It is essentially a brand new resolution – I just got it around 3:00. New language is bold and old language is deleted.See you at 7:00 and hoping the late item, union contracts, doesn’t take up their whole evening and people all go home, again . . . .
ADDRESSING EMERGENCY FACILITY NEEDS OF THE HOMELESS
Unhoused persons in Dane County have few accessible spaces available to carry out life-sustaining activities like eating, drinking, sleeping, washing and going to the bathroom. Long term solutions, including increased development of affordable housing, greater access to physical and mental health care, AODA programs, and case management services must be pursued to adequately meet the needs of unhoused persons who are among Dane County’s most vulnerable residents. Res. 292, 11-12, Dane County Recognizes Housing as a Human Right, provides for the development of a Housing Plan to increase affordable housing stock in Dane County communities, reduce the number of homeless children in our schools, ensure no one is denied access to shelter and develop additional daytime shelter space. These are long term solutions, however, and will take time and resources to develop. In the meantime, unhoused persons should not be pushed out of public spaces that are desperately needed for shelter and accessing water. Harassment, ticketing, and removal from Dane County property solely for engaging in life-sustaining activities, including resting, eating, drinking, or accessing public showers or restrooms is unnecessary and unproductive.
Dane County ordinances and policies governing the use of public spaces, while originally well-intentioned and reasoned, when applied to unhoused persons, exacerbate their insecurity and create additional and unnecessary barriers to fulfilling basic needs, including accessing shelter from the elements and clean water for drinking and washing. When resources are limited and long term solutions are being pursued, existing public spaces and amenities can be maximized and made available to unhoused persons to carry out basic, life-sustaining activities. The City County Homeless Issues Committee established pursuant to Res. 20, 12-13, will soon be conducting a comprehensive analysis of homeless issues, including current gaps in services. Interim measures are necessary until the recommendations of the Homeless Issues Committee take effect.
An interim day shelter would provide stop-gap services until a more long-term solution is found. The county will partner with Porchlight Inc. to open a day shelter facility at a county-owned building on Wright St. in Madison. The shelter will be available 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November 1, 2012 through April 30, 2013 Porchlight will also provide transportation to and from the day shelter.
Some women who face homelessness are victims of domestic abuse. Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) is uniquely qualified to access shelter for this group as the only agency already providing vouchers for hotel rooms for women in domestic abuse situations. The City of Madison provided almost $30,000 in funding for DAIS for hotel vouchers, however these funds were depleted by June of this year. For $15,000 DAIS could secure 5 hotel rooms 7 days a week for the remainder of 2012 for women who are homeless as a result of domestic violence.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Dane County recognizes the inherent human dignity in every Dane County resident and commits to ameliorating the difficulties experienced by unhoused persons when carrying out basic, life-sustaining activities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no later than September 15, 2012, showers, restrooms and lockers will be provided, at a location to be determined by county staff, (excluding Alliant Energy Center from March 15 to October 15) and accessible and prioritized for unhoused persons at least ten (10) hours per week and at least five (5) days per week until such amenities are accessible at a centrally located day center. The City-County Building is not being considered for showers or lockers. The City County Building may be considered for lockers, showers and restrooms if there is agreement between the city and county for their use.
BE IT FINALLY FURTHER RESOLVED that portable restrooms and sanitary stations shall be provided and accessible at all hours at the following Dane County facilities: in parking lots outside the following Dane County facilities: a downtown Dane County parking ramp, Alliant Energy Center, Human Services Building, and Tenney Locks.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that $25,200 be transferred from the county’s general fund to the following line items associated with the operating costs of an interim day shelter in November and December of 2012:
DHS____ EAADMIN COYYAA Rent of Space $8,000
DHS____ EAHMLPLT EMSHAA Emergency Shelter $17,200The interim shelter will be available 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November 1, 2012 through April 30, 2013.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that $15,000 be transferred from the county’s general fund to the following line item to provide $15,000 for hotel vouchers for women in domestic abuse situations.
DHS____ ACFCSDAI NEW Crisis-Housing-DAIS $15,000
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that $11,848 be transferred from the county’s general fund to the following line items:
AECAGRI 21697 Gas $950/del>
AECAGRI 22700 Electricity $1,300
AECAGRI 22745 Water $425
AECAGRI 32323 Security $2,675
AECAGRI 10072 LTE $3,473
AECAGRI 10108 Social Sec. _ $265
FMFMADM New Portable Restrooms $2,760<BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human Services be directed to conducted a thorough assessment of current programs and services available to those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and that it report recommendations for improved access to and effectiveness of these services to the Health and Human Needs Committee by March 15, 2013.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Dane County Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Administration and City-County Homeless Issues Committee, will report to the County Board and appropriate committees six weeks before a March 15 deadline to provide permanent facilities solution and end the temporary services named in the resolution.
This substitute amendment amends Res. 87 to create an interim day shelter, funding for shelter for women experiencing homelessness as a result of domestic abuse, and specifies a comprehensive review of current services for the homeless.
