZE.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY WHAT OUR MODEL HAS BEEN WITH OUR EXPANSION IS TO DO ALL INFRASTRUCTURE, ALL GROUNDWORK.
RIGHT NOW ON THIS PHASE, THERE ARE 600, WELL, NOT ALL EMPTY.
THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT 450 SLABS THAT ARE JUST HOME SITES THAT WILL BE BUILT UPON IN THE NEXT SIX YEARS.
SURE READY, WE'RE HAMMER READY.
>> UNDERSTOOD. HOW MANY ACRES IS THAT TOTAL?
ON HAGI ROAD, WE'RE AT ONE OR TWO ALTOGETHER, AND THEN THERE'S 76 AT THE AIRPORT.
>> HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING THAT AREA? WHAT DID IT LOOK LIKE BEFORE YOU ALL STARTED DEVELOPING OUT THERE?
>> GREAT QUESTION. WAY BACK IN 2015, THAT WAS MORE OF A TRADITIONAL, LOAN AND MORTGAGE AND INDIVIDUAL 51C3 PURCHASED.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WAS PRETTY ROUGH.
I THINK THERE WAS SOMETHING LIKE 250 IRE PILES THAT HAD TO BE REMOVED AND QUITE A BIT OF LABOR.
BACK THEN, WE SPENT TWO YEARS ALONE CULTIVATING THE LAND SO THAT COULD GO PRODUCE.
WE HAVE ABOUT 12 ACRES OF FARMING THAT WE DO, AND WE GIVE THAT PRODUCE BACK TO OUR NEIGHBORS AT A FARMERS MARKET EVERY SATURDAY.
THEN ON THIS PHASE ACROSS THE STREET, THIS WAS MORE LIKE CATTLE RUN LAND.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE HAD TO DO QUITE A BIT OF SOIL DISPLACEMENT AND REPLACEMENT AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE PRETTY EXPENSIVE.
BUT JUST TO ABIDE BY MOBILITY NEEDS AND STABILITY FOR THE FOUNDATION OF THE BUILDINGS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE GOT A LOT OF CLAY DOWN HERE.
THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF TONS OF SOIL BEING REMOVED AND DIFFERENT SOIL BEING BROUGHT IN AND JUST LEVELING OF THE LAND.
>> THIS LAND WAS PURCHASED AND DONATED TO US BY BY A DONOR.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE EXPANSION AND THE DIFFERENT HOUSING TYPES.
THIS IS DEFINITELY AN INTERESTING WAY TO APPROACH IT.
WHERE DID I SEE THAT? THAT'S IT. I LOST MY QUESTION. I APOLOGIZE.
>> THAT'S OKAY. EMAIL ME ANY TIME.
>> I WILL JUST SAY, COUNSELOR GRACIE, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IF YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO AUSTIN TO TAKE A TOUR, IT IS VERY, VERY EYE OPENING. COUNSELOR BLAIR?
WELL, FIRST LET ME HAVE YOU REITERATE.
DID YOU SAY THAT YOU GUYS IN 2015 WHEN YOU OPENED UP AND CLEARED THE GROUND THAT YOU ACTUALLY GROW YOUR OWN PRODUCE?
>> WE DO. IT'S NOT MEANT TO COMPLETELY COVER ANYBODY'S NEEDS.
BUT WE DO HAVE LETTUCES, HERBS, TOMATOES, AND THEN SEASONAL PRODUCE THAT WE DO A FARMERS MARKET EVERY SATURDAY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE ALSO HAVE CHICKENS FOR EGGS, AND WE PARTNER WITH THIS GROUP CALLED THE TEXAS BEEF INITIATIVE, AND THEY PROCESS LIVESTOCK CATTLE THAT ARE LIKE SHOW CATTLE, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL NOT PURCHASE THAT MEAT, BUT THEY PROCESS IT AND GIVE IT TO NONPROFITS, SO THAT SUPPLEMENT SOME OF OUR OPPORTUNITY AS WELL.
I DON'T MEAN TO DERAIL US, BUT SELF SUFFICIENCY IS STILL VERY MUCH PART OF OUR MODEL, BUT WE DO HAVE THINGS IN PLACE THAT NO ONE WOULD EVER GO HUNGRY BASED ON COMMUNITY MEALS, FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, THE FOOD PANTRY, THE MOBILE PHARMACY FROM CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK, AND OUR GENESIS GARDENS PROGRAM.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE THIS IS IN MORE, LIKE, A RURAL AREA THAT YOU GUYS ARE PRODUCING YOUR OWN FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND YOU SELL THEM.
>> YEAH. THEY ARE FREE TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR MISSIONALS ON SATURDAY MORNINGS, AND EVERYTHING'S PRE PARCELED BY, LIKE, YOU KNOW, A BUNDLE OF ROSEMARY OR THREE ZUCCHINI INDIVIDUALLY PACKAGED.
[00:45:02]
DO YOU UTILIZE THEM FOR SELF SUFFICIENCY WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION?
>> WILL YOU EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE BIT FOR ME, COUNSELOR BLAIR?
>> WOULD YOU EXPAND ON YOUR DEFINITION OF SUFFICIENCY THERE FOR ME?
>> THE RESIDENTS ARE ABLE TO USE THE PRODUCE AND FRUITS THAT THEY PRODUCE AND CONSUME THEM THEMSELVES.
>> ABSOLUTELY YES. WE HAVE NEIGHBORS WORKING IN THE GARDENS PROGRAM.
IT'S ALSO A REALLY FUN VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY, IF YOU'RE EVER BORED IN AUSTIN ON A THURSDAY MORNING, I DOUBT YOU ARE, BUT I'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU.
WE EVEN HAVE HEALTHY LIVING COACHES THAT WILL TAKE TIME TO MAYBE TEACH A NEIGHBOR HOW TO CLEAN THINGS, BUT ALSO HOW TO PREPARE AN EGG PLANT OR LIKE SOME OF THOSE SPECIALTY FOOD INFORMATION THAT THEY MAY NOT KNOW.
>> THE HOUSING TYPES THAT YOU GUYS ARE USING, THEY'RE ACTUALLY SMALLER THEY'RE MORE LIKE A ROOM THAT HAS SOME AMENITIES OPPOSED TO A HOUSE, CORRECT?
>> YES, TINY TINY HOMES BEFORE IT WAS COOL.
YES. ABOUT 150 ALL THE WAY UP TO ABOUT 400 SQUARE FEET ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> BUT THEY HAVE NO WATER SUPPORT FOR EACH ONE OF THE ROOMS, CORRECT? YOU SAID THAT THERE WERE 100 FEET FROM REST ROOMS, KITCHEN AREAS AND THINGS.
>> WE ALSO HAVE SOME WATER SPIGOTS IS NOT A FORMAL ENOUGH WORD, BUT WATER RESOURCE CENTERS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT.
THERE'S WATER STORAGE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE A BIG JUG THAT YOU CAN FILL UP AND KEEP IN YOUR UNIT.
THERE'S ALSO A COLLAPSIBLE SINK IF YOU WANTED TO DO ANY WASHING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT NEAR YOUR UNIT.
THEN YEAH, WE RELY ON THOSE COMMUNITY CENTER.
>> YOU SAID THEY HAD KITCHENETTES, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE REST ROOMS IN FACILITY.
WELL, EACH ONE OF THEM ABOUT 100 FEET FROM A FACILITY THAT CAN PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
YOU ALSO SAID THAT THERE WERE SOME THAT THEY ARE RVS.
RVS ARE HISTORICALLY WITH TIRES, BUT THEY'RE ON BLOCKS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THEY'RE CALLED PARK MODEL RVS.
THEY'RE MEANT TO BE SET IN PLACE AND NOT MOVED.
THEY COME ON LIKE ON THE BED OF A TRUCK, AND WE PUT THEM ON CINDER BLOCKS, HOOK UP THE PROPANE AND THE WATER.
THEY DO HAVE A FULL BATHROOM, FULL KITCHEN, EXCEPT FOR A DISHWASHER, WHICH YOU HOPEFULLY DON'T NEED AS A SINGLE PERSON, QUEEN SIZE BED, LITTLE LIVING AREA, AND THEN WE WILL DO RAMP OR STAIRS OURSELVES AFTER THE FACT.
>> SARAH, I'M LAST. HERE WE GO.
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU'RE ACTUALLY NOT IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, RIGHT? YOU'RE IN THE COUNTY?
>> CORRECT. WE'RE IN THE COUNTY ON THE ETJ, WE SHARE A PROPERTY LINE, SO WE ARE JUST A HAIR OFF.
>> THEN THE ENTIRE OPERATION WAS STARTED WITH PHILANTHROPIC EFFORT.
IT WAS NOT A CITY INITIATED PROJECT, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THEN WHAT'S YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET AND HOW MUCH OF THAT BUDGET COMES FROM GOVERNMENT FUNDS?
>> AWESOME. MY FAVORITE QUESTION.
THIS YEAR WILL BE PROBABLY JUST AROUND 21 MILLION TO OPERATE THE VILLAGE AND THE 501C(3) AS A WHOLE AND WE FUND RAISE ABOUT 76% OF THAT EACH YEAR.
THAT'S WHAT I GET TO DO ON MY TEAM AND WE HAVE NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING IN OUR OPERATIONS AT THIS TIME.
WE'RE OPEN TO IT, BUT IT JUST HASN'T COME TO FRUITION.
IN THE PAST, I HOPE I CAN SAY I HOPE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF GRACE FROM ALL, WE HAVE BEEN HESITANT TO SACRIFICE MISSION FOR STRINGS, ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL SPACE.
ALLEN HAS CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON.
IT'S ALWAYS EVOLVING BUT OUR FIRST ENGAGEMENT WITH PUBLIC FUNDS CAME FROM TRAVIS COUNTY AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY JUST NORTH OF US ALLOCATING SOME OF THEIR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING TOWARD OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN EXPANSION AS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR PROGRAM.
I DO THINK THERE'S A DUTY FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO INVEST IN HOMELESSNESS, BUT I WILL ALSO SAY, I THINK IT'S A REAL TESTAMENT TO THE FACT
[00:50:02]
THAT SERVICES CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT GOVERNMENT AS WELL.THESE ARE LARGE SCALE OPERATIONS AND YOU'RE MANAGING IT.
I'VE HEARD PEOPLE ALL ACROSS AUSTIN, VARIOUS POLITICAL SPECTRUMS, VARIOUS AGES WHO VOLUNTEER AND DONATE AND THINK SO HIGHLY OF WHAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. CAN YOU JUST TOUCH ON THE COST? THE RESIDENTS PAY RENT AND YOU MENTIONED THAT.
CAN YOU TALK JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IS THE COST AND THE OPTIONS ON DIFFERENT PRICING AND WHY ONE MIGHT CHOOSE A LOWER OR HIGHER COST UNIT?
>> CERTAINLY, WOULD YOU ALSO LIKE ME TO GO INTO COST TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN?
>> I'LL START WITH THE MICRO HOME ARE NON-PLUMBED UNITS.
THOSE ARE GOING TO BE BETWEEN 45 AND $60,000 TO BUILD PIECE WHICH WE LET DONORS SPONSOR FOR 30-35 ISH.
A NEIGHBOR MIGHT CHOOSE THAT BECAUSE OF THE PRICE POINT.
ALL BILLS INCLUDED IN THAT SPACE.
SIDE NOTE WIFI IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE FOR ALL NEIGHBORS.
THE BIGGEST ATTRACTION THERE IS GOING TO BE PRICE POINT AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, IF A NEIGHBOR IS LUCKY OR NOT MOBILITY DEVICE BOUND OR MAYBE A LITTLE YOUNGER, THAT IS A MORE ATTRACTIVE OPTION JUST BECAUSE OF THE FLEXIBILITY.
WE HOPE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS CHOOSE THEIR HOME FOR A MYRIAD OF REASONS, WHETHER IT'S LOCATION, COLOR, ORIENTATION, SIZE, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE GET TO CHOOSE AS RENTERS OR BUYERS, WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THOSE OPTIONS AS WELL.
THE BIGGER UNITS, YOU WE PROBABLY HAVE A DOZEN COUPLES.
COUPLES ARE ALLOWED TO SHARE THE BIGGER UNITS FOR FIRE CODE.
WE CAN'T DO THAT IN THE SMALLER ONES AND THAT'S GOING TO BE BETWEEN FIVE AND 600 DEPENDING ON WE DO METER FOR WATER AND ELECTRICITY ON THOSE, I BELIEVE.
BUT THAT'S ALSO IF YOU ARE AN ARTIST, AND YOU NEED A LOT OF SPACE, IF YOU MAYBE KNOW YOUR GRANDCHILDREN OR YOUR NIECE AND NEPHEW, YOU ARE GOING TO VISIT FREQUENTLY, ALL OF THOSE SIMILAR CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE MAY NEED.
THE PLUMBING IS ABSOLUTELY ONE.
WE DO HOPE THAT ONCE A NEIGHBOR CHOOSES THEIR HOME, THAT'S THEIR HOME, EXCEPT FOR MAYBE A MEDICAL NEED ARISING FOR A TRANSFER INTO A PLUMBED UNIT.
THE NEXT THING IS I'LL JUST SAY THE FARM IS AMAZING.
I HAD KNOWN ABOUT IT, BUT YOU'VE REALLY DEVELOPED IT OVER THE YEARS AND I HOPE EVERYONE WILL GET TO SEE THAT.
WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED BONTON HERE THAT IT'S NOT THAT DIFFERENT, BUT IT'S REALLY SPECTACULAR.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE APPRECIATED ABOUT YOUR MODEL IS THAT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS WHO THEN GO INTO YOUR SYSTEM, THEY'RE OFTEN TRANSITIONING FROM A CONGREGATE SHELTER OR A TEMPORARY TINY HOME VILLAGE, ESPERANZA, ALL OF THAT.
BUT WHAT IT'S GIVING THEM IS A DOOR AND PRIVACY AND SECURITY, AND STABILITY, AND COMMUNITY.
I LOVE THAT COMMUNITY FIRST IS YOUR NAME FOR THAT REASON.
THE LAST THING I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON IS YOU SAID SOMETHING WHICH IS FORESHADOWING A PRESENTATION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE NEXT MONTH AND THAT'S TALKING ABOUT THE AVERAGE AGE OF DEATH BEING JUST 60, AND JUST FIVE YEARS AFTER THEY WERE PERMANENTLY HOUSED.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, I THINK WHAT WILL BE AN EYE OPENING PRESENTATION ABOUT DEATH RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS AND HOW WE DO HAVE AN IMPERATIVE TO HELP PEOPLE BECAUSE WE'RE LITERALLY SAVING THEIR LIVES.
MAYOR PRO TEM, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE MEMORIAL AS WELL.
I THINK THIS IDEA THAT IT IS THE FINAL PLACE, YOU CAN COME AND YOU CAN STAY AND LIVE OUT YOUR LIFE THAT ACTUALLY CHANGES THE ORIENTATION OF A MINDSET.
YOU'RE NOT JUST IN A TEMPORARY PLACE.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE INSECURITY OF WHERE I'M GOING NEXT.
YOU KNOW YOU CAN BE THERE AND BUILD LASTING RELATIONSHIPS.
I REALLY THINK IT'S ESSENTIAL ACTUALLY FOR HOW YOU'VE CARRIED OUT YOUR MISSION.
I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU ON THAT.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY RELATED TO IT, I LOVE TO HEAR IT.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS OPEN WHEN I GOT TO TUTORIAL.
WE HAVE THIS HOUSE THAT WE RECENTLY ADDED TO THE SITE.
IT'S ONE OF OUR 3D PRINTED, AND SO A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM ACTUALLY SHARED HER CALLING HER AND HER HUSBAND TO BE LIVE AND FAMILY WITH FOLKS AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE.
WE HAVE A CLINIC ROOM WHERE FOLKS CAN COME, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS COME DO THEIR WORK.
BUT OUR NEIGHBOR WHO'S EXPERIENCING
[00:55:03]
THE END OF THEIR DAYS GETS A PLACE AT HOME AT THE VILLAGE.NEIGHBORS, STAFF MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, MISSIONS, WE ALL TAKE TURNS VISITING AND SINGING SONGS, AND WHEN SOMEBODY DOES PASS AWAY HERE AT HOME, IT IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT RITUAL OF US ON STAFF.
EVERYBODY GETS NOTIFIED THROUGH AN EMAIL OR A RALLY HOOD WHICH IS OUR APP BASED COMMUNICATION TOOL.
WHOEVER'S AVAILABLE OR IF YOU STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND YOU GO STAND HOME, AND WE SING SONGS, SPEND TIME IN LAUGHTER AND STORYTELLING, AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER EVEN KNOWS TO GET THE CORONER TO GIVE US SOME TIME TO PRAY OVER THE BODY.
WE ARE A FAITH BASED OPERATION, NOT FAITH PRESCRIPTIVE BY ANY MEANS, BUT WE VETTED WHERE WE CAN.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THE AVERAGE AGE OF DEATH IN TRAVIS COUNTY FOR SOMEONE EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESS IS 48.
