City Council - Regular Meeting

Everyone we're gonna go ahead and start our study session and we have one Presentation on the agenda and that's going to be with city manager Steven Weaver Be providing an update on several initiatives that we have underway that are related to unsheltered individuals in our community a little background prior to the adoption of the city camping ordinance last year A collaborative group of local nonprofit organizations and city representatives began meeting to discuss public education outreach efforts and strategies to support un-sheltered individuals affected by the proposed ordinance. This collaboration became known as the Un-Sheltered Persians Action Group, UPAG. Participating organizations included the City of Casa Grande, including the Police Department, Laundry of Love, Transitional Living Center, Casa Grande Alliance, Community Bridges, CARA, CHIPS, Horizon Healthcare, St. Vincent de Paul, and Seeds of Hope. Initially, the group met biweekly, and now we're meeting monthly. While many organizations were already providing valuable services to the unsheltered individuals, There was limited coordination amongst service providers. As a result, agencies often lacked visibility into the services being provided by other organizations to the same individual. To improve communication and coordination, the group researched several case management and tracking systems and determined that Charity Tractor was the most effective and cost-efficient option. The city subsequently purchased the software which included unlimited users, access for participating organizations. The system has significantly improved coordination by allowing service providers to track assistance provided and identify gaps in services. The group's next priority was identifying a location where individuals experiencing homelessness could stay without violating the city's camping ordinance. One concept explored was the development of a transitional housing outdoor space. Over several months, the group evaluated multiple properties and visited similar facilities in Tucson and Phoenix. While a potential site was identified, significant infrastructure challenges existed, including the need to extend utilities to the property. Estimating operating costs ranged from 300 to 600,000 annually, in addition to the substantial upfront development costs. Given these projected expenses, the group began evaluating alternative approaches, including hotel-based transitional housing. Staff contacted several hotels near the downtown area regarding long-term room availability. Most proposals averaged about $70 per night. However, the Boots and Saddle Hotel offered a significantly more affordable option by providing five rooms for a full year at a total cost of $54,000. As a result, staff is recommending a one-year pilot program utilizing these hotel rooms as transitional housing. While the program initially includes only five rooms, it provides an opportunity to evaluate effectiveness and on a manageable scale before considering future expansion. The program is designed for individuals who demonstrate a commitment to transitioning out of homelessness. Participants will be expected to actively work toward goals such as securing employment, participating in substance use recovery programs, addressing mental health issues, and achieving other measurable milestones that support long-term stability. Participants who are unwilling to engage in services or who are not making progress toward established goals may be replaced by individuals who are prepared to actively participate. The anticipated length of stay is approximately 90 days, although extensions may be considered for participants who continue to demonstrate meaningful progress toward self-sufficiency. Recognizing that effective Case management is critical to the success of this initiative. The city invited nonprofit partners to submit letters of interest outlining how they would administer the program to provide participant services. The city received proposals from CHIPS, CARA, and Horizon Healthcare. After reviewing the submission, staff determined that Horizon Healthcare is best positioned to administer the program. In addition to presenting a strong service model, Horizon proposed the lowest administrative cost of $7,500 for the entire year. Whilst Horizon Healthcare will serve as the lead case management agency and primary point of contact for the participants, this initiative will remain a collaborative effort involving multiple nonprofit and community partners. The city will enter into two separate agreements to support implementation of the pilot program. The first is a memorandum of understanding with Horizon Healthcare for administrative oversight and case management services. Under this agreement, Horizon Healthcare will establish and manage program workflows, intake procedures, and service delivery models. Provide case management services to the participants. Coordinate with community services providers, behavioral health organizations and support networks. Manage placement into available hotel units and maximize occupancy. Coordinate hotel and vendor operations and provide regular program reporting and updates to the city. The second agreement will be with Boots and Saddle for the lodging services. Hotel costs will be billed monthly throughout the pilot period. The city will provide funding for hotel accommodations and will continue working collaboratively with Horizon Healthcare to ensure the program remains aligned with its intended goals and objectives. In addition, the city has applied for all available tribal grant funding opportunities to help support these and future homeless related initiatives. Staff anticipates launching the program as soon as the agreements are finalized, with implementation expected within the next week. This initiative will operate as a one-year pilot program. Staff will provide periodic updates to the Council regarding participation levels, program outcomes, and overall performance. Prior to considering any extension beyond the pilot year, staff will return to Council with a comprehensive evaluation of the program's effectiveness and recommendations for future action. While we recognize that no single initiative will completely resolve homelessness within our community, outreach efforts have shown that many individuals are seeking assistance and are willing to engage in services. For those individuals, we believe this program provides a meaningful opportunity to achieve greater stability and independence. Each month, our nonprofit partners share success stories involving individuals and families who have received assistance and avoided homelessness. This pilot program is intended to build upon those successes through a more coordinated, collaborative, and supportive approach. In addition to the transitional housing initiative staff has been working to expand access to hydration and cooling resources throughout the community. The city has ordered signage that will be placed at participating locations to identify sites where individuals can obtain water and access to air conditioning space during business hours. Currently, there are 13 locations within the city limits that are participating in this effort. Most locations are available from 8 to 5 Monday through Saturday. The public libraries and chips are extended hours remain open till 7 p.m. Through our assessment, we identified a service gap between the hours of 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., a period when temperatures often remain high. To address this need, staff is exploring the possibility of opening of Lynn Cola Recreation Center as an evening hydration and cooling station from 6.30 to 10 p.m. daily during the summer months until the end of September. We have discussed this concept with the Boys and Girls Clubs, and they have expressed support for this proposal. Staff is currently working to identify operational staffing needs, and once those are addressed, we anticipate moving forward with implementation. So with that, Mayor and Council, I'm here to answer any questions.

