HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibitThe City of Miami Shelter Program
The City of Miami Shelter Program is no longer just mats, it includes humanitarian beds. It is funded by
the City of Miami, CRA Omni, CRA Park West, Downtown Development Agency, and with private
contributions. The program began on August 1st 2014 for a 12 month period, and is scheduled to end
July 315t, 2015. Since the inception of the program, 1,234 homeless individuals have been placed the
shelter program in lieu of making an arrest for humanitarian reasons by the Miami Police Department in
collaboration with Outreach. Instead of an arrest the homeless are given hope and offered shelter. 30-
32 percent of the homeless in the program have graduated into another program, moved back home, or
received permanent housing. 46 percent have successfully stayed in the program past 24 hours, and of
those the average stay is duration of 15 days.
The City of Miami Shelter program consists of full services identical to all other services provided in
other shelters. The services include but are not limited to 3-meals a day, security, a safe place to sleep,
primary health care, dental, a dog kennel to house pets, showers, lockers, library, TV, computers,
activities, drug treatment, and mental health treatment at no cost to the homeless. Today the
alternative is a waiting list averaging 200 person and least 30 days to get into shelter.
All areas of the Miami -Dade County experienced large increases in the homeless population (census
count Jan 2015) except the City of Miami. The City of Miami (2014 vs 2015 homeless count) experienced
only a 6,8% increase compared to a 58% increase in Miami Beach. Downtown Miami experienced a
decrease of-11.5%.
I have compiled the following data:
Miami Dade County
Jan 2014 (840) vs Jan 2015 (1007)
Increase of 167 (+19.9% increase)
Miami Beach
Jan 2014 (122) vs Jan 2015 (193)
Increase 71 (+58% increase)
City of Miami
Jan 2014 (577) vs Jan 2015 (619)
Increase 39 (+6.8% increase)
Downtown Miami
Jan 2014 (384) vs Jan 2015 (340)
Decrease 44 (-11.5 % decrease)
City of Miami Shelter Program at Camillus House August 1st 2015 - March 31st 2015
1117 total admissions: 923 (82.6%) unduplicated individuals, 194 (17.4%) repeated admissions
3 (1,5%) of the 194, 3rd admission, took place in December
7 (3.6%) of the 194, 3rd admission, took place in January
4 (2.1 %) of the 194, 3rd admission, took place in February
1 (0.5%) of the 194, 4th admission, took place in January
1 (0.5%) of the 194, 3rd admission, took place in March
Male: 733 (79.4%)
Female: 187 (20.3%)
Transgender (male to female): 3 (0.3%)
Pets
10 out of 923 registered their pets with the Kennel
# of Persons stayed longer than 24 hours
Less than 5 days: 175
More than 5 days: 652
Average length of stay (in days)
Average: 14.60 (August -March)
Total # of days stayed
16,305 (from admission date to discharge date)
Substance Abuse Issues Reported:
384 (41.6%) out of 923 reported substance abuse issues
Mental Health Issues Reported
325 (35.2%) out of 923 reported mental health issues
Medical Issues Reported
369 (40.0%) out of the 923 reported medical issues.
Thank you.
James Bernat
Sr. Executive Assistant to the Chief of Police
Homeless Coordinator
Miami Police Department
RESOLUTION NO. 0/ /2015
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIAMI
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ("DDA") OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, URGING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S SUPPORT
OF THE CAMILLUS HOUSE MAT PROGRAM FOR THE CHRONIC
HOMELESS, AND REQUESTING THAT IVIIAMI-DADE COUNTY
EXPLORE FUNDING ALTERNATIVES FOR SUSTAINING THIS
INNOVATIVE PROGRAM.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami passed Resolution 14-00461 adopted on July 24, 2014 which
approved an agreement with Camillus House for the Mat Program; and
WHEREAS, the funding for this program is for one year and expires on July 31, 2015; and
WHEREAS, chronic homelessness has become a prevalent issue in Downtown Miami, but is also
a concern for Miami -Dade County as the number of unsheltered homeless individuals has increased per
the last Homeless Trust Census results conducted on January 22, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the Mat Program is an innovative solution to engaging this difficult population and
introducing them to the Continuum of Care with the ultimate goal of moving them into peiwanent
housing; and
WHEREAS, initial findings indicate that the program has proven successful in providing
shelter to the chronic homeless population that would otherwise be on the streets, and that many of
those have transitioned into the Continuum of Care (see exhibit 1).
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Board of Directors of the Miami Downtown
Development Authority of the City of Miami, Florida:
Section 1, The Miami Downtown Developments Authority of the City of Miami urges
Miami -Dade County to support the Camillus 1-louse Mat Program for the chronic homeless.