DATA IS ANECDOTAL AND SQUISHY, BUT WE DO SEE SOME APPEARANCE THAT BEING HERE AT THE VILLAGE EXTENDS LIFE WHICH IS JUST A WONDERFUL THING TO BE A PART OF.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE WHEN MAYOR PRO TEM AND I CAME, YOU WERE NOT YET OPENING THE HOSPICES HOUSE, BUT YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WERE DOING SO.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL PRESENTATION AND WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, AND I HOPE YOU HAVE INSPIRED US TO ACT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. COME SEE US IF YOU HAVEN'T.
I HOPE PLEASE CIRCULATE MY EMAIL.
I WOULD LOVE TO FOLLOW UP ON ANY QUESTIONS I DIDN'T ANSWER WELL ENOUGH OR PROPERLY AND CONNECT YOU WITH THE RIGHT STAFF MEMBER, AND WE JUST LOVE TO BE A RESOURCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION FROM OUR NEXT TEXAS CITY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, TAMARA.
JOY, YOUR LONGTIME CEO HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE INSPIRATION TO ME, AND I JUST STOCK HER ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I HAVE VISITED, I THINK THREE OF YOUR DIFFERENT PROPERTIES.
TWO OF THEM, I THINK I VISITED TWICE.
BUT WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU DO IT AND HOW IT STARTED AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY IN DALLAS.
THIS IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT HOUSING CLASS THAT IS JUST NOT AVAILABLE AT ALL.
I KNOW THE CITY HAS FLIRTED WITH NEW HOPE HOUSING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
WHY DON'T YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT.
I LOVE TO HAVE YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR PROGRAM.
THANK YOU. YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE GREEN LIGHTS ON FOR THE MICROPHONE, THEN YOU HAVE TO MOVE IT REALLY LIKE CLOSER THAN WHAT'S COMFORTABLE. THANK YOU.
>> MAYBE I'LL PUSH TO TALK. THERE WE GO. PUSH TO TALK.
EVEN CLOSER. MY GOODNESS. WELL, HELLO.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
I'M THE EVP OF ONSITE OPERATIONS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.
YOU MENTIONED JOY. I HAVE BEEN HAPPILY WORKING FOR HER FOR ABOUT 23 YEARS NOW.
BACK IN THE DAY WHEN I STARTED, WE ONLY JUST HAD ONE BUILDING AND NOW, OF COURSE, WE'VE GROWN OUR ORGANIZATION TO NOW 15 SERVING ALMOST 2,000 AND ACTUALLY UNITS, 2000 UNITS AND LOTS MORE FOLKS.
WE ARE THE ORIGINAL VISION OF THE PRISONERS OF CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL, WHICH IS DOWNTOWN.
SOME 33 OR 35 YEARS AGO, THEY REALLY BEGAN AS THEY WERE WALKING ACROSS THE STREET TO GO TO CHURCH, MORE AND MORE HOMELESSNESS INVADING THE SIDEWALKS IN THE CITY STREETS AT THAT TIME.
THEY REALLY ASKED THEMSELVES, WHAT CAN WE DO TO REALLY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM OR AT LEAST TO BE ABLE TO HELP? WHAT THEY DID IS THEY ACTUALLY FUNDED THE FIRST $1.5 MILLION TO SEED THE FIRST SRO OR SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY HOUSING THAT WE PUT IN HOUSTON.
SINCE THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE GONE ON TO BUILD ANOTHER THOUSAND, AT LEAST, WE'VE GOT EIGHT BUILDINGS THAT ARE NOW COMMITTED TO SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY, SRO, STUDIO EFFICIENCY, WHICHEVER WAY YOU'D LIKE TO LOOK AT IT.
WE HAVE REALLY COMMITTED OURSELVES TO REALLY SERVING THE COORDINATED ACCESS SYSTEM, THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM IN HOUSTON, THE WAY HOME.
NOW ABOUT 60% OF OUR SING ROOM OCCUPANCIES ARE COMMITTED TO THE COALITION AND TO HOUSING THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS,
[01:00:04]
FOLKS THAT ARE COMING CHRONIC HOMELESS OFF THE STREET, SO PERMIT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.REALLY, THAT LOOKS LIKE WE ACTUALLY HAVE ABOUT 850 VOUCHERS THAT WE COBBLE TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT PSH WORK.
WE HAVE A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, CITY OF HOUSTON.
OBVIOUSLY, WHEN WE'RE BUILDING, WE ARE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT UPON THE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM.
OUR CAPITAL STACK LOOKS LIKE A THIRD LOW INCOME TAX CREDITS.
WE HAVE A THIRD OF BASICALLY CITY, FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK MONEY, AND THEN THE REST OF THAT WOULD BE PHILANTHROPY.
WHEN WE FIRST ORIGINALLY BEGAN, I WILL TELL YOU WE WERE JUST LANDLORDS.
WE JUST REALLY WANTED TO PROVIDE SECURE HOUSING FOR OUR FOLKS AND WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME REFERRING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, TO OUR PARTNERS THAT WERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
WHILE IT WAS LOVELY TO HAVE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AS A RESOURCE, IT REALLY WASN'T AS EFFECTIVE AS IT COULD BE.
IN 2012, 2013, 2014 WHEN HOUSTON BEGAN TO CONSOLIDATE ITS SYSTEM, WE REALLY BECAME A STRONG PARTNER THERE AND AT THAT TIME, WE DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD ACTUALLY HAVE PARTNERS THAT WE BRING INTO OUR BUILDINGS.
NOW WE HAVE SEVEN OR EIGHT SERVICE PARTNERS THAT ACTUALLY STAFF INSIDE OUR BUILDINGS, THAT'S ABOUT 42 EMPLOYEES THAT WORK FOR OTHERS THAT COME AND ACTUALLY WORK FIVE DAYS A WEEK IN OUR BUILDING, PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS.
THAT HAS SOLVED A HUGE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS IN TERMS OF THAT COORDINATION OF SERVICES.
NOW THOSE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED RIGHT ON SITE IMMEDIATELY.
WE'RE NOT HAVING TO DEAL WITH OUR RESIDENTS HAVING TO GO AND GET ON LONG BUS RIDES, GO ACROSS TOWN.
WE GAVE OUT PLENTY OF BUS PASSES AND TOKENS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT WE FOUND THAT MOST OF OUR RESIDENTS INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE CLINIC WOULD GO SEE AUNT SUSIE OR BILLY, OR GO SEE A MOVIE OR WHAT HAVE YOU AND THAT CONNECTION JUST DIDN'T REALLY MAKE REALLY WELL.
BRINGING OUR PARTNERS INTO OUR BUILDINGS WAS REALLY MADE A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY THAT WE SERVE OUR RESIDENTS AS WELL.
OVER TIME, I TOLD YOU, I'VE BEEN WITH NEW HOPE SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING, WE HAVE BUILT AT SUCH A RATE WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO LEARN WHAT IS WORKING FOR US AND WHAT ISN'T.
IN ONE BUILDING, WE'D BUILD IT, WE'D DO SOME EXPERIMENTING AND WE'D GO, OH, WELL, THIS WORKS GREAT.
THIS IS NOT SO GOOD, AND THEN THE NEXT BUILDING, WE'D TRY TO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE.
IF YOU'VE BEEN TO NEW HOPE AND SEEN A COUPLE OF OUR BUILDINGS, IF YOU CAME AND ACTUALLY DID THE LONG TOUR, YOU'D SEE THE PROGRESSION OF OUR LEARNING.
WE DO FEEL NOW TODAY, WE ARE AT A PLACE WHERE WE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH OUR DESIGN AND OUR MODEL FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCIES, OUR STUDIO EFFICIENCY APARTMENTS.
WE'VE GOTTEN TO A PLACE WHERE WE FEEL LIKE THE MODEL DOESN'T NEED TO CHANGE MUCH FROM OUR MOST RECENT ONE, WHICH WOULD BE DALE CARNEGIE ON BASICALLY THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF HOUSTON.
IT DID TAKE A LOT OF LEARNING.
WE DID MAKE SOME MISTAKES, [LAUGHTER] BUT WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD MODEL GOING RIGHT NOW.
IT IS TRUE THAT SINCE 2020, WE ACTUALLY HAVE NOT DEVELOPED ANY MORE SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCIES.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY NOW BEEN EXPANDING INTO MULTI-FAMILY.
THEN ALSO WE'VE OPENED UP OUR FIRST SENIOR HOUSING IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
WE'VE GOT TWO DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE'VE JUST OPENED THIS YEAR AND THEY WILL BE DEVOTED TO SENIORS ON SENIOR LIVING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WILL SAY IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DRIVER OF THAT IS THE LACK OF SERVICES TO GO WITH THE SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY THAT WE BUILD.
WE REALLY CAN'T BUILD THE SROS WITHOUT KNOWING THEIR SERVICES THERE.
AT THE MOMENT, THERE'S REALLY NOT A VEHICLE FOR US TO SAY, HI, YES.
WE'LL BUILD THIS AND WE CAN COBBLE TOGETHER THESE SERVICES.
THAT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A BARRIER FOR US TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THE SROS.
>> THAT'S WHY WE'VE EXPANDED INTO OTHER MODELS OF HOUSING.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY COOL IS WE FOUND THAT SOME OF OUR FOLKS IN OUR SROS ARE NOW UPGRADING INTO OUR OTHER FAMILY HOUSING,
[01:05:05]
ONE BEDROOMS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY USE OUR ADDITIONAL MODELS FOR HOUSING AS A CONDUIT FOR FOLKS TO MOVE THROUGH, WHICH IS REALLY GREAT.
OH, I'M SORRY, BUT IS THERE ANY WAY TO MAKE THE SLIDES JUST ROLL THROUGH? I DON'T KNOW WHO'S DOING SLIDES.
>> THEY SHOULD BE ON A LOOP. ARE THEY NOT JUST-
>> THEY'RE NOT ON A LOOP, SO IF YOU CAN PLEASE SAY-
>> IF YOU JUST GO THROUGH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR ME, BUT IT'LL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE VISUAL.
YOU CAN SEE HERE, TOO, I DID TELL YOU WE HAVE 835 VOUCHERS.
IT'S A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
BACK IN THE DAY, WE DID GET SOME COT FUNDING THAT INCLUDED RENTAL SUPPORTS, BUT THAT REALLY DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE.
EVERYTHING REALLY DEPENDS IN TERMS OF THAT SUBSIDY ON REALLY A VOUCHER PROGRAM OF SOME KIND.
WE DO ALSO HAVE VASH VOUCHERS.
WE'VE GOT A DIFFERENT ARRAY OF VOUCHERS THAT GO TO IT, BUT MOST ALL OF OUR SUBSIDIES ARE GOING TO BE COMING IN THE FORM OF A VOUCHER.
I WILL SAY THAT WE REALLY BEGIN THINKING ABOUT OUR SERVICES REALLY WHEN WE'RE ON THE DRAWING BOARD.
WE DO DESIGN OUR BUILDINGS SO THAT THOSE SERVICES CAN BE PROVIDED IN THE BUILDINGS COMFORTABLY.
OUR FIRST COUPLE OF SROS, WHEN WE STARTED PROVIDING SERVICES, OUR CASE MANAGERS WERE IN CLOSETS, AND LITTLE SPACES THAT WE COULD JUST PUT A LITTLE DESK IN, AND PEOPLE COULD GO AND VISIT WITH THEM, AND WE PUT A LITTLE GUEST CHAIR.
NOW WE ACTUALLY HAVE FULL SERVICE AREAS.
BASICALLY, A WHOLE WING WHERE WE CAN PUT OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS, NOT ONLY OUR OWN, BUT OUR PARTNERS.
THEY'VE GOT WORKSTATIONS WITH CONFERENCE SPACES THAT THEY CAN MEET COMFORTABLY WITH THE RESIDENTS AS THEY NEED TO.
THESE ARE AREAS, TOO, WHERE RESIDENTS JUST AUTOMATICALLY MIGRATE TO, AS WELL AS A DROP-IN CENTER, IF YOU WILL, TO BE ABLE TO COME, AND JUST DROP IN, AND GO, "HEY, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS, CAN YOU CONNECT ME WITH THAT?" THERE IS A WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED NOT ONLY BY NEW HOPE HOUSING, BUT ALSO BY OUR PARTNERS.
OUR PARTNERS DO TEND TO DO A DEEPER DIVE INTO CASE MANAGEMENT.
THEY DO THAT TOTAL WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
WE'VE PARTNERED VERY EXTENSIVELY WITH HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS, AND OUR OTHER PARTNERS AVENUE 360.
THEY HAVE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CLINICS THAT WE CAN REFER OUR FOLKS TO WHENEVER THEY NEED THE SERVICES.
ALSO, IT'S BEAUTIFUL THEY DO BRING THEIR NURSES ON SITE, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO SERVE OUR RESIDENTS RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE AS WELL WITH THEIR NOT SO CHRONIC ILLNESSES, SO TO SPEAK.
WE DO REALLY HOPE TO HAVE THE IDEA OF HOUSING PLUS SERVICES, AND THAT REALLY INCLUDES A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF HEALTHCARE THAT COMES INTO OUR BUILDINGS AS WELL.
THE MISSING COMPONENT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
ANYBODY REALLY THAT SPENT ANY TIME AT ALL ON THE STREETS HOMELESS, IS REALLY GOING TO HAVE SOME TRAUMA, AND END UP WITH A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE THAT REALLY REQUIRES SOME CARE, AND THAT'S A HUGE MISSING LINK.
THERE REALLY IS NOT ENOUGH HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO BRING TO OUR RESIDENTS IN OUR BUILDINGS.
WE PARTNER, PARTNER, PARTNER, PARTNER, CAN'T REALLY TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT COLLABORATION, AND PARTNERSHIP IS TO SUCCESS OF PSH.
AS WE'RE GOING ALONG HERE, YOU'RE SEEING SOME OF OUR BUILDINGS.
EACH TIME WE SITE THEM, THE LAND IS DIFFERENT, THE COMMUNITY IS DIFFERENT.
WE DO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THERE IS A LOT OF NIMBI, WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER WITH OUR FRIENDS FROM COMMUNITY FIRST, BUT I WILL SAY IT'S MUCH EASIER ONCE YOU GET ONE BUILDING ON THE GROUND AND OPERATE IT EFFICIENTLY TO GET THE REST ON THE GROUND.
WE DID THAT WITH OUR FIRST SRO ON HAMILTON STREET.
ONCE WE GOT IT UP AND OPERATING, WE COULD INVITE THE PUBLIC.
WE COULD INVITE EVERYBODY TO THE BUILDING AND SAY, "COME LOOK SEE." BUT UNTIL THEN, THEY JUST HAVE A VERY NEGATIVE VIEW ON THIS SPECIFIC TYPE OF HOUSING.
WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD OVER THE YEARS,
[01:10:02]
THE LAST 33 YEARS TO REALLY BREAK THAT STIGMA BY REALLY PROVING TO FOLKS THAT OUR BUILDINGS CAN LOOK BEAUTIFUL WITHIN COMMUNITIES.WE CAN'T DROP A BUILDING IN THERE, AND NOT BE A BLIGHT ON IT.
WE DO, FROM AN OPERATION STANDPOINT, PUT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY INTO MAINTAINING THOSE BUILDINGS.
THAT IS CRITICAL THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD REALLY SEE THE BUILDING AS A GEM IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AND NOT A BLIGHT, AND WE WORK VERY HARD TO DO THAT.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT THESE DAYS, LIFE IS TENUOUS IN OUR WORLD JUST BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING.
I WOULD SAY IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT PSH HERE IN DALLAS, THINGS HAVE BECOME A LOT MORE COMPLEX OVER THE LAST LITTLE WHILE IN TERMS OF GINNING UP NOT ONLY THE CAPITAL FOR PUTTING PSH ON THE GROUND, BUT ALSO FOR PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES.
A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS ARE LOSING LITTLE BITS AND BOBS OF THEIR GRANTS, AND HAVING TO WITHDRAW SOME OF THEIR SERVICES OUT OF OUR BUILDING.
NOW, NEW HOPE DOES, AND WE'RE FORTUNATE, WE DO HAVE OUR OWN RESIDENT PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND TEAM, WHICH I OVERSEE.
WE ARE ABLE TO STRETCH WHERE WE NEED TO, TO BE ABLE TO EMBRACE THOSE AREAS WHERE WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THE SHRINKAGE, BUT THERE WILL BE A LIMIT TO OUR CAPACITY AS WELL.
HOPEFULLY, I'VE GIVEN YOU A GOOD OVERVIEW.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOUR INTEREST IS, EXACTLY, BUT MAYBE QUESTIONS MIGHT BE A GOOD WAY FOR ME TO GO FORWARD.
>> YES, I THINK THAT YOU DID A GREAT JOB, AND I THINK YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR WHAT OUR INTEREST IS.
I WILL SAY, IF YOU DON'T MIND PULLING UP, SHE'S GOT HER OWN NUMBERS ON THERE, SO IF WE COULD USE THOSE, IF YOU CAN PULL UP 38, THIS IS THE BRAYS LOCATION.
>> I THINK THIS IS THE EXTENDED TOUR IT STARTS HERE, OR IT DID AT THE TIME.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING WITH THE METAL IS, THIS IS A GARDEN-STYLE APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT Y'ALL TOOK OVER, AND THEY DID BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK TO SHIELD THE HIGHWAY FROM, BUT ALSO TO SECURE THE PROPERTY, AND PROVIDE A COZIER FEEL REALLY EXCELLENTLY DONE, ESPECIALLY AS A RETROFIT.
