HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 13a - Tiny Home Shelter Pilot Program
DATE: February 16, 2021
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Sara Somogyi, Director of Recreation and Community Services
SUBJECT: SAN GABRIEL VALLEY EMERGENCY SHELTER PILOT PROGRAM
Recommendation: Provide Direction
SUMMARY
The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (“SGVCOG”) and the San Gabriel Valley
Regional Housing Trust (“SGVRHT”) are examining the placement of Tiny Home
Shelters, such as Pallet Houses, for a few cities in the San Gabriel Valley. As part of the
pilot program, three to five sites will be selected to implement the emergency Tiny Home
Shelters, with Arcadia as a potential site. The City Council is being asked to consider
whether it wishes to support such a program and, if so, which potential sites should be
considered. It is recommended that the City Council encourage the use of the County
property adjacent to the east side of the Peck Road Conservation Park for this program.
BACKGROUND
The SGVCOG is a regional planning entity comprised of the 30 cities, the County of Los
Angeles, and the water districts in the San Gabriel Valley. The SGVCOG advocates for
regional and member interests and develops and manages regional programs to support
its member jurisdictions. The SGVRHT is a joint powers authority created in February
2020 to fund and finance the planning and construction of homeless housing, and
extremely low, very low, and low-income housing projects.
The City of Arcadia, as part of the SGVCOG and the SGVRHT, is exploring the option of
implementing a Tiny Home Shelters, with up to 15 units (sheltering up to 30 persons).
The SGVCOG and the SGVRHT are looking for cities to help the unsheltered homeless
population by building Tiny Home Shelters in the San Gabriel Valley in three to five cities.
The pilot program would serve individuals from the local area, the site would be alcohol
and drug free and have an office for staff onsite for case and crisis management, and
provide the wrap around services that are essential to help the individuals living there.
The anticipated duration of the pilot program is one year.
The role of the SGVCOG and the SGVRHT would provide the capital funding for the Tiny
Home Shelters, fund the ongoing needs of the Tiny Home Shelter, such as case
management, restrooms, fencing, electricity, Wi-Fi, water, food, eating area, and trash
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services. They will also work to identify service providers and additional funding for
services.
The participating cities’ roles will be to dedicate a staff member to facilitate the pilot
program implementation. The participating cities would need to identify a site for the
placement of the Tiny Home Shelters and engage the community to build support for the
pilot program. They would also be needed for the infrastructure set up such as water,
electricity, and Wi-Fi – similar to the set up that was done as the homeless resource hub
at the 3-Par Golf Couse.
Below are photos of the Pallet House Tiny Home Shelters.
The Pallet House Tiny Home Shelters standard unit is 64 square feet and have the options
for up to two beds per unit. They also come equipped with lighting, electrical outlets, air
conditioning, heat, mattresses, windows, a locking door, fire extinguisher, shelving, and
an emergency exit hatch.
DISCUSSION
Interested cities in the Tiny Home Shelter Pilot Program will complete a letter of interest.
The SGVCOG and the SGVRHT will work with City staff members to ensure the feasibility
of the proposed site and then develop an implementation plan.
Other nice items to have on site would include showers, laundry, kitchen preparation, and
landscaping, which would also be funded by the SGVCOG and the SGVRHT, if the
funding is available once all the necessities have been identified.
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The proposed timeline for the project is quick. The interested cities would need to provide
a letter of interest immediately.
February SHELTER
PROCUREMENT
SGVRHT/SGVCOG will procure tiny home shelters
and construction management consultant.
March/April SELECT
CITIES/SITES
SGVRHT/SGVCOG and consultant will finalize
sites and work with member City Staff to proceed
to the implementation phase. Any necessary City
Council actions begin; MOAs are signed.
May/June PREP SITES The potential sites would be finalized the site prep
would take place.
June/July SITES
OCCUPIED
Sites up and running and occupied with
participants in each unit. Case management and
additional services being offered.
Since the Homeless Resource Hub Town Hall Meeting in December, Staff has received
two additional comments from the neighborhood, both being positive. The Homeless
Resource Hub’s operation continues to be a place where individuals experiencing
homelessness can go to be connected to resources, without negative impacts. While both
the Tiny Home Shelters and the Resource Hub would operate independently, they would
be part of a comprehensive effort to reduce the number of people camping on the streets
of the City nightly as well as the negative impacts of homelessness.
It is recommended that the City Council encourage the use of the County property
adjacent to the east side of the Peck Road Conservation Park for this program. Approval
from the County would also be necessary to proceed.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no action being taken, thus the project is exempt under the California
Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), section 15060(c) and it can be seen with certainty
that it will have no impact on the environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
If a location is determined, the actual project will be brought back to the City Council along
with the requisite environmental analysis.
FISCAL IMPACT
The participating cities would need to need to provide a dedicated staff member to
facilitate the pilot program. This could be accomplished during the staff member’s normal
course of business. Staff members would also be required to assist with the infrastructure
set up of the Tiny Home Shelters; this could also be accomplished in the staff members
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normal course of business. All direct costs would be covered by grants through the
SGVRHT/SGVCOG; therefore, the project would not have any direct financial impact on
the City.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the City Council provide direction to Staff on whether Arcadia should
send a letter of intent to participate in the San Gabriel Valley Emergency Shelter Pilot
Program and, if so, which location(s) should be considered as the program moves
forward.