Shelter monitoring committee warns of shelter-capacity crisis; committee continues item for fuller HSA response

Damien Ochoa, vice chair of the Shelter Monitoring Committee, told the Board’s Rules Committee that the city is “experiencing a crisis in the emergency shelter system,” with demand outstripping available beds and inaccurate vacancy listings that have left clients denied shelter despite system-reported openings.

The committee’s quarterly report, presented at the hearing, cited sharp increases in service demand after schedule cuts at Tenderloin Health. Ochoa said there were “154 families on the wait list for the family shelter and 51 families were turned away in the month of October for emergency family shelter.” He also reported increases in walk-in center services and intakes—figures the committee said have stretched staff beyond capacity.

The report urged immediate action to reduce vacancies, guarantee transportation for clients to shelter sites (through Muni tokens or vans) and oppose midyear budget cuts for emergency homeless services; it also recommended a consistent late-pass policy and earlier drop-in of care-not-cash beds. The committee noted closures and reductions in hours at some facilities and said an additional 46 beds are expected to come on line in February through changes at NextDoor, while the closure of 150 Otis has been extended until March 2009/2010 planning dates.

Public commenters and shelter operators confirmed the committee’s findings. Jenny Wiley, program director at Central City Hospitality House, said occupancy is high and wait lists long: “As of this morning, we have 77 men on our wait list to get into our shelter,” and she reported that in October “out of 250 people inquiring for shelter reservations, only 83 … were able to receive reservations in the entire month,” a 67% rate of people leaving without reservations. James Leonard, who described himself as a homeless person and shelter committee participant, said shortened Tenderloin Health hours have left people “wandering around confused” and exposed to victimization.

Human Services Agency staff told the committee that departments absorbed first-quarter cuts but that shelter services were not affected; HSA said it will return with a more comprehensive response in December and reported a pipeline including 407 new housing units and a building expected to come online in February. The report also noted $200,000 in add-back funds from the Board of Supervisors for this year, and line items including a $40,000 nutritionist allocation and funds for trainings and MOUs to support standard-of-care implementation.

Members pressed for follow-up. Supervisor Duffy moved to continue the item to the Rules Committee meeting on Dec. 4 so departments could provide fuller, meaningful responses; the motion passed without objection.

The committee asked HSA, DPH and shelter operators to return with clarified numbers, explanations of apparent vacancy reporting errors, and specific implementation timelines for the committee’s recommended changes. The item will return on Dec. 4.