Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Interim Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Holloway interim housing program reports early progress; residents praise privacy, stabilization services
Summary
City staff and Asencia told the commission the 20‑bed Holloway interim housing program has served 32 unduplicated people since October, sustained near‑full occupancy and increased on‑site engagement from 67% to 90%; residents said private rooms, case management and classes improved their stability and sense of dignity.
City staff and Asencia presented an operational update on the Holloway interim housing program (Item 5C). Diane Conpstein, strategic initiative supervisor, and Francisco Gomez, program administrator, said the 20‑bed program serves people who meet chronic‑homelessness and disability criteria through a housing‑first, low‑barrier model. Gomez reported the program has served 32 unduplicated individuals since opening, maintained near‑full occupancy (20 beds occupied at quarter close), and recorded one confirmed permanent placement with three additional placements pending inspections or funding approvals. He said there have been 12 exits to date: one permanent and 11 to non‑permanent settings (transfers to other interim programs, moves with family or exits without a confirmed destination).
Gomez told commissioners that weekly and then quarterly monitoring shows a rise in service engagement: "At the end of the first quarter, 67% of individuals were regularly participating in services on site. By the end of the second quarter, that number increased to 90%." The program population is older on average (78% over age 45; 32 clients over age 62) and ethnically diverse. Staff emphasized that progress for this population is often incremental because residents may need stabilization, documentation assistance and benefits coordination before permanent placement is possible.
Alicia Brown, Asencia's manager of expansion programs, described daily operations: 24/7 on‑site staffing, weekly intensive case management, behavioral‑health support, transportation assistance, meals and classes on financial literacy. Two residents, Erica and CJ, spoke about personal experiences: both said they had long histories of unsheltered living, praised private rooms and staff support, and listed services—occupational therapy, transportation to medical appointments, budgeting classes, showers—that contributed to improved self‑esteem and stability.
Staff described community support—an Asencia and city donation drive that raised over $10,000 in supplies and bedding—and said they will develop a public dashboard to track program metrics and coordinate referrals with outreach teams. Commissioners asked about barriers to permanent housing (affordability, limited local units, income constraints for residents on disability) and about neighborhood response; Asencia and staff said community reaction has been welcoming and volunteer interest strong.
The commission did not take formal policy action; commissioners commended staff and volunteers and asked for continued dashboard reporting and placements updates.