THEN IF YOU COULD GO TO NUMBER 46, THIS IS THE HARRISBURG PROPERTY.
I KNOW I SAW THAT ONE, AND I SEE IT'S ESTABLISHED 2018, I MAY HAVE SEEN IT RIGHT AFTER IT OPENED, ACTUALLY.
>> I THINK IT DID COME IN 2018.
INSIDE, IF YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE RIGHT AFTER, YOU CAN SEE WHAT ONE OF THE ROOMS LOOKS LIKE, BUT THERE'S THIS BEAUTIFUL COURTYARD.
ACTUALLY, IF YOU GO FURTHER ON THIS CARNEGIE ONE, WHICH I DON'T THINK I DID SEE, BUT-
>> -IT'S GOT THE COURTYARD IMAGE THAT LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE THE HARRISBURG.
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE COURTYARD READING, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE COURTYARD MAKING ART PAINTING, STRINGING BEADS FOR AN ETSY BUSINESS.
ALL SORTS OF THINGS HAPPENING.
THE KITCHEN WAS RIGHT OFF THE MAIN FLOOR.
THERE IS A GUY WHO WORKS AS A COOK, AND HE WAS ACTUALLY COOKING FOR ALL OF HIS BUDDIES THAT LIVE THERE.
IT WAS REALLY, REALLY WONDERFUL.
THEN THE LAST ONE, IF YOU COULD GO TO 44, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE ONE.
>> NO. EVERYTHING REALLY WE BUILT FROM SCRATCH EXCEPT FOR BRAYS CROSSING IN CONGRESS.
>> OKAY. EVERYTHING, WE BUILT FROM SCRATCH.
>> OKAY, SO I THINK I WAS AT RITTENHOUSE, THOUGH.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE 45, YOU CAN SEE THIS GARDEN IN THE BACK THAT, AGAIN, REALLY, SEEMED TO BE PROVIDING A LOT OF PEACE FOR PEOPLE, AND A SPACE THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO BE SO CLOSE TO OTHERS.
THERE WAS A LOT OF SOCIALIZATION HAPPENING INSIDE, BUT THERE WERE ALSO A LOT OF SOLITARY MOMENTS THAT SEEMED TO BE HAPPENING IN THIS GARDEN AREA WHEN I WAS THERE.
I'M SORRY THAT I'M STARTING OFF THE QUESTIONS.
I USUALLY WOULD ASK THE COMMITTEE TO, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT YOU REALLY WENT INTO THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF HOW YOU PUT THE DEALS TOGETHER.
ANYBODY WHO LOOKS ON LINKEDIN, IF YOU WANT TO STOCK JOY WITH ME, SHE REALLY GOES INTO THAT, THANKING THE VARIOUS PARTNERS, WHETHER IT'S PHILANTHROPIC,
[01:15:02]
OR I KNOW THE FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL FOR YOU.>> THEY'RE OUR STRONG PARTNERS.
>> SHOCKINGLY, THE DALLAS FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK ISN'T FUNDING A LOT OF PROJECTS IN DALLAS.
WE ARE GIVING MONEY AS FAR AS WAY AS LOUISIANA, BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD OUR PROVIDERS AVAIL OURSELVES OF THAT WONDERFUL PROGRAM THAT HAS MONEY AVAILABLE, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
ARE THERE OTHER PROVIDERS OF SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY IN HOUSTON?
THANKFULLY, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE WE NEED MORE, WE STILL HAVE OVER 3,000 INDIVIDUALS ON THE STREET HOMELESS AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
NO DOUBT, TODAY THEY'RE MORE DIFFICULT THAN EVER, AND SO WE HAVE GOTTEN MORE HELP IN THE AREA OF SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCIES.
>> NOW, HOUSTON, FAMOUSLY DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME ZONING AS MANY OTHER CITIES.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT OUR CITY ALLOWS FOR SROS AT THIS TIME, SO WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING YOU NEEDED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, WAS THERE?
WE JUST NEEDED GOODWILL [LAUGHTER] FROM OUR NEIGHBORS, AND WE WORKED VERY HARD.
OUR FIRST SRO, THE VERY FIRST ONE WAS BUILT DOWNTOWN, AND IN FACT, IT WAS BUILT BEFORE MINUTE MAID PARK, AND MINUTE MAID PARK HAD TO BUILD AROUND US, ACTUALLY DAMAGING OUR FOUNDATION.
>> THAT WAS REALLY OUR FIRST INTRODUCTION IN THE CITY, BUT WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY NEIGHBORHOOD PUSHBACK BECAUSE AT THE TIME, IT WAS A VERY INDUSTRIAL AREA.
REALLY, NOBODY EVEN NOTICED WE BUILT THERE.
IT WAS OUR FIRST DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS OUR CANAL STREET BUILDING DOWN WHERE RIGHT NOW MAMA NINFA'S IS, AND EL TIEMPO.
THAT WAS THE ONE THAT REALLY WE GOT OUR FIRST FOOTHOLD INTO NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE WORKED VERY HARD TO GET IN THERE.
IT TOOK ABOUT TWO YEARS TO REALLY CONVINCE THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE WOULD COME IN, AND REALLY MAKE THEM PROUD, AND NOT BE A BLIGHT ON THE COMMUNITY.
WE DID A LOT OF TALKING, AND A LOT OF SHOWING OUR STUFF, AND REALLY CONVINCING.
WE REALLY HAD TO REALLY GET SOME REALLY GREAT CHAMPIONS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT WAS REALLY KEY, REALLY TALKING TO SOME FOLKS, AND REALLY GETTING THEM TO DRINK THE COULD, AND THEN HAVE OUR CHAMPIONS CHAMPION FOR US IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
JOY, AS YOU KNOW, IS A MASTER AT THESE SORTS OF THINGS, AND SHE WAS VERY CONVINCING, AND FELIX FRAGA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW HIM, BUT HE WAS REALLY OUR REALLY BIG CHAMPION AT THE TIME, AND REALLY HELPED US REALLY GET A FOOTHOLD IN CANAL.
AFTER THAT, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY, EASY, BUT IT WAS MUCH MUCH LESS COMPLICATED BECAUSE WE CAN INVITE PEOPLE INTO THIS COMMUNITY.
THEY COULD SEE HOW PRETTY IT WAS.
WE DID A CHARRETTE THERE WITH THE NEIGHBORS, AND WE ACTUALLY ASKED THEM, "WHAT DO YOU WANT THIS BUILDING TO LOOK LIKE?" THEY WANTED TERRACOTTA TILE ROOFS, WHICH WAS OUT OF OUR REACH JUST FROM A COST PERSPECTIVE.
WE ACTUALLY PUT RED SHINGLES ON THE ROOF TO MIMIC THE TERRACOTTA TILES.
THEY WANTED THE BUILDING TO HAVE A GREEN LOOK TO IT, SO THE BUILDING'S KIND OF GREEN, AND REALLY FITS IN BEAUTIFULLY WITH THIS HISPANIC NEIGHBORHOOD.
FROM THERE, IT BECAME A LOT LESS DIFFICULT.
BRAYS CROSSING WAS ANOTHER ONE.
WE'VE GOT STAINED GLASS THERE, TOO.
THE MURALS ARE A COMBINATION OF REASONS WE DID THAT.
IT'S A VERY LONG PROPERTY, 400, 500 FEET LONG, IT WAS AN OLD NO TELL MOTEL, A PIER AND BEAM.
IF I'M HONEST, WE REALLY REBUILT IT.
WE ACTUALLY HAD TO JACK IT UP, AND TAKE OUT ALL THE WOOD, SO REALLY EVERYTHING WAS NEW AT THE END OF THE DAY, BUT THOSE MURALS THAT YOU SEE, THE STEEL MURALS ACROSS THE FRONT, THEY'RE TWOFOLD, BUT WE WANTED TO BREAK OUT THE MONOTONY OF A FENCE THAT MIGHT GO THERE.
WE DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK IT'S A PENITENTIARY, OR SOMEPLACE WHERE PEOPLE WERE BEING CONFINED.
WE WANTED TO HONOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S A HISPANIC NEIGHBORHOOD PREDOMINANTLY.
WE REALLY WANTED TO REALLY MAKE A REAL BIG IMPACT ON THE FREEWAY.
IT'S OUR FIRST BUILDING ON THE FREEWAY, SO A LOT OF EXPOSURE THERE, AND WE REALLY WANTED TO TELL THE COMMUNITY, "LOOK, AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOESN'T HAVE TO LOOK LIKE IT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT CAN LOOK BEAUTIFUL, AND BE TREASURED." THOSE STEEL MURALS ARE REALLY QUITE A SITE.
YOU CAN SEE THEM VERY WELL WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN FROM HOBBY AIRPORT.
[01:20:04]
THEN WE ALSO LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING THE BREEZE BEING ABLE TO GO THROUGH, SO THAT THERE'S JUST A LOT OF BREEZE, AND WIND, AND SUN THAT GOES THROUGH THEM.IT REALLY LOOKS BEAUTIFUL ON THE INSIDE.
DID YOU GET TO THE INSIDE AND BE ABLE TO SEE THE LIGHT THROUGH?
>> YOU GOT IT ALL DECKED OUT, AND ITS ALMOST LIKE YOU'RE IN A TREEHOUSE IN A WAY, THE WAY-
>> WE DID THAT FOR MANY REASONS.
THE OTHER THING TOO, IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS DRIVING BY COULD REALLY BE IMPRESSED WITH THE LOOK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
>> WELL, ALL OF YOUR LOCATIONS ARE BEAUTIFUL.
MY LAST QUESTION FOR YOU IS, IF YOU THINK ABOUT HOUSTON, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE FOR YOUR 15 PROPERTIES WHERE THEY'RE ALL LOCATED? ARE THEY CONCENTRATE IN ONE PART OF TOWN? ARE THEY NEAR X, Y, OR Z, OR DO YOU FEEL LIKE THEY'RE MORE SCATTERED? HOW WOULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT?
>> WELL, ORIGINALLY, WE STARTED CENTER OF THE CITY BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE MOST NEED WAS.
OUR FIRST BUILDING IN HAMILTON STREET WAS RIGHT DOWNTOWN.
CANAL STREET WAS JUST NOT EVEN A MILE FROM THERE INTO THE EAST END, AND BRAYS CROSSING, NOT TOO MUCH FURTHER WENT DOWN SOUTH.
WHEN WE BUILT BRAYS CROSSING, THAT'S WHEN WE REALLY STARTED TO STRETCH A LITTLE FURTHER FROM THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
THEN WE WENT EAST, WE WENT WEST, WE WENT NORTH.
NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY ALL OVER THE CITY.
ABOUT, I WOULD SAY, FROM THE CITY CENTER, YOU'RE ABOUT 25 MINUTES REALLY FROM ANY ONE OF THE PROPERTIES.
>> WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE WERE ALREADY IN THAT LOCATION, AND SO THEREFORE, THEY STAY IN THAT LOCATION, OR THEY WERE REALLY LOOKING AT PROPERTIES BASED ON AVAILABILITY, COST, ANY KIND OF FOCUS.
YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE A SENIOR LOCATION.
HOW WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE OCCUPANCY HAS DISTRIBUTED?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE 60% I TOLD YOU THAT WE COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY, WITH THE COALITION, AND THE WAY HOME ON, THOSE ARE NAVIGATED, SO THEY'RE GOING TO COME FROM EVERYWHERE.
THE OTHER 40%, HOWEVER, TYPICALLY IS GOING TO COME FROM THE NEARBY COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE GOING TO NAVIGATE THEMSELVES TO THE BUILDING, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE LOCAL.
>> EXCELLENT. OKAY, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. [INAUDIBLE]
>> COUNCILOR WILLIS, DO YOU GUYS HAVE QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR WILLIS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TOURING A COUPLE OF YOUR PROPERTIES, AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE, AND I JUST WANTED TO SEE HOW QUICKLY WE COULD HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN DALLAS.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS NOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE GOT A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES AND CRITICAL MASS AND SEEM TO HAVE REFINED THINGS AND NOW MOVING INTO MULTI FAMILY, ARE YOU LOOKING OUTSIDE OF THE MARKET OR CONSIDERING MOVING TO ANOTHER CITY?
>> WE'VE TRIED REAL HARD TO ACTUALLY COME HERE.
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE BEEN FLIRTING.
WE'D LOVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND.
WE ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT, I THINK A MULTIFAMILY PROJECT HERE RIGHT AT THE MOMENT FOR THE NEXT ROUND.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SAN ANTONIO AT THIS TIME.
WE ARE AT A PLACE RIGHT NOW WHERE WE FEEL THAT WE'VE GOT OUR GROOVE ON, AND WE ARE LOOKING TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND INTO OTHER AREAS THAT MIGHT NEED US. ABSOLUTELY.
>> WELL, YOUR MODEL IS SO IMPRESSIVE, AND I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO KEEP YOUR THOUGHTS TRAINED ON DALLAS, TEXAS.
I ALWAYS HAPPY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.
ONE THING THAT I HAD LEARNED, I THINK ON THE VISITS WAS THAT YOU ALL HAVE REALLY MOVED TO NEW CONSTRUCTION VERSUS ADAPTIVE REUSE.
IT ALWAYS SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA TO REHAB A BUILDING, BUT IT CAN CREATE ISSUES.
ARE YOU PRETTY MUCH IN THE NEW CONSTRUCTION MODEL?
>>I THINK IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE STRUCTURE, BUT IT IS, IN OUR EXPERIENCE, A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE TO ADAPT A BUILDING BECAUSE THERE ARE SPECIFIC NEEDS THAT A PSH BUILDING NEEDS, AND A LOT OF THOSE ALREADY DEVELOPED BUILDINGS ARE JUST NOT SET UP FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT SPACES THAT WE NEED.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TOO, AND YOU TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER IS JUST CREATING THOSE SPACES WHERE RESIDENTS CAN EITHER COME TOGETHER IN COMMUNITY OR JUST SPEND TIME ON THEIR OWN.
WE FOUND A LOT OF BUILDINGS WHILE THEY MIGHT BE ADAPTABLE.
THEY DON'T PROVIDE SOME OF THAT COMMUNITY BUILDING AND OPPORTUNITY ENVIRONMENTS.
WE'LL GO BOTH WAYS, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, BUT FOR US, WE'RE MORE COMFORTABLE BUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP BECAUSE WE CAN CONTROL EVERYTHING, AND WE KNOW WHAT'S BEHIND THE WALLS.
>> I WAS VISITING BY DAY AND IT SEEMED PRETTY TRANQUIL AND WELL MANAGED AND PEOPLE WERE JUST GOING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS.
[01:25:03]
WE OFTENTIMES HEAR CONCERNS OF NEIGHBORS.THEY JUST DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO PROCESS WHAT SOME, EVEN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND THE RESIDENTS, THE IMPACT IT COULD MAKE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA TO POINT TO SHOW ONE WAY OR THE OTHER THAT THERE REALLY AREN'T ISSUES OR THAT YOU'VE GOT SECURITY TO CONTROL ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN? THAT'S IT'S HELPFUL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO POINT TO.
WE HAVE SOME OF OUR OWN EXAMPLES HERE.
>> I WILL SAY THAT WE DID A RECIDIVISM STUDY, AND WE'VE SHOWED THAT PEOPLE THAT WE DO HOUSE DON'T RECIDIVATE AS MUCH AS OTHERS THAT ARE NOT HOUSED.
I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE SOME BUILDINGS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO RUN SECURITY IN AT ALL, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER BUILDING THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE SECURITY AND SO THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES ARE UNIQUE, EVEN THOUGH THEY FOLLOW A MODEL.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD GOES INTO IT.
EACH BUILDING, IT JUST NEEDS TO BE ADAPTED.
YOU'LL LEARN DURING YOUR LEASE UP WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO MAKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAPPY, AND ALSO TO KEEP THE RESIDENTS UNDERSTANDING THAT THE BUILDING THEIR HOME.
BUT WE DO A LOT OF WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORS TO INVITE THEM IN A LOT OF TIMES, THEY'LL COME IN AND THEY'LL DO HOLIDAY MEALS, THEY BRING PIES, A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FOLKS REALLY WANT TO BE A PART OF THE LIVES OF FOLKS IN OUR BUILDING.
NOW THERE ARE SOME BUILDINGS WHERE THEY WON'T AT ALL.
IT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM ONE BUILDING TO THE OTHER.
>> I CAN'T RECALL WHICH LOCATION HAD LOOKED LIKE A CONVENIENCE STORE AND SOME SHOPS ACROSS THE STREET AND A LITTLE RESTAURANT.
IT SEEMED LIKE RESIDENTS WERE POPULATING THAT.
DOING BUSINESS LIKE ANYONE ELSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT HOW THERE COULD ACTUALLY BE AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUE BY ACTIVATING SOME OF THESE LOCATIONS? HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OF THAT?
>> WELL, THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES.
WE DO ACTUALLY, WHERE WE TEND TO BUILD, WE DO LIKE OUR CANAL STREET BUILDING.
THAT WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD IS GENTRIFIED NOW.
IT'S FULL OF $300,000 TOWNHOUSES.
IRREGARDLESS OF US BEING THERE, THEY'VE STILL BUILT AND DEVELOPED AROUND US, AND WE FIND THAT THAT HAPPENS PRETTY MUCH IN ALL THE AREAS THAT WE BUILD IN.
