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Office of Homeless Services reports encampment moves, hospitality hub staffing and Shelby House transition
Summary
The Office of Homeless Services (OHS) updated the Homelessness Planning Council on sheltering efforts, moves from an encampment known as Old Town City, the new hospitality hub staffing approach, shared-housing policy development and the status of 14 units at Shelby House.
Office of Homeless Services Director Calvin told the Homelessness Planning Council that OHS is continuing outreach and housing placements tied to the Old Town City encampment and that 72 people (and 11 pets) had moved from camps in recent weeks; two residents reportedly used VASH vouchers.
Calvin said OHS will staff the hospitality hub with two OHS employees to help with documents and connections to housing, and that the hub operator has shifted from the previous operator to a hospitality-hub model meant to increase partnership with community providers. "I think what they're looking to do differently is connecting with community partners as well," Calvin said.
Why it matters: The report addressed how OHS is trying to convert encampment outreach into housing placements while managing difficult cases such as RV residents and people with many pets. Council members asked what would happen on June 2 when signage at the Old Town City site requires clearing the camp; OHS said it does not anticipate a law-enforcement standoff and is pursuing creative housing options for individuals in RVs and for people with many pets.
Shared housing and landlord engagement Calvin said OHS has asked its landlord engagement team to develop shared-housing policy and procedures to partner with recovery houses, group homes and other shared housing operators. He said the team is pursuing a certification through the Shared Housing Institute and will host monthly shared-housing and property-manager meetings.
Shelby House units Calvin described Shelby House as a difficult mixed-use situation on property operated by an abstinence-based program. "We had multiple conversations with them on the population that we were looking to serve," he said, and OHS decided not to bend Housing First rules to accommodate a different population. Shelby House is working with MDHA to return funds; Calvin said roughly a dozen residents (reported as 12 in the meeting) are being assisted with rehousing by landlord engagement staff.
Pallet-shelter pilot and logistics Council members heard an update about pallet-shelter planning. Calvin said an interest meeting on pallet shelters was recorded and that agencies and shelter manufacturers provided technical details. Pilots will consider fire and thermal-barrier requirements, spacing (12 feet between units for fire safety) and access to services (bathrooms, laundry, meals). Council members discussed potential faith-based locations and a pilot size of 25 units.
Other operational items and budget Calvin said OHS is in budget season and has presented a budget request to the mayor's office; he said the administration largely supported requests or provided alternative funding paths. He also said OHS is tracking roughly 700 vacant units on a listings site but noted market rent and other barriers prevent those units from serving people experiencing homelessness without additional subsidies.
Ending Calvin closed by urging collaboration with MDHA and other partners as the department pursues nontraditional rapid rehousing and landlord engagement strategies to move people into permanent housing.
