From: Trish Spencer
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: Fwd: VOL Contract questions
Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2024 4:01:37 PM
Attachments: VOL staff organization and bio.pdf
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>
Date: Jun 4, 2024 3:13 PM
Subject: VOL Contract questions
To: Trish Spencer <[email protected]>
Cc: Lisa Fitts <[email protected]>,Jennifer Ott <[email protected]> Hello Councilmember Herrera Spencer,
CM Ott shared your questions with me regarding the Village of Love contract questions. These are the responses:
1. Does staff monitor the services being provided by VOL? Does staff perform unannounced visits to VOL facilities?
Absolutely. We conduct an annual formal monitoring with VOL in addition to regular, ongoing monitoring through both scheduled and mostly unannounced visits. Staff visits VOL facilities at least once weekly and usually more often.
2. Does staff conduct exit interviews of people leaving the safe parking and other shelters operated by VOL?
Formal exit interviews are challenging given the transience of the people served, however staff talks regularly to people at VOL facilities. We check in with them frequently and provide staff contact so people can reach out to meet with staff directly. Staff meets with the facility users one on one upon request.
3. Do we have a CV for Joey or any of the managers at VOL? Standard procedure is to require a short biography of key staff as part of the proposal. Attached are the pages with that information.
Thank you,
Amy
Amy Wooldridge, she/her
Assistant City Manager
[email protected]
(510) 747-4709
4.TeamOrganizationandDescription:
EachstaffmemberatTheVillageofLovehasworkedwiththeunshelteredinvaryingcapacities,includingprovidingstreetoutreach,providingdirectassistancewithinTheDayCenter/SafeParkingprograms,managingtransitionalhousingfacilities,providingcasemanagement,facilitatinghomelesssupportgroupsandclasses,organizingoutreachevents,streetcleanup,andworkingwithotherlocalorganizationstoprovidewraparoundservicesfortheunsheltered.
Weunderstandthattoattainthegoalofoutreach,workingtogetherwiththeotherorganizationsiscrucial.TheVillageofLoveHomelessOutreachTeam,DayCenter, SafeParking,OvernightandEmergencySupportiveHousingprograms,workcloselyandeffectivelywithChristChurchWinterwarmingshelter, ChristChurchonsiteshowerprogram,211andtheHomelesshotline,DineandConnect,andtheMobileHealthUnit.
Thatis,TheVillageofLove,plusfiveotherorganizations,comingtogethertoprovideanumbrellaofservicesfortheunsheltered.Whichmeanstheunshelteredtowhichweoutreach,willbeabletofullyutilizeallservicesprovidedatTheVillageofLove(spendthedayindoors,sleepinsideovernight,sleepintheirvehicle,receivereferralstosocialservices),deliberateonissuesrelatedtothehomeless,haveaccesstosleepinside,haveaplacetoshower,utilizeafreepubliccalllinetofindorganizationsthatcanassistthemwithsocialservices,etc.,receiveameal,receivefreemedicalcare,linkagesandreferralstocommunityresources.
Ifonegroupdoesn’tparticipate,vitalservicesbecomenearlyimpossibletopulloff.Toassisttheunsheltered,werelyonlocalorganizationsworkingtogethertowardssimilargoals.
Ourteamiscomposedofmemberswhoaresupportedbyeachother,worktowardsinterchangeableachievements,andsharecommonattainments.Inordertosuccessfullyachievethegoals,thisrequiresteamwork,coordination,opencommunication,andmostofall,patience.
TheprincipalContactisJoeyHarrison,ExecutiveDirectorofTheVillageofLoveFoundation.