BRACE CROSSING, HOWEVER, IS SURROUNDED BY A CEMETERY, SO THERE'LL BE NO GENTRIFICATION THERE, BUT IN A LOT OF OUR OTHER BUILDINGS, EVEN OUR DOWNTOWN BUILDING, OUR LITTLE TINY 57 UNIT CONGRESS BUILDING, IT'S RIGHT DOWNTOWN, AND WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. OUR RESIDENTS TEND TO BE VERY PROUD OF WHERE THEY LIVE. NOT GOING TO LIE.
WE DO HAVE THE PERIODIC, LITTLE PROBLEMS, BUT THEY TEND TO BE ISOLATED INSIDE THE BUILDING AND DON'T SPILL OUT OUTSIDE.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE DO HAVE IN A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES IS THAT OUR RESIDENTS TEND TO GET BLAMED FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ACTUAL STREET HOMELESS.
ANY TIME ANYTHING HAPPENS ON THE STREET, THEY GO THOSE NEW HOPE RESIDENTS, AND I'M LIKE SHOW US A PICTURE BECAUSE WE CAN IDENTIFY THEM, AND THAT IS THE THING I WILL TELL YOU, INVEST IN CAMERAS PUT LOTS OF THEM OUT THERE.
WE'VE GOT 75 TO 80 CAMERAS IN MOST OF OUR DEVELOPMENTS INSIDE AND OUT.
BUT THAT WAY, YOU CAN ACTUALLY PROTECT YOUR RESIDENTS AS WELL, WHEN THEY'RE BEING ACCUSED OF SOMETHING, YOU CAN SAY LISTEN, IF IT HAPPENED RIGHT HERE, LET'S PULL UP THE CAMERA FOOTAGE AND LET'S SEE WHO THIS IS.
NINE TIMES OUT OF 10, WE DON'T RECOGNIZE THEM.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE SOMEBODY WHO IS UNHOUSED, BUT NOT IN OUR BUILDING.
>> WANTED TO ASK ABOUT SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY, BECAUSE I WOULD ASK STAFF, MAYBE THOR OR JAMES ON CITY OF DALLAS POLICY.
YOU OBVIOUSLY CAN EXECUTE THIS IN HOUSTON.
BUT WOULD IT REQUIRE SOME POLICY CHANGE OR HOW WOULD DALLAS UNDERTAKE, LIKE IF NEW HOPE DECIDED TO COME TO DALLAS, WOULD WE NEED TO ENACT ANY CHANGE TO HAVE THAT MODEL COME TO DALLAS?
I GUESS NOT AFTERNOON, YET IT FEELS LIKE IT.
WE DON'T HAVE A CODE FOR SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCIES, BUT SOME OF THE OTHER FACILITIES THAT OPERATE AT LIKE THE SAME JUDES, THEY FALL UNDER WHAT'S CALLED THE GROUP RESIDENTIAL FACILITY.
THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT TECHNICAL VARIATIONS OF THAT.
IT'S ONE THING THAT WE'VE SINCE OUR MEETING LAST MONTH, I'VE ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSING WITH OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT OVER AND WHAT TYPE OF ZONING IS ALLOWED, WHAT TYPE OF USE DOES THIS FALL UNDER, AND THAT'S HOW THEY'RE DONE HERE LOCALLY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOW UP CONVERSATION TO LEARN MORE TOO ABOUT HOW WE CAN SUPPORT IT LOCALLY.
>> I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO EXPLORE THAT HERE SO THAT THERE'S NOT ANY HURDLE, SHOULD WE BE ABLE TO BRING SOMETHING ON A GRANDER SCALE TO DALLAS SO THAT WE WOULD IRON THAT OUT.
BUT ST. JUDE'S IS ALREADY IT'S OVER 100 ROOMS.
>> WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP TO DISCUSS THE TECHNICAL DIFFERENCES AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT MODELS HERE IN DALLAS. THANK YOU.
[01:30:03]
>> I WILL SAY I'M NOT THE EXPERT ON THE DEVELOPMENT SIDE.
HOWEVER, WE DID FIND A WORK AROUND IN HOUSTON.
A LOT OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT APPLIANCES.
I THINK THERE IS A SPECIAL PERMIT THAT WE BUILD UNDER.
I CAN GET WITH YOU THOR AND TELL YOU HOW WE DO THAT.
BUT WE DID IN THE BEGINNING, HAVE TO DO A LITTLE DANCING TO MAKE IT ALL WORK.
BUT NOW THAT'S BEEN YEARS AGO SINCE THEN SO.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS THE DIVERSITY OF YOUR PORTFOLIO IS IMPRESSIVE. NUMBER 1.
NUMBER 2, YOU'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES THROUGH THE HOUSING. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION ABOUT AND SO I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH SLIDE IT WAS, BUT, HERE IT IS ACTUALLY IRONICALLY ENOUGH ON SLIDE 4.
IT WAS THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT. IT SAYS, IT'S RETIRED.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PROPERTY AFTER?
>> THAT'S THE HAMILTON STREET BUILDING THAT I TOLD YOU WAS RIGHT THAT MINUTE MAID PARK HAD TO BUILD AROUND US.
THEY BOUGHT THE BUILDING FROM US, AND ABOUT A MINUTE LATER, TOOK THE WRECKING BALL TO IT AND TURNED IT INTO A PARKING LOT? WITH THE MONEY.
>> WITH THE MONEY THAT WE GOT FROM THAT PARTICULAR TRANSACTION, WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD OUR HARRISBURG DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS WHERE ACTUALLY OUR OFFICES ARE AS WELL.
WE ACTUALLY WORK WHERE OUR RESIDENTS LIVE.
>> WHEN YOU ARE GOING THROUGH, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT THE DEVELOPER, THAT'S NOT YOUR SPACE PER SAY, BUT WHEN YOU ARE IDENTIFYING PROPERTY.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO BOTH IDENTIFY THE POTENTIAL PROPERTY AS WELL AS THE PROGRAMMING.
>> THE PROPERTY IS REALLY GUIDED BY THE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE TO CHECK ALL THE BOXES.
MOSTLY, I WILL SAY FROM A SERVICE PERSPECTIVE, I LIKE US TO BE CLOSE TO A BUS ROUTE.
WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE, YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO AND GET ON A BUS AND GET THEIR GROCERIES, SO YOU WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO CARRY BACK THEIR GROCERIES SOMEWHAT COMFORTABLY.
IN A HOT DAY. FOR ME, I LIKE TO SEE US CLOSE TO, A METRO.
WHERE WE CAN, AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE CLOSE TO GROCERIES.
MOST OF OUR BUILDINGS, HOWEVER, ARE IN FOOD DESERTS.
WE DO HAVE BRACE CROSSINGS IS A MILE AWAY FROM THE WALMART SO WE GOT LUCKY THERE.
WE GOT REALLY LUCKY WITH THAT BUILDING, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM ARE QUITE SO LUCKY.
WE DO WORK VERY HARD WITH FOOD SECURITY.
ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS HAVE PANTRIES IN THEM, WE OPEN THEM TWICE A MONTH.
THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT 17 HOURS OF STAFF TIME JUST TO GET ONE PANTRY OPEN IN ONE BUILDING.
THOSE PANTRIES ARE A HEAVY LIFT, BUT WE FEEL THAT FOOD SECURITIES IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG THINGS FOR ME, IF WE WERE ABLE, IF I HAD MY CHOICE, I'D GO AND FIND SOMETHING CLOSE TO A GROCERY STORE.
HOWEVER, THE LAND THAT'S CLOSE TO GROCERY STORE IS OUT OF OUR REACH. COST WISE.
>> I THINK I WAS GOING TO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
>> SERVICES, AS YOU MIGHT RECALL, I BRING TO US.
IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHERE OUR PROVIDER IS.
THEY COME IN FOR I PROVIDE THE SERVICE.
>> BECAUSE YOU ALL SAID, YOU ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE MANY OF THOSE SERVICES WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.
>> WE ACTUALLY BUILD SOCIAL SERVICE SUITES.
IN OUR DEVELOPMENTS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A WING JUST FOR OUR SOCIAL SERVICE PARTNERS.
WE MAY HAVE TWO OR THREE PARTNERS WORKING IN ONE BUILDING.
BUT THEY COME IN, THEY PUT THEIR STAFF ON OUR BUILDING, THEY WORK WITH US SIDE BY SIDE.
FIVE DAYS A WEEK ALL THE TIME, AND THEY PROVIDE THOSE SERVICE DIRECT TO OUR RESIDENTS RIGHT THERE AT THE BUILDING.
>> THE MAIN NEED IS IF THEY HAVE HEALTHCARE NEEDS, WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY PUT THEM ON A BUS AND GET THEM TO A PROVIDER.
>> SURE. I THINK THAT WAS A STATEMENT YOU SAID IN TERMS OF HOW YOU DESIGNING THOSE, WHICH IS WHY IT'S BETTER TO BUILD SO YOU CAN DESIGN WITH THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES IN MIND.
BUT TYPICALLY YOU'LL DESIGN IT IN A WAY THAT THERE'S SPACE FOR MULTIPLE SERVICE SERVICE PROVIDERS OR SERVICE PARTNERS.
>> ALSO, TWO WHEN AN EXISTING SITE, TYPICALLY, SECURITY BECOMES A PROBLEM.
SECURING THE EXITS IS A PROBLEM.
IF YOU ARE RETROFITTING A BUILDING.
IF YOU CAN DESIGN IT YOURSELF, THEN YOU CAN PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO HOW YOU'RE GOING TO SECURE YOUR ENTRANCES AND EXITS.
[01:35:02]
TYPICALLY, WE HAVE ONE WAY IN THE BUILDING.OUR BUILDINGS OPERATE 24 HOURS A DAY, SO THAT'S THE BIG EXPENSE RIGHT THERE.
PAYROLL IS A LARGE EXPENSE TO A PSH PROJECT.
BUT WE DO HAVE THAT ONE MAIN ENTRANCE, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE FIRE EXITS, BUT THERE'S CAMERAS, ALARMS AND EVERYTHING ON THOSE.
THEY'RE ONE WAY YOU ONLY GO OUT, YOU CAN'T GET IN.
WE BUILD FENCES ANYWHERE WE NEED TO AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. REALLY ENJOYED THE PRESENTATION, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, COMING UP, AND WE HOPE TO BE TALKING TO YOU AGAIN.
I DO REALLY WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE YOU ANYTIME YOU'RE IN HOUSTON. PLEASE LOOK ME UP.
I LOVE TO SHOW OUR STUFF OFF, AND WE DO HAVE STUFF WE CAN GET YOU TO IN ONE AREA, SO YOU'RE NOT HAVING TO TRAPS ALL OVER TOWN, BUT I REALLY WOULD TELL YOU THAT SEEING IS BELIEVING.
>> THANK YOU. COMMITTEE MEMBERS, YOU HEARD THE GENEROUS OFFER FOR A CHORE, SO I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE HER UP ON IT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION.
THIS IS THE ENCAMPMENT SERVICING PROCEDURES.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE KEVIN ODEN HIMSELF.
>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE MEMBERS, CHAIR, MADAM CITY MANAGER.
MY NAME IS KEVIN ODEN, AND I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND CRISIS RESPONSE HERE AT THE CITY OF DALLAS.
TODAY, I'M HERE ALONGSIDE DIRECTOR ERICSON, TO WALK YOU THROUGH HOW THE DALLAS STREET RESPONSE TEAM ADDRESSES ENCAMPMENT SERVICING.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS FIRST SLIDE OUTLINES THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND HOW THEY ARE DIVIDED AND ALIGNED ACROSS THREE CRITICAL ENTITIES.
FIRST IS HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IN THE MIDDLE IS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND CRISIS RESPONSE, AND THEN THIRD AND ON THE RIGHT IS OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE LEAD AGENCY HOUSING FORWARD.
BEGINNING ON THE LEFT, HCE FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON POLICY, LONG-TERM HOUSING STRATEGIES, CONTRACTS, AND COMPLIANCE.
IN THE CENTER, EMCR MANAGES THE OPERATIONAL ARM, AND THIS INCLUDES FIELD DEPLOYMENT, SERVICE REQUEST, RESPONSES, AND ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTIONS.
EMCR COORDINATES CLEANUPS, CLOSURE MAINTENANCE, AND THEN ON THE RIGHT, THE CONTINUUM OF CARE LEAD AGENCY CONTINUES TO LEAD COORDINATED OUTREACH AND HOUSING PLACEMENT EFFORTS.
THEY ARE REALLY THE BACKBONE OF OUR HOUSING RESPONSE.
THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH THE DALLAS STREET RESPONSE TEAM TO CONNECT UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS TO CARE AND HOUSING.
THEY ALSO GUIDE ACCESS TO MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PATHWAYS FOR THOSE WITH COMPLEX NEEDS.
TOGETHER, THIS DIVISION OF LABOR ENSURES THAT WE ARE NOT DUPLICATING WORK.
INSTEAD, WE'RE ALIGNING OUR ROLES AND PUTTING OURSELVES IN THE BEST POSITION TO DELIVER. NEXT SLIDE.
>> EVERY 311 REQUEST RELATED TO ENCAMPMENTS IS ROUTED THROUGH OUR STRUCTURED PROCESS.
IT STARTS WITH A FIELD ASSESSMENT, WHICH IS TO IDENTIFY THE TYPE OF PROPERTY AND WHETHER THERE'S AN IMMEDIATE HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENCAMPMENT.
FROM THERE, THE SITE IS EITHER HANDLED THROUGH ENGAGEMENT, ESCALATED TO HOT SPOT STATUS, OR MOVE TOWARDS CLOSURE MAINTENANCE.
THIS ALLOWS US TO MATCH RESPONSE TYPE TO THE SITE CONDITIONS.
NEXT SLIDE, TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, THIS SLIDE BREAKS DOWN THE PHASED PROCESS THAT OUR TEAM FOLLOWS WHEN RESPONDING TO SERVICE REQUEST FOR ENCAMPMENTS.
WE START WITH AN INITIAL INTERVENTION.
THIS IS WHERE A PARTNER OR OUTREACH TEAM MEETS WITH INDIVIDUALS WHERE THEY ARE, ASSESSES THEIR NEEDS, OFFER SERVICE, AND DOCUMENTS THE ENGAGEMENT.
IF SOMEONE DECLINES HELP, OUR TEAM DOES NOT GIVE UP, WE MOVE FORWARD INTO AN ESCALATION PROTOCOL, WHICH REQUIRES AT LEAST ONE MORE OUTREACH VISIT WITHIN 24 HOURS.
THERE'S STILL NO VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE, WE MOVE TO CLOSURE NOTICE ISSUED.
THESE ARE POSTED VISIBLY WITH REMINDERS TO COLLECT BELONGINGS AND SEEK SUPPORT.
AGAIN, THIS IS BOTH ABOUT COMPLIANCE AS WELL AS COMPASSION.
AFTER THE NOTICE PERIOD, WE MOVE TO COMPLIANCE AND CLEANUP.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THIS, ENFORCEMENT IS A LAST RESORT AND ONLY USED IF SAFETY DEMANDS IT.
AT THIS POINT, OUR STAFF AND CONTRACTORS, OR OUR PARTNERS AT TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS,
[01:40:02]
CLEAR THE SITE, OFFER FINAL SERVICES, AND DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.THEN WE GO BACK, SO POST-CLEANUP MONITORING IS WHERE THE TEAM CHECKS THE SITE REGULARLY TO PREVENT RE-ENCAMPMENT, AND THAT PRESENCE IS REALLY THE KEY TO LONG-TERM SUCCESS.
FINALLY, WE CLOSE THE LOOP WITH FINAL DOCUMENTATION.
EVERY CLEARANCE IS LOGGED IN 311, WE REPORT HOW MANY VISITS WERE MADE, WHAT SERVICES WERE OFFERED, AND WHETHER THE SITE STAYED CLEAR. NEXT SLIDE.
ON THIS SLIDE, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HOW WE ARE TRACKING PERFORMANCE AND IMPROVING THE WAY THAT WE ARE MEASURING IMPACT.
FIRST, WE'RE NOW TRACKING OUR SERVICE DELIVERY RATE FOR EVERY ENCAMPMENT REQUEST THAT COMES THROUGH 311.
THAT MEANS THAT WE NOT ONLY KNOW HOW MANY SITES WE RESPOND TO, BUT HOW QUICKLY WE MADE FIRST CONTACT, HOW MANY OUTREACH ATTEMPTS OCCURRED, AND HOW LONG IT TAKES TO FULLY RESOLVE THE LOCATION.
THIS GIVES US BOTH OPERATIONAL AWARENESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
SECONDLY, WE'RE CONTINUING WITH UPGRADING OUR 311 REPORTING TOOLS TO COLLECT SITE-LEVEL DETAIL THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE.
THIS INCLUDES THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PERSONS ON SITE, THE TYPES OF HAZARDS PRESENT, AND THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL OR DEBRIS REMOVED.
INSTEAD OF TREATING EVERY ENCAMPMENT THE SAME, WE'RE BUILDING A DATA MODEL THAT REFLECTS THE TRUE COMPLEXITY OF EACH LOCATION WHERE WE CAN BETTER PRIORITIZE IMMEDIATE SERVICE.
THIS IS ULTIMATELY A LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT ALLOWS US TO PRIORITIZE THE HIGHEST RISK AND HIGHEST IMPACT ENCAMPMENTS FIRST.