Section 2. The Miami Downtown Developments Authority of the City of Miami requests
that Miami -Dade County explore funding alternatives for sustaining this innovative program.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 20th DABDAY1RU
Corn
ATTEST:
Madelyn Raybourn
Secretary to the Board of Directors
issioner-V
. '4) ff, Chairman
4 41 11P44, 4
ro... A , Afin ° ecutive Director
Activities ufthe Camillus House Courtyard from August 1,2014toDecember 31,2O14
Provided bvPaul R.Ahr,Ph.D. Camillus House former President &CEO
January 2U,2O15
Background
On August 1, 2014 C$nn|||uS House inaugurated $ second version of its Courtyard mat -based night
shelter and day services prOgn]rn with full case management and direct services under contract
with the City of Miami. Referred to as Courtyard 2.0, this program deviates from the earlier
(Courtyard 1.0 program operational from 2007-2012) in several important ways:
l. The program has been funded to accommodate the City of Miami Police Department in carrying
out their responsibilities under the revised POttingerAQreernent.
3. All referrals are made through the City of Miami Police Department facilitated by the City of
Miami Homeless Outreach Team.
3. Persons admitted to this prVg[0n1 are expected to remain for ntleast 24 hours, dV[|nQ which
time they are classified ms"Courtyard GueStc.»
4. Guests can request an extension of up to 30 days during which time they are reclassified as
"Cam|||ua C|/ento," subject to the same rules and requirements as all other clients housed at the
Camillus House Norwegian Cruise Line Campus.
5. After approximately Z weeks in Curn|||us/ case management and activity programs, clients who
may express as desire for an extension beyond the 3Dday limit have their cases reviewed by
Camillus House staff team. Those clients who have demonstrated active involvement in
Camillus services and have expressed an interest in breaking their personal cycles of
homelessness may be recommended t0the City's Homelessness Coordinator for oD extension
of up to 30 days, which has been routinely approved.
G. Camillus Courtyard clients who are otherwise eligible for placement in more structured publicly -
supported programs (e.g., emergency, transitional nrpermanent housing) are referred to for
transfer and are placed based on standard criteria determining such placements.
The annual funding for Courtyard 2J]bset at$70OUUOfor a1OU-n»nt/c|iertprogram. The funding
for this service comes from avariety ofsources, including:
* The City VfMiami;
° The Southeast OvertovVnPark West CRA$
* The OMN|CRA;
° The Miami Downtown Development Authority; and
* Private sector donors,
Data Presentation
This report present summary statistics for the 5 month period from August 1, 2014 to December 31,
2014.
Two important metrics to be tracked with regard to the Courtyard 2.0 experience are:
l. Nights off the street —mspeoiaUy nights off the street in the DVVVDt0Vvn Miami reporting
area.
Exhibit I
2. Referrals too more structured setting, either: 3 program specifically serving persons who
are homeless; residency with family/friends; or self -supported independent living.
in the first five (5) months of its operation, there have been 784 referrals to Courtyard 2.0bv the
City of Miami. Of these 669 (85%) have been unduplicated referrals, while 115 /15YQ have been
duplicate referrals (3persons have been referred 3Unles).
Approximately 4out ofSpersons referred were male (527o[78,8%), while approximately 1out of
Swere females (140n[20,9%),and two (2)persons who have redefined their self-identity from
The average length of stay across all referrals was 14.5 nights, accounting for 11,365 nights off the
street during this five (5) month inaugural period.
Self -reported related presenting problems were recorded 8Sfollows:
Substance abuse: 256/669 persons (38%) reported substance abuse problems, with alcohol
abuse and n[ack/cocaineabuse being most provu|ent.
Medical issues: 23S/568persons (35Y6)reported medical issues, with high blood pressure being
most prevalent.
Mental illness: 219/569 persons (33Y6)repo[ted mental illness problems, with bipolar disorder
and depression being most prevalent.
The short term impact of Courtyard 2.0 is best understood in the context of the numbers of
unsheltered persons in Miami -Dade County, the City ofMiami and especially the DovVDtoVVM district
amreported bythe Miami -Dade Homeless Trust (Homeless Trust)
/n early 2014 the Homeless Trust reported that nnJanuary 23, 2014 there were 573unsheltered
persons in the City of Miami, of whom 384 (or 67% of the City total) were located in the Downtown
K4|@n1i sector. In September 2014, the Homeless Trust reported that on August 28, 2014, there
were 488 unsheltered persons in the City of Miami of vvhono 282 (or 36YS of the City total) were
located in the Downtown K4|an0| sector. On August 28, 2014, 95 persons spent the night |nthe
Camillus Courtyard.
1/14/14
Street Count
8/78/ 4
Street Count
Difference
1/14Vs8/28
Courtyard Census
8/28/14
County
836
792
-44
95
City ofMiami
573
488
-85
35
Downtown Miami
384
282
-102
96
Between August 12014and December 31,2O14, 30%(169 out of the 556) of persons who were
discharged or left Courtyard 2.0 were referred to a more structured setting consisting Of either: a
pnngnynl specifically 6*n/in8 persons who are homeless; residency with family/friends; or self -
supported independent living.
Exhibit
Additional considerations.