OrganizationalChartTheVillageofLoveFoundationHomelessOutreachTeam JoeyHarrison,ExecutiveDirector↓JerriForriest,DirectorofOperations↓AlbertBurrus,RegionalDirector↓RajScott,ProgramDirector↓HomelessOutreachMentalHealthCaseManagerHomelessOutreachTeamMember 4|Page
5.KeyStaff/TeamExperience:
TheHomelessOutreachTeamMembersreceivetrainingonthespecificdutiesandtasksrequired.TheHomelessOutreachTeamMembersaregoalorientedandsupportoneanotherwithinanintegratedsystem.Aspartoftheoutreachteam,theyvisitencampmentsdailyandmakeregularcontactwiththeunshelteredandassistinprovidingsupplies,informationandperformingonsiteassessments.Theyworktobuildtrustingrelationshipswiththeunsheltered,toencouragethemtobereceptivetoservices.Asfrontlineworkers,theyhaveasignificantunderstandingoftheunshelteredcommunity. Theyregularlyengageandassistunshelteredindividualswithservicesandprovideresourcesandreferralstootheragencies,asneeded.TheOutreachTeamworkershavegreatcommunicationandtimemanagementskills,andworkwellwithcommunityorganizations.
EssentialteammembersofTheVillageofLoveFoundation,include:
JoeyHarrison ExecutiveDirector, TheVillageofLoveFoundation InhisroleastheOperationsDirectorattheTemescalBusinessImprovementDistrict,hestartedasuccessfulhomelessoutreachprogramaswellastrainedandledtheoutreachteamindowntown Berkeley. Joeyalsohelpedtotraintheoutreachteamsinuptown/downtownOaklandandinSanFranciscoTenderloindistrict.JoeywasslatedtospeakonapanelwiththerenownedKerryMorrisonandtheesteemedDr. ThomasInsel,attheCDA,CaliforniaDowntownAssociationConferenceinMarch2020attheWestCoastUrbanDistrictForum.FromtheOaklandPoliceDepartment,JoeywasawardedtheChief’sCertificateofCommendationforhisleadershipandworkinthecommunity.
Mr. Harrisoncreatedade-escalationtrainingprogramandhaspresentedtrainingforbusinessImprovementdistrictsinTemescal,UptownDowntownOakland,JackLondon,Tenderloin,DowntownSanLeandro,UnionSquareInSanFrancisco,BerkeleyTelegraph,DowntownBerkeley, OptionsRecovery, SOMAWest,andtheCityofAlameda.
AsOperationsDirectorfortheTemescalBusinessprogram,Joeyhelpeddevelop,andwasthelead,inthepilotcommunityengagementprogramfortheunsheltered.Thisprogramwasasuccessandisnowafundedprograminthedistrict.
Joeyhasexperienceasahousemanager, havingheldthatpositionatOptionsRecoverywherehemanaged32clients.
Mr. HarrisonworkedcloselywithpsychiatristsandcasemanagersastheleadonapilotprogramforAlamedaCountyBehavioralHealthServicesOaklandCommunitySupportCenter(OCSC),withSMI(seriousmentalillness)focus,assistingthosewhohavementalhealthchallenges,helpingthemachievetheirgoalsbyprovidingoutpatientcasemanagementservices.Thispilotprogrambeganwith4clientsandgrewtoover30regularclients,withfacilitiesinmultiplelocations 5|Page
JoeyrecentlyreceivedtheChiefAccommodationsaward,aswellastheHorizonSMSHoldingsAward,inNashville,Tennessee,forhisworkinthecommunity.
JoeywasselectedbyformerOaklandMayorLibbySchaff,tositonthenewlyformedOaklandHomelessCommission.
Mr. HarrisonalsositsontheOaklandDistrictLeadersHomelessCoalitionSteeringCommittee.
JerriForriest DirectorofOperations,TheVillageofLoveFoundation Jerri’sbackgroundincludesOfficeManagerforWIC,ExecutiveAdministratorforHealthyStart,OperationsManagerofCrescentCityCareerInstituteMedicalCareerSchool,OperationsCoordinatorforRunWithUs,asocialandlifeeducationaltravelgroupforwomeninrecovery;orwhohaveexperiencedtrauma,FrontOfficeAssistantofPegasusMentalHealthDayTreatmentCenter,CommunityOrganizerandPublicEventFacilitator.