GENERALLY, THE ONES THAT ARE PRODUCING THE MOST NUISANCE BEHAVIOR, SAFETY COMPLAINTS, OR REPEATED CALLS FOR SERVICE.
THE RESULT IS A MORE STRATEGIC DEPLOYMENT MODEL WHERE WE CAN SHOW WHY A SITE IS BEING ACTED UPON, WHAT IS BEING DONE, AND WHAT OUTCOMES WERE ACHIEVED.
THIS IS ULTIMATELY FOR US ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, PERFORMANCE, AND BEING ABLE TO SHOW THE PUBLIC AND THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WE'RE NOT JUST RESPONDING, BUT RESOLVING.
NEXT SLIDE, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR ERICKSON FOR HCE.
>> THANKS, KEVIN. THOR ERICKSON, DIRECTOR OF HOUSING COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT.
AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS CHANGING FUNDING AND APPROACHES TO HOW WE SERVE OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.
ON JULY 3RD, HAD ANNOUNCED A PENDING NOFO THAT THE CONTINUUM OF CARE WILL APPLY TO.
WE KNOW THAT THAT NOFO IS GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT THIS YEAR THAN IT HAS IN PAST.
WE ANTICIPATE SOME OF THE PRIORITIZATIONS BEING AROUND CAMPING BANS, PUBLIC SAFETY, MENTAL HEALTH, AND STREET HOMELESSNESS, ONSITE SERVICES AND TREATMENT PLANS, AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN GETTING BACK TO WORK.
WHILE WE'RE WORKING ON OUR ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES, IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE PAIR UP THE SERVICES TO THE FOLKS IN THE ENCAMPMENTS THAT KEVIN WORKS WITH AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT COORDINATED SYSTEM.
WE EXPECT THAT NOFO TO HAVE A REDUCTION IN FUNDING THAT GOES TO RAPID REHOUSING AND PERMANENT SUPPORT AND REDIRECT SOME OF THOSE FUNDING, BUT UNTIL THAT NOFO IS OUT, THESE ARE ANTICIPATED CHANGES.
WE WILL NOT KNOW THOSE CHANGES UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT REOPENS, AND WE HAVE SOME MORE UNDERSTANDING OF THAT. ALSO, THE STATE.
WE HAVE ALL BEEN SEEING THE NEW STORIES OF HOW GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAS BEEN WORKING TO ADDRESS ENCAMPMENTS IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
THE WORK THAT KEVIN IS LEADING SHOWS THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE ABOUT OUR PROACTIVE OUTREACH AND OUR CLOSING STRATEGIES, AND TO REINFORCE SOME OF OUR LOCAL SYSTEMS HERE IN DALLAS.
WITH THAT SAID, THERE'S MORE OPPORTUNITIES HERE TO DISCUSS OUR LOCAL APPROACH AND HOW ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD TODAY IN TERMS OF OUR BEDS AT CAPACITY, OUR SERVICES STARTING TO THEIR UTILIZATION RATES.
THE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I TAKE THIS MOMENT NOW TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU, CHAIR, TO HELP US LEAD SOME CONVERSATIONS IN TERMS OF OUR LOCAL APPROACH AND UNDERSTANDING THIS MORE FOLDING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, THOR. I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING FEDERALLY, CHANGES IN PERMITS, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, AND RAPID REHOUSING COULD HAVE SOME VERY NEGATIVE IMPACTS IN TERMS OF OUR NUMBER OF HOMELESS IN DALLAS.
THERE'S PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY LIVING IN APARTMENTS THAT ARE SUBSIDIZED THAT MAY LOSE THAT SUBSIDY.
I WOULD HOPE AND WOULD LIKE FOR OUR SYSTEM TO BE PREPARED, BUT WHEN WE KNOW THAT OUR EMERGENCY SHELTERS ARE AT OR NEAR CAPACITY, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT ELASTICITY IS GOING TO COME FROM.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
I'M HOPING THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT AND THINKING ABOUT CAPACITY THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO BRING ONLINE, EVEN IF IT'S A CONGREGATE SHELTER, SO THAT PEOPLE LITERALLY AREN'T ON THE STREET.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH IT.
OUR LEAD AGENCY OF HOUSING FORWARD, IS LOOKING AT THAT AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO APPLY THE CONTINUUM OF CARE WILL BE APPLYING TO THE NOFO TO ADDRESS ALL OF THESE.
AS A NETWORK THAT KEVIN LAID OUT, WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT IT, DISCUSSING IT,
[01:45:01]
AND PROACTIVELY WORKING ON OUR APPROACH.>> IF I CAN ADD TO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GOING TO MAKE I THINK, MY TEAM'S JOB MUCH EASIER AND THAT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT AND APPRECIATIVE TO THE COUNCIL IS THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO HOUSE FOLKS OUT OF SHELTER THAT HAVE BEEN IN THERE FOR MONTHS, IF NOT YEARS, THAT WILL CREATE NEW BEDS THAT WE CAN USE TO GET FOLKS OFF THE STREET AND INTO THE SHELTER SYSTEM WITHOUT HAVING TO USE FUNDING TO POTENTIALLY CREATE NEW SHELTER SPACES.
I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE FORGOTTEN THAT THAT IS A TOOL THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL AND IS COMING ONLINE VERY QUICKLY.
>> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS FEDERAL CHANGE THAT'S COMING.
THEN ALSO, WE HAVE SEEN BOTH IN OKLAHOMA AND IN TEXAS, THE GOVERNOR'S VERY ACTIVE IN ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION AND REMOVALS.
RIGHT NOW, WE CAN SEE THAT THEY'RE VERY ACTIVE IN AUSTIN.
THE GOVERNORS IN TEXAS IS VERY PUBLICLY ASKING WHAT CITY SHOULD THEY GO TO NEXT.
THE FACT IS THAT DALLAS HAS MORE HOMELESS THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN TEXAS, AND THAT COULD HAPPEN HERE.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED FOR THIS BRIEFING ABOUT, WELL, HOW DO WE HANDLE ENCAMPMENTS AND HOW ARE WE DOING ON THAT.
WHAT WE HEARD IS THIS IS OUR CITY'S RESPONSE TO IT, BUT I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT MANY RESIDENTS DON'T FEEL THE ENCAMPMENTS ARE BEING ADDRESSED IN A TIMELY OR COMPLETE MANNER.
I HEAR YOU SAYING, HERE'S THE 311 CALL, HERE'S THE ASSESSMENT, I CAN AGREE WITH THAT, BUT THE ACTUAL CLOSURE HAPPENING, NOT SEEING A LOT OF THAT, AT LEAST NOT WHERE I AM, AND NOT IN THE AREAS THAT I DRIVE, WHICH IS EVERYTHING NORTH DOWN TO CITY HALL.
I LITERALLY DROVE BY YOU FROM THE 345 TURNOFF TO 31 DAY.
I THINK I SHOWED YOU THOSE PICTURES, BUT THERE'S STILL TONS OF ENCAMPMENTS THERE.
THE ONES YOU ACTUALLY REMOVED MAY BE, BUT NO, WE DID NOT DO A GOOD JOB ABOUT CLOSURE MAINTENANCE BECAUSE THERE'S PROBABLY 15 TENTHS TODAY.
THERE'S THE ENCLOSURE BEHIND THE DENNY'S AT FRANKFORT AND THE TOLLWAY.
THEY'RE STILL THERE, THAT'S BEEN THREE WEEKS NOW.
I'M JUST SAYING, I'M NOT SURE WE'RE ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHING THE PRESENTATION.
I DO THINK THAT IS GOING TO PUT US IN PERIL FOR OTHER ENTITIES TO COME IN AND DO THAT JOB.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU CAN SAY, IS THERE ANY PART OF THE PROCESS PHASE THAT YOU'RE FINDING DIFFICULTY IN, OR THAT YOU THINK YOU'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS IN? CAN YOU ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THAT?
>> YEAH, INCREDIBLY A LOT TO UNPACK THERE.
LET'S BE COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT WITH ALL OF THIS, IS THAT EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF THE SYSTEM REALLY HAS TO BE WORKING OPTIMALLY TO GET THE RESULTS THAT WE WANT.
THAT INCLUDES OUR SHELTERS, OUR HOUSING, AND FOLKS SEEING THE PATHWAY TO HOUSING FROM SHELTERS TO ENTICE THEM TO GO THERE.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT COUNCIL HAS INVESTED HEAVILY IN ON THAT CONTINUE TO GROW AND BRING ME A LOT OF OPTIMISM THAT WE WILL SEE FURTHER SUCCESS.
TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE CLEANUPS.
I MEAN, MY TEAM DOES PROBABLY 10 TO 15 ENCAMPMENT CLEANINGS A WEEK.
A LOT OF THOSE RESULT IN THE DISPLACEMENT OF PERSONS WITHOUT PERSONS ACTUALLY COMING OFF THE STREET.
FOR ANY OTHER ENTITY TO COME IN AND CLEAN UP AND DO THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY WILL BE GENERALLY DOING THE SAME THING.
I HAVEN'T SEEN OR HEARD FROM MY COUNTERPARTS IN AUSTIN THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY ANY CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE MOVED.
NOW, I WILL SAY THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN HELPFUL IS OUR COLLABORATION WITH DALLAS POLICE AND DALLAS MARSHALS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY OBJECTS TO IF THERE ARE FOLKS WITH WARRANTS OR PARTICIPATING IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ON THE STREET, THAT THEY HAVE A ROLE IN THAT.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE A ROLE IN EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE HOMELESS AND THE ENCAMPMENTS.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING AND FUNDING EXIT PATHWAYS OFF THE STREET.
[01:50:02]
OTHERWISE, YOU ARE CORRECT, WE ARE TELLING PEOPLE TO LEAVE AN AREA, COMING IN WITH TRUCKS, CLEANING UP, BUT NOT ACTUALLY CHANGING THE STATUS OF THE INDIVIDUAL.I'LL CONCLUDE BY ENDING WHERE I STARTED.
ONCE INDIVIDUALS ON THE STREET KNOW, AND THEY SEE AND THEY FEEL THAT IF I GO TO SHELTER, I HAVE A WAY INTO HOUSING, I BELIEVE YOU WILL START TO SEE A MUCH BIGGER CHANGE.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE DONE THIS FROM STREET TO HOME, AND THAT HAS HAD AN IMPACT.
I MEAN, WE CAN SEE IT ALL AROUND US HERE IN DOWNTOWN.
WE HAVE TO KEEP UP THAT SAME MOMENTUM IN THE OTHER FACETS OF THIS SYSTEM.
>> I KNOW I HAVE SAID THIS ON CAMERA MULTIPLE TIMES, AND I THINK WE'VE MADE A MISTAKE ON STREET TO HOME BECAUSE YOU'VE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO LEAVE SHELTER, WHERE THEY'RE GETTING PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT, WHERE THEY'RE GETTING STABILITY, WHERE THEY'RE BUILDING A COMMUNITY, TO GO BACK ONTO THE STREET BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING PRIORITIZED OVER PEOPLE WHO ARE POSSIBLY WORKING OUT OF THE SHELTERS WHO ARE MAKING PROGRESS ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, WITH PROFESSIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, WITH CASE MANAGERS, WITH ALL THE SUPPORTS THAT, I KNOW A NUMBER OF OUR AGENCIES ARE HERE, THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING THE BEST PRACTICE WRAPAROUND CARE, AND THEY'RE LEAVING THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING PRIORITIZED.
WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU OFF THE STREET AND INTO HOUSING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THIS IS THE PATH, AND THERE'S JUST BEEN THIS IDEA THAT MAGICALLY SOMEBODY'S LIFE WILL DRAMATICALLY CHANGE AND THEY'LL SOMEHOW BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN HOUSING JUST BECAUSE YOU PUT THEM IN THE APARTMENT, BUT MOSTLY, THEY WERE IN AN APARTMENT THE DAY BEFORE THEY WERE HOMELESS.
THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT HAPPENED THAT TRIGGERED THE HOMELESSNESS.
IF THAT ISN'T ADDRESSED, HOUSING STABILITY IS NOT LIKELY.
JUST PUTTING THEM BACK INTO HOUSING, THIS SLOGAN OF THE ANSWER TO HOMELESSNESS AS A HOME IS A FALLACY.
IT'S THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE LACK OF HOUSING, THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED, AND ISN'T GOING TO BE RESOLVED ON THE STREET.
OUR RESPONSE HAS BEEN TO PRIORITIZE THE STREET INSTEAD OF PRIORITIZING THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE GREATEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS AT REGAINING INDEPENDENCE THROUGH THE SHELTER SYSTEM.
I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'RE OUT THERE TOUTING EVEN LAST WEEK ABOUT WHAT GREAT SUCCESS WE'VE HAD, IMMEDIATELY TAKING SOMEONE FROM THE STREETS AND PUTTING THEM IN HOUSING, BUT ALL IT'S REALLY DONE IS MOVE MANY OF OUR HOMELESS DOWNTOWN INTO ALL THE OTHER DISTRICTS.
THEY'RE JUST BEING PUSHED OUT, AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE LITERALLY JUST AROUND DOWNTOWN BECAUSE THAT'S GROWING.
THEY'RE IN FRIGHTENINGLY DANGEROUS LOCATIONS WHERE HIGHWAYS CONNECT, AND THERE'S A LITTLE PIECE OF GRASS THAT NOW HAS A PRETTY BIG ENCAMPMENT.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING IT THE WAY WE SHOULD.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.
I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY A VARIETY OF OPINIONS ON THIS TOPIC, BUT LEAVING PEOPLE UNSHELTERED IS DANGEROUS FOR THEM, AND IT'S DAMAGING TO OUR ECONOMIC VITALITY AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR CITY.
FOR EVERYBODY'S BENEFIT, BOTH THE PERSON EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AS WELL AS THE HOUSED AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY, JUST LEAVING PEOPLE THERE AND GOING IN AND CLEANING UP IS NOT THE ANSWER, AND DOESN'T PUSH ANYBODY FORWARD.
IT DOESN'T HELP THE PERSON WHO'S HOMELESS, AND IT DOESN'T HELP THE BUSINESSES AND THE RESIDENTS.
I'M CONCERNED THAT OUR PROCESS IS NOT ACTUALLY ACHIEVING THE RESULTS THAT WE ALL DESIRE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL PRESENTATION.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ENCAMPMENT ABATEMENT PROCESS IS SOMEWHAT BOUND BY THE AMOUNT OF BED SPACE THAT WE HAVE.
CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO OUR CAPACITY ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP? I WANT TO JUST CIRCLE BACK TO I THINK THE GOOD ANSWER THAT YOU GAVE ON THE INVESTMENT THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS APPROVED IN HELPING GET FOLKS FROM TRANSITIONAL HOUSING INTO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE INVESTED HEAVILY IN THE PAST,
[01:55:03]
AND I THINK THAT THAT WILL HELP WITH OUR CAPACITY.HOW OFTEN IS IT THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE SOMEONE BUT DO NOT HAVE BED SPACE?
>> I'LL SAY THAT TO USE DOWNTOWN AS A BRIEF EXAMPLE, OUR PARTNERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE AT THE BRIDGE, HAVE STEPPED UP IN MANY WAYS TO CREATIVELY COME UP WITH THE SPACE THAT WE NEED WHEN A PERSON IS APPROACHED AND OFFERED SHELTER TO GET TO.
NOW, THE CHALLENGE REALLY IS AN INDIVIDUAL HAS TO SEE THE BENEFIT ALSO TO GOING TO THE SHELTER.
I THINK THAT IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THOUGH THAT THE COUNCIL CAN LOOK AT SHELTER SPACE TWO WAYS, HONESTLY.
YOU CAN CREATE NEW BEDS AND USE FUNDING THAT WAY, OR YOU CAN RECYCLE THE BEDS YOU HAVE, AND THAT'S BEEN WHAT THE POLICY DECISION OF THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN WITH SHELTERING OUT OF HOUSING.
I TEND TO RECOMMEND THE LADDER BASED ON NOT BEING AN EXPERT, BUT DIGGING INTO HOW THAT MODEL WORKS.
AGAIN, I'LL JUST REITERATE, I BELIEVE THAT AS WE START TO SEE THIS SHELTER TO HOME PROCESS WORKING.
I'VE HEARD IT SAID BY ONE OF OUR LARGE SHELTERS, THEY'VE GOT 100 PEOPLE READY TO HOUSE TODAY IF THE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE.
THAT'S 100 BEDS THAT ARE ONLINE THAT IF MINDS START TO CHANGE, THAT, HEY, SHELTER IS THE PLACE I NEED TO GO BECAUSE I CAN GET HOUSED, THAT HELPS ME TRANSPORT FOLKS DIRECT TO THE SHELTER, DROP THEM OFF AND MAKE SURE THEY GET IN.
WE HEARD ANTIDOTE IN THE LAST PRESENTATION, AND IT'S TRUE.
SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T JUST TELL A PERSON, HERE'S A BUS TICKET AND GO DOWNTOWN AND GO TO THE BRIDGE, OR GO TO AUSTIN STREET.
YOU HAVE TO HELP FOLKS GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B, MAKE SURE THEY CAN CHECK IN, AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO OUR TEAM BEING ABLE TO MAKE THOSE TRANSITIONS INTO THE SHELTER SYSTEM.