The ongoing
need for low
demand
emergency
shelter imwell
documented.
We are
engaging
homelessness
not enabling
Despite the ongoing criticism of the Courtyard approach by some policy maker ' 5,
other stakeholders hold odiff8nBnt New. "Increase the number of low -demand
emergency beds sUthat people do not have to sleep in out-of-doors locations"
was listed otthe #1 recommendation to the Miami -Dade County Homeless Trust
in the 2009 evaluation study conducted by the University of Central Florida's
Institute for Social and Behavioral Sciences. This recommendation was substan-
tiated bythe following finding: "The nan)e|Oing need is mostly for |0w'd8no@nd
emergency shelter to house shelter -resistant street people. Practically every
stakeholder emphasized the needfor more low -demand beds," (emphasis added)
The availability Vfextremely low demand shelter and wrap -around services is @
good use of scarce tax dollars and solution -oriented ohUanthropy. It is RV0d for
the man or woman who is homeless, and for the local property owners who have
become the de facto shalteraxy for the persons spending the night on their
private properties,
Immediately reducing street homelessness in downtown Miami first by 25% and
sequentially by 10096 over approximately 36 months (projections range between
3Oand 44months) will benefit many: the persons who are homeless, downtown
residents and workers, and tourist -related businesses, especially nighttime
venues such as restaurants, In the latter case, increased patronage will result in
higher food and beverage taxes benefitting the Homeless Trust and persons who
are homeless in Miami -Dade County.
Critics ofthe Camillus Courtyard program tend to dismiss itas8 program that
"enables homelessness," Rather than enabling homelessness, the extremely low
demand Courtyard programs (both 1.Oand 2J}) have been an effective tool for
engaging hurVakessnens. FVQn$| research should be invited to document the
positive effects of the Courtyard approach, especially the demographics and
c||n|o$| characteristics of Courtyard clients, with special attention to the needs of
persons who have been admitted three /3\ormore times.
The Courtyard program will yield important information on the needs and
pathways out ofhomelessness for persons who are unable to access or benefit
from the current continuum of care. By functioning as a new lower rung on the
CoDtiOuUrD ladder, some individuals who have been inaccessible tothe full array
of services available in Miami -Dade County, will be able to begin to make their
ascent to productive and dignified ||Vin0. Entering Courtyard client data into the
County HK8|Soyatenn should facilitate good research efforts.
Well documented results will also prove to be instructive to social science experts
whose research activities are set In communities where there are larger per
capita populations of persons who are homeless and have higher |evg|o of
functioning than many or most of the persons ut||| residing on the streets of the
Exhibit
It istime to
promote
unconventional
solutions to
ending chronic
homelessness
designed to
address the
unconventional
problems of
chronic
homelessness.
One instructive example is New York City, vVh8[g the success of its Interventions
to end chronic homelessness have been highly touted, but where the number of
homeless New Yorkers sleeping each night in municipal shelters is reported to be
7196 higher than In January 2002, when former Mayor Bloomberg took office. In
New York City, more than 111,000 different homeless men, women, and children
slept in thotC|t/s municipal shelter system in 2013.
These are some 0fthe unconventional problems nfchronic homelessness:
w Some nfthe 30%ofpersons who are chronically homeless who have aserious
and persistent mental U|n8ox are not so much treatment resistant as
engagement resistant,
w Some ofthe 6096Vfpersons who are chronically hom8|a3o and who have 8
serious addiction are likely to continue to use and party without the
expectation that they will lose their tax -supported housing.
� Some persons are undocumented and have noviable means ofsupport.
* Some persons, regardless of their homelessness, cannot or would not prefer
to live alone in e scattered -site apartment.
� Some persons living alone suffer from isolation and loneliness.
� Some persons who are formerly homeless are aging in place in scattered site
apartments.
Here are some unconventional solutions to these problems:
* Support Of 8xtreOl8|v low demand "entry level" rdQhd and day outreach
programs such asthe Camillus Courtyard, and overnight caf6s.
• Expanded funding for permanent housing, especially for clinically -focused
programs such asAssertive Community Treatment /ACT\Teams.
v Expanded State funding for mental illness and substance abuse services
through the General Fund aMdMedicaid,
* Expanded application of the St8te's involuntary outpatient commitment
statutes,
* Federal funding for services for persons who are homeless and undocumen-
ted patterned after the U3 Department of Justice's State Criminal Allen
Assistance Program /SCAAPl.
in the end, we VNU solve the problem of street homelessness in Miami -Dade
County when two conditions prevail:
* there |umvalid continuum ufcare that incorporates awell thought-out variety
of intervention approaches and one vvh|uh leverages local tax dollars to
support |ono||y relevant interventions not underwritten by Federal or State
agencies; and
w there is a vital Cnnt/n:uyn of caring, vVh|rh includes business owners, law
enforcement, elected officials, appointed officials as well as providers of
services, all committed to being the first city and metropolitan area in
America tDend chronic homelessness,