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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 Tiny Home Shelter February 16, 2021 Page 2 of 3 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. Tiny Home Shelter February 16, 2021 Page 3 of 3 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 Tiny Home Shelter February 16, 2021 Page 4 of 3 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.