I HOPE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION AS DIRECTLY AS POSSIBLE, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THIS BEING SUCCESSFUL?
>> YEAH. I APPRECIATE THE ELABORATE ANSWER, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE THE POINT THAT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT I DON'T THINK THAT THIS COULD BE APPROACHED, THAT THERE'S A SINGLE SOLUTION.
I BELIEVE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.
I THINK FROM MY COUNTERPARTS DOWN IN AUSTIN, I THINK WE'VE SEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE FRONT FACING OF THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, WHICH IS ALREADY SOMETHING THAT WE GET WEEKLY FROM YOU ALL, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S BEEN ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE APPROACH THAT THEY'RE TAKING.
IT'S JUST BECOME POLITICAL BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNOR.
I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT ALSO TO NOTE WE SPEAK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR SPEAKING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, BUT THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF AN ATTACK ON LOCAL CONTROL WITH UNFUNDED MANDATES.
THE STATE HAS AN EXPECTATION FOR LOCALITIES TO DEAL WITH THINGS IN A CERTAIN WAY.
BOTH GOVERNORS THAT MADAM CHAIR HAS MENTIONED.
OUR GOVERNOR AND OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR CAME OFF OF THE HEELS OF DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE BY GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM IN CALIFORNIA, THAT IN FACT, DID COME WITH SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
I HOPE THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TAKE UP IN OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS TO CORRECTLY ADVOCATE FOR NECESSARY RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN HOLD SOME CREDENCE TO THE REQUESTS THAT ARE BEING MADE BY THE GOVERNOR THAT ARE UNREASONABLE, QUITE FRANKLY, WITHOUT ANY STATE FUNDING TO COUPLE WITH THAT EXPECTATION.
I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MADAM CHAIR, I APPRECIATE YOUR SENTIMENT, YOUR COMMENTS, ALTHOUGH I THINK THE MOST OPERATIVE WORD YOU UTILIZED WAS OPINION.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALIZE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.
BUT TO TRY TO PUT INTO A BOX IN A COUPLE OF SENTENCES ON WHAT HAS RESULTED IN ONE'S CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE UNHOUSED, IS JUST OUT OF TOUCH.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN APPROACH THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL FOR US TO ADDRESS THE MULTIFACETED ISSUE THAT HOMELESSNESS IS.
IN FACT, JUST ONE OF THE PRESENTATIONS WE HAD TODAY FROM COMMUNITY FIRST HAD A SLIDE IN THERE WITH A QUOTE THAT I THINK IS VERY EYE OPENING.
THE SINGLE GREATEST CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS IS THE PROFOUND CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF FAMILY.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S MUCH THAT US AS A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY CAN DO TO A REMEDY THAT PARTICULAR CAUSE THAT HAS PUT PEOPLE INTO THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.
I THINK WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WORKING,
[02:00:01]
BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO BE TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT MORE CAN WE BE DOING? IF WE CONTINUE TO SPIN OUR WHEELS TO NIT PICK ON SUCCESSFUL VENTURES THAT WE HAVE, JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T BELIEVE THEM TO BE ONE SIZE FITS ALL.I THINK WE'RE SPINNING OUR WHEELS QUITE FRANKLY, AND WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT A TOOL BELT AND A PORTFOLIO OF WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER AND HOW IT CAN BE EXPANDED ON AN ADDED TO, INSTEAD OF CHANGING.
I WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS SENTIMENT THAT I BELIEVE YOU ALL ARE DOING GREAT WORK.
I'VE SEEN THE RESPONSE DIRECTLY TO RESIDENTS.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN ECOSYSTEM THAT HAS TO COME AT PLAY, AND IF WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE PARTS IN THAT ECOSYSTEM IN PLACE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THESE EFFORTS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BRIDGE AND THE BED CAPACITY AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO TAKE THOSE IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE LOOK AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE, QUITE FRANKLY, TO INCREASE BED CAPACITY WITHIN THEIR EXISTING FOOTPRINT, FOR INSTANCE.
WHEN YOU HAVE AN AVERAGE OF 2-300 PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING TO BE OUT OF THEIR FACILITY AFTER DAYTIME SERVICES AND DON'T HAVE A BED AT NIGHT, THE SPILLOVER INTO OUR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT IS SOMETHING WE HEAR ABOUT QUITE OFTEN.
WELL, IF WE RESIST AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE INCREASING BED CAPACITY AT OUR EXISTING PARTNERS WHO ARE ALREADY DOING GOOD WORK, I DON'T KNOW HOW SERIOUS WE CAN REALLY TELL THE PUBLIC WE ARE AT REMEDIATING THIS ISSUE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS HOLISTICALLY AND LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN ADD TO THE RESOURCES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN OUR CITY.
THAT WE DON'T SLIGHT THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE HAVE.
WE'VE HAD INVESTMENTS FOR DECADES NOW THAT WE KNOW COULD BE IMPROVED ON.
THE ANSWER ISN'T TO PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER THOSE INVESTMENTS, IT'S HOW WE CAN CAPITALIZE ON THOSE INVESTMENTS AND MAKE THEM LEVERAGE TO MAKE A GREATER IMPACT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT ALL ARE DOING, AND THANK YOU FOR Y'ALL'S PRESENTATION.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPINION.
MY OPINION IS ACTUALLY ALSO A PROFESSIONAL OPINION HAVING WORKED IN THIS SPACE FOR MANY YEARS.
>> THANK YOU. THE SECOND THING I'LL SAY IS THIS IS NOT THE CITY'S ISSUE ALONE.
WE HAVE MANY PARTNERS THAT DON'T JUST HAVE A HAND IN IT, BUT HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.
THAT'S BOTH THE COUNTY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEMS THAT WE RELY ON AND PARTNER WITH AND NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO SO.
THE THING THAT REALLY WASN'T SAID THAT I'M JUST GOING TO FLAT OUT SAY, IS WE HAVE A STATE LAW.
THE STATE LAW THAT WAS PASSED IS HOUSE BILL 1925, THAT ACTUALLY MAKES HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS ILLEGAL.
IT'S ILLEGAL TO CAMP ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.
THAT MEANS OUR RIGHT OF WAYS UNDER BRIDGES, THAT MEANS IN OUR PARKS ALONG OUR CREEKS.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE FIND MOST OF THE FOLKS.
KEVIN, YOU HAVE SAID A COUPLE OF TIMES ABOUT IF PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE SERVICES.
BUT ACTUALLY, AT SOME POINT, IT'S NOT A CHOICE.
THERE'S A LAW THAT SAYS IT IS NOT LEGAL TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE, BUT YET WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO CONSIDER IF WE WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT DIFFERENT ACTIONS TO HAPPEN.
WE DO GO BACK TO THE NUMBER OF BEDS AVAILABLE FOR THE HOMELESS FOR EMERGENCY SHELTER, AND THEY'RE LIMITED, AND THAT'S PART OF WHY WE ADDED THAT TO THE MAP FROM THE FIRST BRIEFING.
THIS CONTINUUM OF CARE HAS CONTINUOUSLY AVOIDED ANY EMERGENCY SHELTER FUNDING AND INSTEAD FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON HOUSING FIRST.
HOUSING FIRST HAS BEEN THE ONE AND ONLY SOLUTION IN THIS CONTINUUM FOR OVER A DECADE, POSSIBLY 15 YEARS, THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT.
THAT'S WHY OVER AND OVER, I'M BRINGING NEW IDEAS TO THIS CITY THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE, NEW PRESENTATIONS OF THINGS WE DON'T HAVE HERE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CONSIDER AND ADVOCATE FOR AS A GROUP, BECAUSE WE NEED NEW IDEAS.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO JUST DO HOUSING FIRST.
IF HOUSING FIRST WAS A SOLUTION FOR EVERYBODY, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY HOMELESS. IT'S CLEARLY NOT.
THIS IDEA OF SEEING THE BENEFIT OF SHELTER IS THE CARROT, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.
WELL, EVEN IF YOU DON'T SEE THE BENEFIT, WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER OPTIONS? BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.
THEY COULD REUNIFY WITH A FAMILY MEMBER WHO'S WILLING TO TAKE THEM, WHETHER THAT'S LOCAL OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THEY COULD ENTER ADDICTION RECOVERY SERVICES.
THEY COULD ENTER THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM.
[02:05:01]
THEY COULD END UP IN JAIL.ALL THOSE THINGS ARE POSSIBILITIES.
BUT STAYING ENCAMPED IS NOT AN OPTION, AND WE'VE ALLOWED IT TO BE AN OPTION FOR SOMEONE TO SIMPLY REFUSE.
THAT STANCE IS NOT GOING TO STAND MUCH LONGER.
I WOULD RATHER US BE AHEAD OF IT SO THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH OUR OWN COMPASSIONATE WAY TO ALSO PROVIDE ENFORCEMENT.
BUT TO SAY THAT THERE ARE NOT NEW IDEAS IS WRONG, AND I THINK THAT WE'RE PROVING THAT EVERY SINGLE AGENDA WITH MULTIPLE PRESENTATIONS.
WE HAVE TO BE THINKING ABOUT NEW IDEAS. YOU'RE RIGHT.
THE COMMENT MADE THAT THERE'S NOT A SINGLE SOLUTION IS 100% CORRECT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT AND WHAT THEY NEED IS DIFFERENT.
BUT THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE A VARIETY OF SOLUTIONS, NOT A SINGULAR FOCUS ON HOUSING FIRST ONLY, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN THE ANSWER FOR EVERYBODY, BUT IS THE ANSWER FOR SOME.
I JUST FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS TOPIC, ABOUT HOMELESSNESS IN GENERAL.
YOU CAN SEE MANY OF OUR PRESENTATIONS ARE ON THAT TOPIC.
FRANKLY, IT'S GOING TO BE THE FOCUS OF THIS COMMITTEE FOR AS LONG AS I'M CHAIRING IT.
>> SURE. THANK YOU. I'M SURE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EVOLUTION OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS IN THIS.
WE SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS ON THIS COMMITTEE VISITING THESE SITES AND BEING OPEN TO NEW IDEAS.
I'M READY FOR ACTION, AND I KNOW THAT TAKES FUNDING, AND SO THAT'S BEEN MY ISSUE IS THAT WE TALK ABOUT THE OPERATIONAL MONEY NEEDED. [OVERLAPPING]
>> EXCUSE ME. I'M GOING TO NEED TO PAUSE BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE'VE LOST QUORUM.
IF WE CAN TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS, IT'S 11:10 RIGHT NOW, WE'LL RECONVENE AT 11:15.
WE HAVE QUORUM? YEAH. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
I'M SORRY. ACTUALLY, WE WILL NEED FOUR.
>> THERE'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I HEARD AND MR. HILL, IF YOU'LL COME DOWN SINCE YOU'RE WITH HOUSING FORWARD.
IF YOU COULD JUST TALK ABOUT THE, IF YOU CAN HURRY BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE AT 11:10, IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING FROM ENCAMPMENT, TO SHELTER, TO HOUSING, AND THAT PEOPLE ARE IN AN APARTMENT ONE DAY AND THEN THEY LOSE IT, AND THEN THEY GO BACK IN, AND WHY DO WE THINK THAT MAGICALLY IS GOING TO BE THE CURE? WE DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO THE WHOLE DISSERTATION BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE FAMILIARITY WITH HOUSING FORWARD, BUT PEOPLE AREN'T JUST GOING INTO AN APARTMENT WITHOUT ANY SERVICES.
WHAT IS THE RETENTION RATE OF HOUSING AFTER A YEAR OR 18 MONTHS? PROBABLY THERE'S SOME NUMBERS ON NOW.
WHAT KIND OF SERVICES DO THEY GET TO SUPPORT THEM THAT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS SITUATION THAT MIGHT ALLOW THEM TO STAY HOUSED, SO THAT THE ENCAMPMENT CLEARING DOES HAVE PURPOSE?
>> SURE. BUT FIRST, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, COUNCIL WOMAN, AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
JOHN HILL, CHIEF EXTERNAL RELATIONS OFFICER, HOUSING FORWARD.
I DO MY BEST NOT TO QUOTE PEOPLE TO THEMSELVES, BUT MADAM CHAIR, AROUND 9:00 AM YOU SAID THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE FACTS, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO.
COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS, THE REALITY IS THAT ONCE PEOPLE HIT ONE OF OUR FRONT DOORS, WE ARE ALREADY INTEGRATING MENTAL HEALTH INTO OUR RESPONSE AND PROVIDING CONNECTIONS WITH CARE AND VARIOUS RESOURCES.
THAT FOLLOWS PEOPLE INTO HOUSING.
IT'S NOT A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE JUST PUTTING PEOPLE INTO AN APARTMENT WITH NO SUPPORT.
THAT OCCURS FROM THE BEGINNING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THE RETENTION RATE, AS YOU ASKED FOR, OVER 92% OF PEOPLE THAT WE INTERACT WITH AND MOVE THROUGH OUR PIPELINE, DO NOT RETURN TO HOMELESSNESS.
>> THERE HAD BEEN A CONCERN, I KNOW OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS ON THIS COMMITTEE THAT PEOPLE JUST GET ONE VISIT A MONTH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THEN I'VE LEARNED THAT MAYBE IT'S DIFFERENT.
IT'S MORE ADAPTABLE TO WHAT THAT PERSON NEEDS.
CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE FREQUENCY?
>> SURE. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE ONCE A MONTH VISIT IS NOT ACCURATE.
DEPENDING ON THE INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBOR, WE WALK THROUGH THEM OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR TIME.
THERE ARE VARIOUS TOUCH POINTS THAT OCCUR WITH OUR NEIGHBORS.
>> THAT HELPS UNDERSTAND THAT WHERE THEY START WITH KEVIN'S INITIATIVE AND THEN GETTING THEM TO SHELTER AND THEN GETTING THEM TO YOU THAT THERE ARE SOME SERVICES THAT WILL HOPEFULLY STAND THEM BACK UP INDEPENDENCE?
[02:10:01]
>> ON THIS, THOUGH, I THINK PART OF THE ISSUE IS, SHELTERS, WHILE WE NEED THEM, ARE ALSO FILLED WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE IN CRISIS SLEEPING VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER AT NIGHT.
YOU'RE TRYING TO MOVE PEOPLE TO SHELTER AT LEAST TO START THIS COURSE OF ACTION.
ARE YOU HEARING THAT? BECAUSE IF SOMEONE'S HAD THE EXPERIENCE BEFORE, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO READILY GO BACK.
>> YES, I THINK THAT THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF BARRIERS EXPERIENCES, HOWEVER YOU PHRASE IT, THAT AN INDIVIDUAL WILL COMMUNICATE TO THE TEAM OR TO THE CONTRACTED OUTREACH THAT THE COUNCIL PROVIDES THAT HOUSING FORWARD ASSISTS US WITH AS A REASON TO NOT GO INTO SHELTER.
>> I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS IN MY DISTRICT, JUST A LITTLE BIT.
QUESTION, THOUGH, WE CONSTANTLY SEE IN MY DISTRICT NON-SHELTERED, WHO WE CALL YOUR SERVICES COME.
THEY CLEAN UP, AND THEN THE UNSHELTERED JUST MOVES TO A NEW LOCATION, AGAIN, CAPTURES NEW THINGS, COLLECTS NEW THINGS, AND WE DO IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WE'RE LUCKY WE SEE SOME PEOPLE WHO DO GET SHELTER, BUT MY QUESTION IS, ONCE WE HAND THEM OVER, WE DON'T TRACK THEM, OR DO WE?
>> YOU'RE REFERENCING ONCE A PERSON IS IN A SHELTER OR OTHER SERVICE, SO JOHN WOULD PROBABLY BE THE BEST TO TAKE IT FROM HERE, BUT ALL OF THE SERVICE PROVIDERS UTILIZE A UNIFIED SYSTEM REFERRED TO AS HMIS.
I'LL SPEAK TO THE BENEFIT OF WHAT HMIS DOES FOR MY TEAM, AND THEN, JOHN, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK MORE BROADLY.
FOR INSTANCE, IF MY TEAM COMES ACROSS AN INDIVIDUAL ON THE STREET AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THAT INDIVIDUAL MAY VOLUNTEER THEIR NAME, DATE OF BIRTH, ETC, THEY CAN BE LOOKED UP IN THAT SYSTEM AND SEEN, SIR, YOU WERE AT THE BRIDGE THREE WEEKS AGO.
WHAT HAPPENED TO LEAD YOU BACK HERE? OR WE SEE THAT YOU WERE TAKEN TO PARKLAND FOR A LEG INJURY. HOW ARE YOU DOING? IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP YOU WITH THAT? THAT UNIFIED SYSTEM IS HELPFUL FOR THAT LEVEL OF DATA TO CREATE A CONTACT FOR MY TEAM, AND THEN ON THE SERVICE PROVIDER SIDE.
IF YOU WANT TO TAKE IT FROM THERE, SIR.
>> SURE. THANK YOU, MR. ODIN, AND THAT IS ACCURATE.
THE SHARED DATA SYSTEM ALLOWS US TO TRACK PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY GO.
I KNOW A MOMENT AGO THIS COMMITTEE WAS TALKING ABOUT, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE INTO A PLACE TO LIVE, SOMETIMES IT'S TREATMENT, SOMETIMES IT'S JAIL, AND I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ALL OF THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.
THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS GIVEN GREAT FAITH AND RESOURCES TO RESOURCING THIS PIPELINE TO GET PEOPLE TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
THAT'S ALREADY OCCURRING, AND THE COMMON SYSTEM ALLOWS US TO MAKE SURE THAT REGARDLESS OF WHERE PEOPLE START OR WHERE THEY END UP, THAT WE ARE ALWAYS WORKING TOGETHER AND KNOW WHERE FOLKS ARE GOING AND HOW THEY'RE PROGRESSING THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
>> ONCE THEY GO TO GET IN THIS JOINT SYSTEM, IS THERE A METHODOLOGY OR A PROCESS THAT SHARES DATA? I DO KNOW THAT ALL THAT ARE UNHOUSED AREN'T VERY FORTHCOMING WITH CORRECT INFORMATION AS TO WHO THEY ARE.
THE ONLY WAY YOU GET THAT FOURTH RIGHT INFORMATION IS THROUGH THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE FINGERPRINTED, IDEED.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE FOUND, THEY FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE, BUT IF THEY DON'T VOLUNTEER THAT INFORMATION, HOW DO YOU TRACK THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE IN A CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT'S GOING TO KEEP THEM OFF THE STREET? WHOEVER CAN ANSWER THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, MADAM COUNCILWOMAN.
[02:15:03]
WHAT I CAN DO RATHER THAN GO THROUGH THE INTRICACIES OF HOW THE DATA SYSTEM WORKS, WHAT I CAN DO IS FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND GET YOU IN TOUCH WITH OUR EXPERTS ON THE HMIS SYSTEM TO ANSWER THOSE MORE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS.BUT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE SYSTEM TO GET THE MOST ACCURATE INFORMATION POSSIBLE, AND I WILL SAY THAT THROUGH OUTREACH AND PART OF THE PROCESS OF GETTING PEOPLE TO SAY, YES, TO SHELTER, BECAUSE WE HOUSE PEOPLE OUT OF SHELTER AS WELL AS JUST OFF THE STREET, PART OF THAT RELATIONSHIP BUILDING INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF ACCURATE INFORMATION, SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF TOUCH POINTS TO VALIDATE THAT DATA.
>> COUNCILWOMAN, ONE OF THE THINGS I'M DOING IS LISTENING FOR THE TYPE OF QUESTIONS THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AND THE TYPE OF DATA THAT CAN SUPPORT IT ACROSS THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION, AND SO IN WORKING WITH HOUSING FORWARD AND THEIR QUARTERLY REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS TO US, IT'LL BE HELPFUL THAT WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE SYSTEM INTAKE, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT'S IN THE SYSTEM, THE SERVICES, THE IMPACT AND ALL OF THAT, SO WE CAN BRING THAT FORWARD FOR DISCUSSION TOGETHER.
YOU'RE SAYING THAT THERE THAT THROUGH THIS BILL, 1925, IS ILLEGAL TO ENCAMP.
HOW COME WE STILL HAVE SO MANY ENCAMPMENTS IF IT'S ILLEGAL TO ENCAMP? I HAVE, OH, GOD, GOT LOTS OF THEM IF YOU COME TO MY DISTRICT AND YOU GO THROUGH THE BACKWOODS, SO IF IT'S ILLEGAL, HOW COME I HAVE SO MANY?
>> I WOULD SAY NUMBER 1, SOME OF THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MARSHALLS OR DPD.
I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MY EXPERIENCE AND GIVE YOU MY OPINION ON HOW THAT'S WORKED, IF THAT'S FAIR.
THE NUMBER 1 THING IS THAT, I'M GOING TO REFER TO IT AS 4805 BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S REFERRED TO IN THE PENAL CODE, NOT THE I DON'T REMEMBER THE HOUSE BILL NUMBER, SO 4805, THE PENALTY FOR THAT IS A MISDEMEANOR C, WHICH IS A ORDINARY CITATION.
IT DOESN'T OFTEN END WITH A PERSON BEING ARRESTED, INCARCERATED, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S A TICKET THAT MAY, IF UNADDRESSED, END UP IN BECOMING A WARRANT.
THERE ARE OTHER INTRICACIES TO 4805 OF WHAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER HAS TO DO WHEN INTERACTING WITH SOMEBODY, THEY HAVE TO OFFER THEM SHELTER OR OTHER OPTIONS PRIOR TO ISSUING THE CITATION.
WHAT I'LL SAY IS THAT DALLAS STREET RESPONSE, OUR TEAM, WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH DALLAS POLICE AND DALLAS MARSHALL EVERY DAY.
I CAN THINK OF INCIDENTS OF CRITICAL CASES.
ONE YESTERDAY IN DISTRICT THREE, ACTUALLY, WHERE MY TEAM AS WELL AS PATROL, COLLABORATED ON A KNOWN INDIVIDUAL THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME.
THOSE CITATIONS, EITHER FOR SLEEPING IN PUBLIC OR FOR 4805, ARE COMMONLY ISSUED, I WOULD SAY THAT THE USE OF THAT IS NOT THE PANACEA TO EVERY ISSUE.
IT'S GOT TO BE THE FRONT END OF GETTING FOLKS OFF THE STREET AND INTO WHETHER IT'S HOUSING, WHETHER IT'S SHELTER OR ANYTHING IN BETWEEN.
THAT CONTINUES TO BE THE BEST WAY FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING MS. ZINA TO YOU.
I WASN'T GOING TO START THERE, I WAS GOING TO END THERE, BUT MS. ZINA IS OUR DISTRICT'S CASE STUDY, AND I WAS INTENTIONAL ABOUT ONE, MAKING SURE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY KNEW WHO SHE WAS.
BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO GETTING THEM TO ACCEPT THE SERVICE A LOT SOONER WHEN THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY KNOWS WHO THEY ARE, AND THEY'RE DRIVING BY THEM EVERY DAY.
I WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THIS LADY HAD A NAME, AND HER NAME IS MS. ZINA, AND SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT AND PEOPLE TALK TO HER.
SOME PEOPLE GIVE HER MORE THAN WHAT WE TELL US, DON'T DO THAT, BUT SOME PEOPLE STILL STOP AND DO THAT FROM THERE.
BUT SHE WAS THE EXAMPLE IN TERMS OF HOW LONG WE WERE WORKING.
WE STARTED WITH THE CITY, AND THANK YOU, I SEE THE STAFF UP THERE.
THEY WENT OUT AND VISITED HER SEVERAL TIMES TO GET HER THERE.
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE I WANTED TO START, ALTHOUGH SHE IS AN INDIVIDUAL, SHE HAD ENDED UP COLLECTING QUITE A BIT OF STUFF AROUND HER.
[02:20:01]
HOW DID YOU DEFINE AN ENCAMPMENT? IS THAT IS IT DEFINED BY THE AMOUNT OF STUFF OR IS IT BY A COMMUNITY? HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY DEFINE AN ENCAMPMENT?>> I TEND TO LEAN ON THE DEFINITION THAT'S INCLUDED IN 4805.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD ONE, AND I CAN GET YOU THE EXACT WORDING.
THE DALLAS CITY CODE ALSO DEFINES ENCAMPMENT.
NOW, WHAT I'LL SAY IS THAT THAT DEFINITION IS LESS EXPANSIVE THAN 4805, AND 31-13.1 AS A CITY CODE DOES HAVE SOME QUIRKS TO IT AND SOME AREAS WHERE IT COULD PROBABLY BE DRASTICALLY IMPROVED AS WELL.
>> MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO.
>> ACTUALLY, COUNCILMEMBER, I THINK YOU'RE ASKING SOME VERY GOOD POINTS, AND KEVIN, GOOD ANSWERS, HOWEVER, LOTS OF CODES BEING TALKED ABOUT.
I'D LIKE TO ASK, LET'S DO A BRIEFING WHERE WE GO THROUGH WHAT ARE THE CODES? YOU DEAL WITH THE CODES SO FREQUENTLY.
YOU'RE SHOOTING OFF LIKE AN ACRONYM.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WE ALL HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING OF EXACTLY WHAT IS INCLUDED, WHERE IT'S FROM, AND WHAT IT MEANS, AND SO LET'S PLAN THAT FOR POSSIBLY NEXT MONTH.
>> PERFECT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>> THAT WAS THE ONE, AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE, EVEN AS YOU GO THROUGH AND SHUT DOWN AN ENCAMPMENT, HOW PROACTIVE ARE WE BEING IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY MAY RELOCATE? I DRIVE MY DISTRICT ALL THE TIME.
I SEE WHERE SOME OF THE ENCAMPMENTS ARE, PARTICULARLY OURS A LOT IN THE WOODS AND IN THE CREEKS DOWN IN THE CREEKS.
HOW DO WE ANTICIPATE WHERE THEY MAY RELOCATE? DO WE HAVE ANY PLANS IN PLACE TO ANTICIPATE?
>> I'LL GIVE YOU TWO VERY SPECIFIC EXAMPLES IF THIS WILL HELP.
THE FIRST IS ACTUALLY IN COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS DISTRICT.
WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING A STREET TO HOME INITIATIVE NEAR A HOTEL IN THE DISTRICT.
IN THOSE INSTANCES, WE HAVE THE CONTRACTED OUTREACH FOLK GO IN AHEAD OF MY TEAM.
WE LET PEOPLE STAY IN PLACE AND WE DON'T BOTHER THEM SO THAT THE OUTREACH TEAM CAN DO ALL OF THE WORK IT REQUIRES TO GET SOMEONE STRAIGHT INTO HOUSING.
AT THE TIME THAT EVERYONE IS REHOUSED, WE DO FOLLOW UP WITH DAILY PATROLS OF THE AREA, EITHER BY MY STAFF OR BY OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS WITH A VERY SIMPLE MESSAGE, YOU CANNOT SLEEP HERE, BUT I CAN GET YOU INTO SERVICE.
THE NUMBER 1 THING THAT WE FIND THAT WORKS WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO HOLD AN AREA CLOSED IS IT HAS TO BE VERY FREQUENT, VERY INTENTIONAL DAILY FRICTION PUT UP TO THE PLACE THAT'S BEING USED AS AN ENCAMPMENT.
I'LL TELL YOU, ON THE CRIME PREVENTION SIDE, ON THE HOMELESS SIDE, THERE'S ONE RULE THAT OUTLAWS EVERYTHING, AND THAT IS, IF YOU DON'T DEFINE THE INTENDED USE OF A SPACE, IT WILL BE DEFINED FOR YOU, AND SO THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE.
A SECOND EXAMPLE THAT I'LL GIVE THAT ACTUALLY AFFECTS MULTIPLE DISTRICTS REPRESENTED UP HERE ARE THE THREE LOCATIONS OF DOWNTOWN, PARK ROW, AND THEN COOMB STREET.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST IS, ONE OF THOSE THREE LOCATIONS WOULD POPULATE, THE CLEANUP TEAM WOULD GO THROUGH, THEY'D CLEAN IT, AND THEN THE GROUP WOULD MOVE TO ONE OF THE TWO OTHER LOCATIONS, WE'D CHASE THEM OVER THERE.
THEY'D MOVE TO THE THIRD LOCATION, WE'D CHASE THEM OVER THERE, AND IT WAS A BIG CIRCLE.
WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY IS WE'VE OBVIOUSLY MADE HUGE INVESTMENTS IN DOWNTOWN.
PUTTING THAT TO THE SIDE, WE'RE ALSO IN THE MIDDLE OF A HUGE EFFORT IN THE PARK ROW, SOUTH BOULEVARD AREA.
WE WILL HAVE TO HOLD BOTH OF THOSE AREAS, BECAUSE THE COOMBS AREA HAS STARTED TO REPOPULATE.
WE HAVE TO GIVE A LITTLE TO GET A LITTLE IN THIS SCENARIO.
ONCE WE GET THOSE TWO AREAS COMPLETELY HELD, I WILL BE ABLE TO GO INTO COOMBS AND LOCK THAT DOWN, AND THERE WON'T BE MOVEMENT BETWEEN TWO OTHER KNOWN LOCATIONS THAT FOLKS GO INTO, AND WE'RE ACTIVELY PLANNING WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IN A MUCH MORE SUCCINCT MANNER, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE STRATEGIES YOU TAKE AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IT THAT MAGNETIZES A PLACE TO THE BEHAVIOR, AND HOW CAN I BREAK THOSE MAGNETS?
>> THEN THE OTHER QUESTION, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS MORE OF A TEXT DOT QUESTION OR IF WE'VE HAD THESE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS BEFORE, BUT IN TERMS OF GATHERING UNDER THE BRIDGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, HAVE WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH TEXT, OR EVEN IN THE NEW DESIGN? BECAUSE RIGHT THERE AT 20 AND WEST MORELAND, THAT NEW EXIT,
[02:25:03]
WHICH I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR, BUT HAS A GREAT IN BETWEEN OUR DISTRICTS, HAS A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S BEING OCCUPIED BY SOME OF OUR UNHOUSED FOLKS, AND NOW I DON'T THINK IT WAS INTENTIONAL, BUT IT'S THE PERFECT LOCATION.I CAN'T EVEN BE MAD AT THE CHOICE, TO BE HONEST.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO PAUSE AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO A BRIEFING WITH NTTA AND TISSOT, TO TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFIC,.
>> MAY I ELABORATE BRIEFLY ON JUST THAT BECAUSE I DID ACTUALLY HAD THAT SAME QUESTION A WEEK AGO, AND I BROUGHT THIS TO OUR PARTNERS AT TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.
WHAT TISSOT REIMBURSES FOR, AND YOU MAY FOLLOW UP WITH TPW, IS GENERALLY THREE MOWINGS AND 16 LITTER CLEANINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
MY QUESTION WAS, THEN, WELL, IF I HAVE THESE PRIVATE VENDORS ON CONTRACT, I CAN CLEAN WITH THOSE PRIVATE VENDORS, ANY ENCAMPMENT ON OR ANY HIGHWAY AT ANY TIME IF YOU'RE WILLING TO REIMBURSE THAT COST.
I THINK THAT'S A MUCH BETTER USE OF OUR FUNDS ON THAT REIMBURSEMENT BASIS, BUT IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THAT'S WHERE THE RELATIONSHIP IS.
THERE MAY BE MORE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH TISSOT, OR MAYBE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL WANTS US TO TAKE BACK, WE'D BE HAPPY TO INVESTIGATE THAT FURTHER, BECAUSE I DO SEE THAT AS AN AREA WHERE WE CAN MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING CLOSE ON TIME, SO I'LL STOP THERE, BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK IN MASSENA.
THE ONLY CRITICISM, I WILL SAY, IN THAT PROCESS WAS WHEN WE FIRST BROUGHT MASSENA TO THE ATTENTION, STAFF WAS ON IT, AND THEY VISITED AND VISITED AND DID A REALLY GOOD JOB IN TERMS OF MANAGING THAT RELATIONSHIP, AND EVENTUALLY WE GOT TO A POINT WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE HER AWAY ONE EVENING.
THEN FOR A WHILE, WE JUST FOR ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS, SHE WAS GONE AND NOBODY KNEW WHERE SHE WAS.
IN FACT, THERE WAS RUMORS THAT SHE HAD PASSED AWAY AND ALL OF THAT.
AT SOME POINT, SHE NEVER MADE IT TO THIS HMIS SYSTEM.
WE NEVER KNEW BECAUSE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OPPORTUNITY, I THINK WAS MISSED WAS THERE WERE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE GAVE HER A NAME, THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WANTED TO KNOW HOW SHE LANDED SO THAT THEY COULD OFFER SOME HELP NOW THAT SHE HAD SERVICES.
THERE COULD HAVE BEEN PEOPLE THAT WERE READY TO MORE OR LESS ADOPT HER IN THAT PROCESS BECAUSE THEY WORK, AND WE MISSED THAT WINDOW BECAUSE WE LOST TRACK OF HER.
>> WELL, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. THIS IS [OVERLAPPING].
>> I'M SORRY, I'M GOING TO CUT YOU OFF JUST BECAUSE IT IS 11:30.
GENERALLY, WE ENDED 11:00, AND WE HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH THE REST OF OUR AGENDA.
YOU HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK YET PATERM.
I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE ARE JUST RUNNING SO LATE ON TIME.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK HERE.
FOR THOSE THAT KNOW, HOMELESSNESS HAS BEEN A BIG PRIORITY FOR ME AS THE PREVIOUS CHAIR OF HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
I WANT TO THANK CHAIR MIDDLETON FOR CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS.
I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE THOR HERE IN YOUR NEW POSITION, AND JAMES, SO YOU CAN HEAR FIRSTHAND THAT THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR THIS COUNCIL.
I'LL START WITH FROM THE DESK OF THAT COMES.
FIRST, I DO WANT TO ADDRESS KEVIN AND CITY MANAGEMENT FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS IN DOWNTOWN.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.
WHEN IT COMES FROM THE DESK OF IT GIVES OUT LOCATIONS THAT ARE BEING ADDRESSED FOR ENCAMPMENTS.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDED TO THAT IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THOSE ENCAMPMENTS WHO ACCEPTED SERVICES, WHO DID NOT ACCEPT SERVICE.
>> WHERE THEY'RE FROM, AND I HOPE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD TODAY AND LOOKING AT NEW MODELS TELLS US THAT WE CAN'T CONTINUE WITH THE HOUSING FIRST ONLY MODEL.
