Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Homeless Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council hears proposal for low-barrier day shelter; Warm Shelter and churches willing to partner
Summary
Councilors discussed establishing a low-barrier daytime shelter for unsheltered people. Mayor Edwards and service providers said a day shelter could connect people to services, ease strain on emergency systems and act as a ‘one-stop’ for basic needs; staff will coordinate with partners and integrate the idea into the housing strategy.
Staunton officials and councilors on March 27 discussed proposals for a low-barrier day shelter intended to provide daytime shelter, basic services and resource navigation for unsheltered people.
Mayor Edwards presented the need for daytime access to services for people who use overnight shelters: she said WARM (Warm Shelter) had served more than 200 unique individuals since the November seasonal shelter-opening date and recorded more than 1,000 stays in that period. The mayor and other presenters told council that many people now move between evening shelter locations and daytime public spaces without access to trained resource navigators who can help with identification documents, benefits, health care and housing referrals.
Edwards and other speakers, including representatives of local service providers, said some people cannot or will not use high-barrier night shelters because of rules or because of behavioral health and substance-use issues; a daytime, low-barrier site could reach that population. Potential partners and next steps mentioned in the discussion included: a local church willing to host space; WARM Shelter as a possible service provider; Augusta Health’s mobile clinic expanding visits to the site; and other partner agencies providing showers, laundry or employment and housing navigation.
Rebecca Joyce (identified in the meeting as a staff participant in the city’s housing strategy work) told council the day shelter concept fits in the city’s housing stability arm of a broader strategy and offered to incorporate the service into the city’s ongoing planning. Councilors discussed forming a steering committee with city staff, law enforcement, the shelter operator and faith-community partners to scope the program and identify resource needs. Mayor Edwards said she will coordinate staff and partners to move the discussion forward.
Council did not vote on a program at the meeting; councilors expressed general support for further planning and asked staff to return with options for implementation, stewardship and potential budget impacts.
