Title
B. Staff Report
Hollis discussed the mobile shower trailer pilot program. The City acquired trailer during the pandemic for people experiencing homelessness. The mobile shower doesn't hold water and sewage must be dumped before transport. It has been placed at the Ashley Street Center where there is a water source and sewer train as well as shore power. For the pilot, PHHS provides everything so that the nonprofits simply have to get people to the location to shower. The shower has three full individual bathrooms, and one is ADA-accessible. All showers run on timers. Utterback informed the commissioners that there is an open house on Wednesday, October 11th, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and invited the commission to stop by. Utterback said seven people showered last week, and she was asked to open it again on Thursday. At the end of the week, it will be moved and winterized.
Hollis said the city manager approved some emergency kitchen repairs to the Ashley St. center to prepare it for Room at the Inn. For now, we are proceeding with some other processes to do with design bidding.
Hollis said the Room at the Inn contract amendment has been executed, allowing them to operate year-round. RATI will open on Sunday, October 29th, 2023, a month earlier than ever. Hollis said the amendment includes two additional renewal periods for 2024 and 2025. This will mean RATI will need to reapply for funding in 2025. Hollis said this also applies to the pending amendment to the Wilkes Blvd. UMC contract for Turning Point. The contract amendment will allow Turning Point to extend their hours to 3:30 p.m. as they are currently only open until Noon. Turning Point will again provide the overnight warming center.
Hollis said the contract with 4A Change for street outreach and case management was extended for another year. This contract replaced the longstanding contract with Phoenix Programs when the agency closed. Kari Utterback is working closely with 4A Change. She is also running the community’s Coordinated Entry Process, which is the process used to prioritize housing for people who are experiencing homelessness. She also supports the Coalition to End Homelessness.
Hollis said ARPA funding allocations were made public and included a recommendation for the Opportunity Campus.
Hollis said Interim Reports are primarily in. He is working with RATI on its interim report as the president has been experiencing personal challenges. There are also issues with Services for Independent Living's report. Hollis an Utterback are meeting with SIL on Friday to discuss the issues.
Hollis announced that he plans to retire in July of 2024.
Suhler asked about Loaves and Fishes. Hollis said they have not secured a new space and the search is ongoing. Ashley St. Center is the backup but it is not preferred as it would be challenging to operate Loaves & Fishes and RATI in the same space at the same time. Hollis said Loaves and Fishes is now incorporated but does not have 501(c)3 status so they cannot pursue grants. Hollis said he hopes Loaves & Fishes can apply for the County’s second round of ARPA funding. Wilke Blvd. UMC is being flexible on when Loaves & Fishes must move out of the church.
Kleopfer asked if Turning Point would be moving as well. Hollis explained that the plan is to move Turning Point along with Loaves and Fishes to the Opportunity Campus. He said VAC is opening up spaces at the Opportunity Campus for Turning Point and Loaves and Fishes to operate at the location with a low-cost lease. RATI will also be there, but under VAC management. There will also be two separate spaces for lease at market rate to create revenue for the building's ongoing maintenance. Burrell Behavioral Health is looking at one of the spaces