WE'RE NOT MOVING AWAY FROM HOUSING FIRST.
WE'RE JUST ADDING DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS TO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS.
THIS ONE SHEETER, IT'S NUMBER 4, SEEMS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD, BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF VARIABLES.
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT PRIVATE LAND? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC LAND? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TEXT DOT? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT AREAS THAT THE CITY MIGHT NOT EVEN KNOW WHETHER IT'S DWU? DOES IT HALFWAY UP TO THE CREEK? THERE'S A LOT OF VARIABLES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THIS SHEET?
[02:30:06]
ESCALATION PROTOCOL.IF NO PROGRESS IS MADE, HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT PROGRESS LOOKS LIKE.
>> TYPICALLY, IT'S A PERSON THAT IS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN ENCAMPED OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF NUISANCE BEHAVIOR THAT ONE CASES AND TWO, WE'RE ABLE TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS AT THE PERSON'S IN, WHICH IS TYPICALLY GETTING THEM OFF THE STREET OR INTO SOME OTHER TYPE OF SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAM.
>> THEN ON LEGAL NOTICES, I KNOW THAT WE DIDN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT THE DECOMMISSIONED AREAS, SO IS THAT THE LEGAL NOTICE THAT WE'RE PUTTING UP, OR WHAT'S THE LEGAL NOTICE?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING MORE OF NOW IS PLACARDING AREAS, BECAUSE IN THE PAST, WHAT STAFF HAD DONE IS THEY'D HANDED OUT PIECES OF PAPER SAYING NOTICE TO VACATE.
THAT CAN HAVE CHALLENGING EFFECTS IF A NEW PERSON COMES IN OR A PERSON LEAVES OR DOESN'T RECEIVE THE NOTICE.
I LOOK AT IT MORE AS PLACE BASED AND PEOPLE BASED, AND SO BY NOTICING AN AREA SUPREME COURT CASE LAW HAS FOUND MANY TIMES THAT YOU CAN'T JUST GO IN, AND ON A MINUTES NOTICE OR EVEN 24 HOURS NOTICE, GO IN AND EVICT EVERYBODY FROM A LOCATION.
WE PLACARD SITES, AND WE USE THAT SO THAT FOLKS KNOW WE HAVE 72 HOURS TO COME BACK, AND THEN UP TO 90 DAYS THAT WE CAN CLEAN ANYTIME.
THAT WE WANT IN THAT AREA, AND WE FOUND THAT TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN HANDING OUT THE NOTICES.
IT'S NOT JUST FOR AREAS THAT WERE DEFINED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
WHETHER IT'S A 311 BASE OR IT'S A HOT SPOT BASE, WE USE THE SAME PROCESS FOR CONSISTENCY SAKE.
>> I PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD TO 24-HOUR NOTICE BEFORE STAFF COMES BACK OUT, AND THEN YOU JUST MENTIONED A 72-HOUR NOTICE.
IS THAT 24+72 BEFORE AN ENCAMPMENT CAN BE CLEANED UP, OR?
THE WAY WE TRAIN STAFF IS TO LOOK AT THE PLACE AND THE CONDITIONS AROUND THE PLACE.
IDENTIFY, FIRST, AS YOU MENTIONED, PUBLIC, PRIVATE PROPERTY ISSUES, WHAT IS NEAREST TO THE ENCAMPMENT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO, IS IT RIGHT NEXT TO A NEIGHBORHOOD, A SCHOOL, ETC.
OUR PEOPLE COMPLYING WITH TRYING TO GET OFF THE STREET AND INTO SHELTER OR OTHERWISE? BUT THE RULE OF THUMB3 IS, THE CLOCK STARTS AT 72 HOURS OF ONCE YOU PUT THE PLACARDING DOWN, AND THAT'S ONCE YOU'VE DONE YOUR INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF THE SITE.
>> RIGHT NOW, WHAT'S THE AVERAGE TIME TO CLEAN UP AN ENCAMPMENT? I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES OF WHETHER IT BE MANPOWER, WHETHER IT BE WE NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE THERE TO OVERSEE A CLEAN UP.
WHAT'S THE AVERAGE TIME IT'S TAKING FROM THE MOMENT SOMEONE SUBMIT TO 311 REQUEST?
>> ABSOLUTELY. I CAN GET YOU THAT NUMBER.
WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IS OUR SERVICE GOALS THAT ARE SET.
WE HAVE FIVE DAYS FROM WHEN THE SR IS RECEIVED TO DO AN INITIAL RESPONSE, WHICH FOR ME, WE'VE MADE THAT THE ASSESSMENT PERIOD.
WHAT I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE TEAM TO DO IS ON INTAKE.
THEY NEED TO DO AN INITIAL SCAN.
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT FROM LIKE A GOOGLE EARTH OVERVIEW OR AN AREA YOU KNOW, IF THE AREA IS BOUNDED BY SCHOOLS, NEIGHBORHOODS, ETC, YOU HAVE 24 HOURS TO GET THERE.
WE DON'T NEED TO LET THOSE SIT FOR FIVE DAYS.
CONVERSELY, IF IT'S AREAS THAT ARE MAYBE LESS PRIORITY OR LESS EFFECTIVE OF BUSINESS OR COMMERCE OR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE LOOK AT THAT IN THAT PRIORITY BASED HERE.
SAME WAY WE LOOK AT POLICE AND FIRE RESPONSE.
IF WE DIDN'T PRIORITIZE THOSE RESPONSE TIMES WOULD BE ALL OVER THE PLACE FOR MANY SORTS OF THINGS.
THE 311, THE FINAL CLOSURE IS 21 DAYS.
HOWEVER, AGAIN, IF WE START AT 24 HOURS FOR A HIGH PRIORITY ENCAMPMENT AND WE CLEAN IT THREE DAYS LATER, WE'RE CLEANING THEM IN FOUR OR FIVE DAYS TOTAL.
>> THE 21 DAYS THAT YOU HAVE, IS THAT A POLICY? IS THAT PRACTICE?
>> I'LL GET YOU THE EXACT DEFINITION.
IT'S CALLED THE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT.
I'M SOMEWHAT NEW IN THIS SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT WORLD,
[02:35:01]
BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO GET YOU THE RULES OF HOW THAT OPERATES.>> I'LL TRY TO MOVE THROUGH THESE QUICKLY, CHAIR?
>> ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO ADD THIS BACK ON NEXT MONTH, SO THINK ABOUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO SAY FOR NEXT MONTH.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO?
>> LET ME JUST ASK YOU TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.
HOW MANY HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS DO WE HAVE IN DALLAS, RIGHT NOW? YOU CAN APPROXIMATE IF YOU CAN.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT WE GET ABOUT 1,000 SERVICE REQUEST A MONTH, OF THOSE MANY ARE A DUPLICATE TO AN AREA, AND SOME ENCAMPMENTS CAN BE ONE TENT OVER HERE OR 10 TENTS OVER THERE.
IT'S VERY HARD TO SPECULATE A DIRECT NUMBER, BUT HERE'S WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL LEAVE HERE, AND I'LL GO SEE HOW I CAN PARSE DOWN ON DUPLICATE NUMBERS, AND I WILL PROVIDE THAT TO THE COMMITTEE BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK IF THAT'S FAIR TO YOU.
>> THAT'S FINE. COMMITTEE, WE HAVE GONE OVER TIME.
WE HAVE OTHER ITEMS WE REALLY HAVE TO GET TO.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.
I HOPE YOU AGREE, AND I WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER THE QUESTION ABOUT IF THERE ARE CHANGES, WE WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST ON HOW HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS ARE ADDRESSED, ONCE THERE'S A NOTIFICATION TO THE CITY.
ARE YOU OPEN TO HAVING ANOTHER SPECIAL CALLED MEETING TO DEAL SPECIFICALLY WITH HOMELESSNESS?
>> YOU ARE. THANK YOU. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF SPECIAL CALLED MEETINGS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO PAUSE THIS TO BE CONTINUED.
LET'S MOVE TO THE REST OF OUR AGENDA.
ITEM E, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, YOU WROTE A VERY NICE MEMO ABOUT LOW INCOME TAX CREDITS.
IF YOU GUYS HAVEN'T READ IT, I THINK IT'S VERY INSTRUCTIVE.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE A BURNING QUESTION ON THAT? F IS FAMILY GATEWAY PROPERTY REPAIR.
GIVEN THE ROBUST CONVERSATION AROUND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND THE CITY'S REAL ESTATE ACTIVITIES, I'LL JUST POINT OUT THAT OVER $2 MILLION IS TO REMEDIATE DEFECTS FROM WHEN WE PURCHASED THE BUILDING THAT WERE NOT DETECTED AT THE TIME.
THE NEXT ITEM I'M GOING TO JUST CALL TWO OF THEM, G, DOES ANYONE HAVE H? COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS HAD ASKED FOR THIS AS WELL AS I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
THIS ITEM, I BELIEVE, IS COMING TO COUNCIL NEXT WEDNESDAY, AND THERE'S QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT, PLEASE TAKE SOME TIME, ESPECIALLY BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING.
IT'S TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO ENDEAVORS.
HOWEVER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CURRENT RECIPIENT, THEY ARE MUCH MORE ROBUSTLY PROVIDING SERVICE THAN WHAT IS ASSURED UNDER THE PROPOSED CONTRACT.
DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT HERE? YOU WANT TO WAIT FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING?
>> I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK TO IT NOW.
WITH THIS PROCUREMENT, WHEN IT WAS ADVERTISED, IT WAS TO MEET THE CRITERIA THAT ENDEAVORS IS MEETING.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE PROCUREMENT THAT WAS POSTED WAS TO LOOK AT WHAT THE CURRENT VENDOR WAS PERFORMING AS, BUT RATHER WHAT THE INTENDED GRANT WAS TO COVER.
AND SO AS THE COMMITTEE SCORED APPLICANTS BASED UPON THE PROPOSAL, THEY HAVE SELECTED THE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS OF THOSE APPLICANTS.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I GOT THIS RIGHT.
THEY SCORED HIGHER SOMEBODY AN AGENCY THAT SAID THAT THEY WILL SERVE FIVE CLIENTS A MONTH COMPARED TO TRUCK, WHICH IS SERVING A WHOLE LOT MORE AND GOT A MUCH LOWER SCORE.
>> THEY REVIEWED THINGS BASED UPON THE PROPOSALS THAT WERE SUBMITTED, NOT BASED ON WHAT ANY AGENCY THEY KNEW OF WAS CURRENTLY PERFORMING OR COULD PERFORM, SO IT WAS BASED STRICTLY ON THE PROPOSALS AS SUBMITTED.
>> WHEN YOU READ THIS MEMO, DO YOU THINK DOES IT RAISE SOME FLAGS FOR YOU?
>> I CANNOT SPECULATE ON THAT.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AS OUTLINED WAS FOLLOWED, THAT PROPOSALS WERE SUBMITTED.
CRITERIA WAS SCORED BASED UPON WHAT WAS SUBMITTED, AND THE APPLICANT THAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED SCORED THE BEST THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
[02:40:04]
>> I'M JUST GOING TO SAY, I HOPE EVERYBODY READS THIS.
I AM NOT GOING TO SUPPORT AWARDING A CONTRACT TO SOMEBODY WHO'S DOING MUCH LESS THAN THE CURRENT PROVIDER WHO'S A LONG STANDING, HIGHLY REGARDED AGENCY.
THIS IS THE BRIDGE IN THE ELECTRICAL UPGRADES. THE BRIDGE.
LET'S DO SOME BUILDING MAINTENANCE FOR YOU.
SEE HOW ALL THESE THINGS FIT TOGETHER AT CITY HALL. ITEM J.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? K, VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA CONTRACT.
HOW ABOUT LMRN? I'M GOING TO TELL YOU I HAVE ISSUES WITH O. O IS THE ITEM I WAS REFERENCING LAST MONTH THAT I SAID MIGHT BE THE WORST PROPOSAL I'VE SEEN FOR PFC, SINCE I'VE BEEN AT DOUBT SINCE WE'VE STARTED THE PFC.
IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 120 AND YOU LOOK AT THE ANTICIPATED UNIT MIX AND RENTAL RATES, WHAT YOU SEE IS THAT FOR THE ONE BEDROOM, THERE'S 16 MARKET RATE, AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE RENT IS.
NOW LOOK AT THE 80% RATE, THE SUBSIDIZE, AGAIN, SAME EXACT PRICE, AND THEN YOU LOOK EVEN AT THE 60%, WHICH IS NOT MUCH DIFFERENT.. YOU CAN DO THE SAME THING FOR THE TWO BEDROOMS. WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THAT WE'RE SPENDING A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY AND GIVING A TAX ABATEMENT IN AN EFFORT TO RECEIVE 21 UNITS.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND THE IDEA OF THIS IS THAT OVER TIME, YOU HAVE SOMEHOW PRESERVED THE ENTIRE COMPLEX AND THAT THOSE 60 AND 80% AMIS WILL BECOME MORE VALUABLE AS THE AREA MATURES.
BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 10, 15, MAYBE EVEN 20 YEARS.
DO I NEED TO REMIND YOU THAT WE HAVE A GENERAL FUND ISSUE OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH DOLLARS TO DO THE WORK, EVEN TO REPAIR OUR BUILDING? I THINK THIS IS A VERY BAD DEAL FOR OUR CITY AND A VERY BAD DEAL FOR OUR TAXPAYERS TO WIPE OUT THE TAXABLE INCOME, AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING NOW, YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO MAYOR PRO TEM.
THOR, HOW DO I GUESS, ESTIMATE THE LOST REVENUE IN PROPERTY TAX? HOW DO WE FORECAST 75 YEARS, KNOWING THAT THE TRENDS ARE GOING FORWARD? I JUST NEED THORFINN FOR THIS.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS ACTUALLY PREPARED BY THE UNDERWRITER FOR THE PFCS AND HFCS, BUT THEY LOOK AT A 15-YEAR PROJECTION FOR SURE.
THAT'S WHERE THERE'S MORE SOLID FORECASTING PROJECTIONS.
WE OBVIOUSLY DO TAKE THAT OUT TO 75 YEARS FOR THE PFC PROJECTS.
THE HFC ONES WILL BE A 30-YEAR FORECAST, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE TAX CREDIT WILL BE DEEMED FOR.
THE HFC1 OR THE PFC ONES WILL START TO BE A 60-YEAR DUE TO THE CHANGING OF LEGISLATION.
THE WAY WE WILL LOOK AT THAT FORECAST IS THE FORMULA THAT LOOKS AT THE TAX RATE AND THEN APPRAISED VALUE OVER TIME AND CALCULATE THAT FOR CERTAIN TIME.
>> THIS ONE'S LISTED AS AN EXISTING MULTI-FAMILY.
IS IT AN APARTMENT? IS IT A HOTEL? CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY IS?
>> I DO NEED, AARON, TO COME AND SPEAK TO THESE MORE TECHNICALLY AS THESE ITEMS STILL GO THROUGH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND WE PREPARE THE ITEMS, BUT WE DON'T AS STAFF REVIEW THEM TECHNICALLY, AND THAT'S BEEN PART OF OUR ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR PSC AND HSC PROGRAM STATEMENTS.
SO IF IT'S OKAY TO HAVE ERIN QUINTO GENERAL MANAGER OF THE PSC AND HSC ADDRESS TECHNICAL QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. COUNCILMAN MORINA, COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?
>> SURE. THIS IS A PROPERTY LISTED AS MULTI-FAMILY.
IS THIS AN APARTMENT, A HOTEL?
>> THIS IS CURRENTLY I THINK THEY CALL IT AN EXTENDED STAY HOTEL, AT SONESTA.
>> THANK YOU. MY QUESTION IS, I DON'T BELIEVE WE'RE CALCULATING THE POSSIBLE DOLLARS IN SALES TAX WITH THIS PROPERTY.
ARE WE TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT?
[02:45:01]
>> WE JUST CALCULATE THE AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAXES.
>> THOR, AND THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION, IS THIS IS TO COME TO COUNCIL WHEN?
>> I ACTUALLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ADJACENT TO THIS PROPERTY, WANTING SOME MORE TIME AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH STAFF.
WE'LL TRY TO GET IT DONE BY THE 12TH, BUT I DO HAVE SOME HESITATION WITH THE TIMELINE. THANK YOU.
>> IF YOU COULD FIND OUT THE HOT TAX THAT THEY'RE PAYING, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL?
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE LAST ITEM, AND IT'S A SPECIAL CALL FOR NOVEMBER 14, AND THIS IS BASICALLY TO HAVE AN OVERVIEW.
I WOULDN'T EVEN SAY OVERVIEW, TO REALLY GET DOWN INTO THE WEEDS OF PFC AND HFC, BECAUSE WE ARE EXEMPTING LOTS AND LOTS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OFF OUR TAX ROLLS.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHY WE'RE DOING AND HOW IT ALL WORKS.
SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO IS INTERESTED IN ATTENDING, ESPECIALLY NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT IF POSSIBLE, I'M GOING TO ATTEND JUST EVEN AS A REFRESH.
I THINK WE CAN ALL LEARN SOMETHING EVERY TIME.
I APOLOGIZE THE MEETING RAN SO LATE, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SORRY, NOT SORRIES AND WE'LL KEEP GOING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND STAYING AND APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON. [BACKGROUND]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.