TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH:
FROM: Steve Powers, City Manager
SUBJECT:
title
Temporary nighttime shelter
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Safe Community; Safe, Welcoming and Livable Community.
end
ISSUE:
Update City Council on efforts to add temporary nighttime shelter.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Direct staff to prepare an emergency resolution allowing increased occupancy for the Safe Sleep shelter.
body
SUMMARY:
If approved by Council, staff will bring back an emergency declaration for Council’s consideration that would allow the temporary waiver of land use restrictions allowing increased occupancy at Safe Sleep shelter from 10 beds to 19 beds. Safe Sleep is a shelter for women.
An emergency declaration avoids land-use and zoning changes that would take several months, and would be subject to appeal, further delaying implementation. Instead, Council may declare an emergency based on the need for shelter for a limited duration and specify the location for a temporary shelter or shelters. The declaration could include other locations, such as Pringle Hall.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Efforts to add sheltering capacity beyond Safe Sleep have been unsuccessful. If Council chooses to add sheltering Pringle Hall is the most viable choice for this year. Located in Pringle Park, on Church Street, SE, abutting the north and west boundaries of the Salem Hospital, Pringle Hall is used for a variety of community events and private functions. The building is suitable for shelter use. The building has capacity for up to 37 people to be sheltered overnight. The building has restrooms and kitchen facilities.
Use as a shelter would require canceling up to 45 events scheduled from January 13 to March 31, 2020.
Arches would add Pringle Hall to the warming center network upon the declaration of an emergency and issuance of an order to implement the declaration. The recommended duration is through March 31, 2020. The recommended hours for shelter use, including preparation and clean-up, are 6:00 pm to 7:00 am.
A temporary shelter at Pringle Hall is not allowed under the City’s zoning regulations.
If Council directs staff to move forward with a temporary shelter, staff will return to Council on January 27th with an emergency declaration waiving the zoning requirements and designating the specific site or sites.
In addition, the United Way is operating the Safe Sleep Shelter, which is a low-barrier shelter for women, located at 1910 Front Street. The shelter currently has approval for up to ten women and has capacity for up to 19. United Way is proceeding through the land use process to obtain conditional use approval to allow up to 19 women to stay at the shelter. The emergency declaration would include a specific temporary authorization for the Safe Sleep Shelter to operate at the 19 women capacity.
BACKGROUND:
On December 9, 2019, Council authorized up to $213,000 to support expanded warming center capacity in the city. The expansion of warming centers did not occur, and Arches and City staff are trying to identify feasible options for a temporary shelter or other more permanent options.
Steve Powers
City Manager
Attachments:
None.