Sure. I believe you said the boots and saddle, is it 54,000 you said? Yep. For the year, right? Yes. And then Horizon Services would be 7,500, right? Yes. Correct. And the local owner or person that owns that property, they're going to help us to manage that? Yes. Okay. The other question I have, too, I know they have a little bit more land. Are they just offering just the five housing areas or would be able to do anything? Homeless person comes on the property, stand outside by the fence. Are they able to do that?

Councilman Edwards, right now it's just the five rooms. We have the opportunity if we want to put more money toward it or if we get other grants where we could expand that. She has the ability to make more rooms available besides the five, but right now it's just the five rooms, nothing outside of that. Okay.

But they do have a common area out in the middle of the property that has, you know, couches and a TV and like a stove. Stove, microwave. So if people, you know, they do have access to that.

Okay, so she'll be okay with them? Oh, absolutely. Oh, that's just for the people that are staying there, though?

Yes, correct. Okay, okay.

You mean for more like group settings where you can have almost like something in the middle?

Yeah, because see, once the word gets out, you have the five people or individuals that stand there, but word says out there. And sometimes that language is told, no, we can go there. Anybody can go there. Oh, yeah, I know. You know what I'm saying? And so that's why I brought it up. Because, you know, there's probably going to be someone that's going to come over there and want to stay outside.

And I think that's a good point, and we've talked to, and just really quick, Matt, before you go, just thank you to Steven and everyone that's been involved in this, as you guys know. These are concerns that have been coming up for years, and we've been trying different programs. We know this isn't gonna solve homelessness, but this is a way for us to start that transition. So in order for someone to be part of this program, they are going to have to sign an agreement that they're gonna follow the rules. sign up for case management. And that case management can be through several different agencies, but there's probably be a key agency that's gonna handle that individual. Horizon is the one that's gonna administer it, but it could be CARA that is one of their candidates, so-called candidates, that would qualify and be a good candidate to participate in this, or it could be CHIP, or it could be Seeds of Hope, or whoever it is. They have to sign on to participating in this, you know, everything that's required. So there won't be outside people coming in. Joanna that owns the hotel, she's kind of a tough, she's really good at monitoring that she is going to allow couples. She will allow dogs. So, you know, she's really open to trying to work. She works, you know, with the unsheltered population, and so she's really trying to work with these individuals to get them out of homelessness. So she's been, you know, really open to, you know, one of the questions that also came up was, you know, handicap accessibility. Her rooms are not handicap accessible, but we have talked to another... Segal Suites. Segal Suites. So if we did have someone that was handicapped, then we do have an option to go to Segal Suites for, you know, if there is someone that does require that. So we want to make sure we address that too.

And I get it, it's a pilot program. Yes. We want the citizens to know we're trying our best to do what we can, you know, and we know there's going to be a little cost to it. But we are trying our best to help them out as best as we can, even with the cooling stations as well. You know, I know I said on Faith Alliance, and, you know, we didn't want to try to invent the wheel again if we got cooling stations going on. But what we want to do is come alongside as well, just like Cecil Hope is doing or Ryden is doing. And so I always remember that, too, even with that property, Faith Alliance would be willing to work with you all as well.

Yes, thank you. And we were really hoping that, you know, that part of that UPAC group, the church community did come up, because if we are going to have these cooling stations in the evening, if a church wants to go and drop off sandwiches or, you know, bring, you know, there's going to be water, you know, on Kara. is the cooling station coordinator for Cascrand. So they are providing water at all these sites. But if there is someone that wanted to go and drop water or whatever, then that, I mean, water, food or whatever it is, they can definitely do that. So we're going to work with Faith Alliance on that. So thank you, Stephen, though. Okay, Matt. Oh, no problem.

I appreciate what Anthony said, especially about we've looked at a lot of these figures and numbers, and this is a good starting place to see what kind of programs are going to work and if we can work. I know something can work because it works in other communities, and I'm glad you're doing it. The other thing I was thinking about was the cooling stations, and the Len Cola one is very interesting to me, which I think is a great idea, but I was wondering, I mean, If we're going to be there, and I'm throwing this out, maybe if the gym could be open like for kids too at night so they could be cool and have something to do. I don't know if that's, I know it wasn't part of the original plan, but I don't know how much more that would cost or stuff. But if you could look into that maybe, you know, because maybe kids want something to do at night over there and, you know, it's hot outside so they could play basketball inside or something or volleyball.

Yeah, something we can look at.

Yeah, our other option was that CHIPS is asked if, I mean, if we could use their building there too, if that's another option instead of even using LendCola.

But they will be part-time city employees working that.

Right.

So I know it's a lot different when you get kids and use it.

Yeah, and especially when you, because I think that the space is going to be in the gym.

Oh, is it? Yeah, the space will be in the gym. Well, that's fine.

But there might be somewhere else that we look at for the gym activities.

question sure at this uh... at this issue uh... i think it's undoubtedly there's going to be challenges uh... and uh... uh... public understands that we know that you you've gathered uh... a good group of good coalition to address those tonight and i think that group is COMPLETELY CAPABLE. IS ANGEL, IS HE STILL PART OF THE GROUP? YES. OKAY. PERFECT. YEAH, HE IS.

ALL RIGHT. GOT A QUICK QUESTION. HOW, YOU KNOW, FIVE ROOMS, 90 DAYS, WHO'S GOING TO BE THE ACTUAL, IS THERE GOING TO BE A BOARD APPOINTED TO ACTUALLY SEE WHO'S THE BEST CANDIDATES FOR THOSE ROOMS RIGHT OUT THE FRONT? BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT you know, charities that are working with these people and, I mean, who's going to be selecting actually the best candidates for the rooms, especially when we first start up?

Ultimately, Horizon will make that determination.

Horizon, will they have a board or something and just kind of... LOOK AT EVERYTHING?

YEAH, THEY HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT REVIEW THESE. AND THEY'LL JUST KIND OF VOTE ON GEORGE OR WHATEVER. BUT THEY'LL HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THESE OTHER NONPROFITS THAT WILL BE SUBMITTING NAMES AND SAYING THESE WOULD BE GOOD CANDIDATES.

I MEAN, THEY MIGHT HAVE ABOUT 50 CANDIDATES. OH, YEAH. SO WHO'S GOING TO TAKE THOSE 50 AND GO NUMBER ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE?

AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO STRESS THE FACT THAT IF PEOPLE ARE NOT MOVING ON THAT ROAD TO trying to get out, that they may be replaced with others. So that could be a revolving door for some of those individuals.

So if they're not doing what they're supposed to do, they sign their contract or whatever, they can be bumped. That's right.

You know, Sean, all these agencies already work so close together. I know, they do. They really do. We're in these meetings, and they all know who they're talking about.

There's so many qualifying people. That's what I figured. If there's a bunch out there, how are they going to narrow down to...

I think you'll be surprised how many aren't willing to go into something like this. I believe that. But that's why I think starting small, and we know because we did the IHELP program, and that was that overnight program that people didn't even want to go and spend one night because of the rules. And so I think we will be surprised how many people aren't willing to go. But we're hoping, you know, I mean, it's a start. So why, you know, open a whole transitional living center when you're only going to have three people?

Yeah, and I'm glad they're allowing dogs in there, too, because I know that that's been a problem in the past is people, I can't go there with my dog, you know, so that's awesome that they're doing that for them.

Right, right.

Yeah.

Any other questions or comments? I think it's a great starting point, and it sounds like a lot of thought was put into it, and so I do appreciate that.

No, and again, it's with these agencies. We pulled them in at the very beginning, and Stephen's just been on top of it and communicating with all of them. And, you know, we, you know, then as, and of course we're getting people that come to the meetings and are concerned about with the heat right now, where are people going? And so we're just trying to, you know, see where we are with services, fill the gaps. We're not going to have an overnight shelter, unfortunately, right away. So at least we can get people cooled until. 10 p.m. and then in the mornings things open up again. I think it's a great start.

You mentioned couples, but what if they have kids? Is that allowed if they have children? Or what does that look like for those families that maybe experience homelessness right now?

Yeah, I think the hotels, I think most of those are like queen. They're only like queen-sized beds in there. Unless they allow them to sleep on the floor or something like that. Just some cots or something maybe, I don't know.

It has been a concern, though. I mean, it's been brought up in that group because there's more and more families that are homeless. So, yeah, I know. Good question. Okay. Anything else? Okay.

Okay.

Okay. Thank you, Stephen and Larry and everyone for this. So, Stephen, what happens next? You said the MOUs and everything.

Yeah, once we get the MOUs in place with Horizon and with Boots and Saddle, and then once we get everything ready, we'll try to do the Linkola as quick as we can.

Right. Okay.

Yeah, the council will have to take action on the points of settle since it's over $50,000. Okay. So that will come back.

Okay. Okay, there's no more questions? No. Okay, we'll go ahead and close the study session then. And close the study session, and we have just 10 minutes for the next meeting. So we're going to take a break. Terminate.