Ms.Forriesthasoverseenoperationalactivitiesateverylevelofanorganization.Responsibilitiesincludedhiringandtrainingemployeesandmanagingqualityassuranceprograms,strategizingprocessimprovements,budgetmaintenance,developingcommunityrelationships,developingprocessesandproceduresandensuringoperationswithinafastpacedorganization.
Ms.Forriestisa Consultant,CertifiedMedicaidApplicationSpecialist,anEKGTechnicianandCertifiedinCPRandFirstAid.
Ms.ForriestfacilitatesTheVillageofLoveweeklypop-updistributioneventfortheunsheltered,guidingunshelteredsupportgroups,distributingclothing,food,hygienesuppliesandresourceinformationtotheunshelteredcommunity.
AlbertBurruss RegionalDirector, TheVillageofLoveFoundation Mr. Burrus’backgroundincludesOperationsManager, GeneralManager, BranchOperationsManager, Multi-unitOperationsandPersonnelManagerandOperationsandSafetyManager Mr. Burrusshadbeenresponsibleforthedailyoversightofa32-personteaminmultiplelocations,maintainingcurrentbudgetedrevenueandmanagingamultimillion-dollarannualbudget.Heoversawrecruitment,hiring,training,continuousdevelopmentofallstaff,disciplinaryactions,andgrowthofbusinessthroughinternalefficienciesandimprovements.
AsGeneralManagerofBlockbyBlock–Oakland,Mr.Burrusswasresponsibleforthedailyguidanceanddirectionofa45-personteam;Performancemanagement,Recruitmentandselectionofemployees,whichledtoa119%reductioninturnover. HeTrained,coached,andmentoredemployeestocreateacohesiveteamofsecurityandmaintenanceintheambassadorsrepresentingDowntownwhoperformedStreetOutreach. 6|Page
HiscollectiveeffortsincludehavingcollaboratedwithcommunitypartnersincludingtheCityofOakland,OaklandPoliceDepartment,securityproviders,publicoutreachandmentalhealthorganizations,andstakeholderstofacilitatevitalcityfunctions.
Mr. BurrusshasactedasaliaisonforthedistrictwiththeCityofSanJose,improvingcommunityawarenessandrelationsandhehasactivelyparticipatedintheChamberofCommerce,byholdingaBoardDirectorrole.
RajScott ProgramDirector, TheVillageofLoveDayFoundation Mr. ScottoverseesTheVillageofLove’sprogramsandprogrammanagers.HeworkscloselywithourDayCenter/SafeParkingmanagement,EmergencySupportiveHousingmanagement,andtheBerkeleySacredRestDropIn Centermanager.
HehasyearsofexperienceasHousemanageratOptionsrecovery.Hisextensiveexperienceincludespeersupport,groupleadership,counseling,andcoaching.
Inadditiontohismanagementexperience,Mr. Scotthehaslivedexperience,havingbeenhomelessforaperiodoftime.Heisabletorelatetotheneedsoftheunshelteredandhasdevelopedwaysandmethodstomotivate.
ReginaJames MentalHealthCaseManager(FullTime)
AspartoftheHomelessOutreachTeam,Reginaisresponsibleformanagingclientswithcriticalmentalhealthconditions.SheworkstoconnecttheseclientswithAlamedaFamilyServices,casemanagers,andtheircareteam,toprovidehigherlevelcareformentalhealthclients.
ReginabringsawealthofexperiencetotheOutreachteam,havingworkedpreviouslyasasubstanceabusecounseloranddetoxspecialist.Shehasyearsofexperienceworkingwithlowincomefamiliesandindividuals.Sheisskilledinrelapseprevention,substanceabusetreatmentplans,conflictresolutions,andpsychosocialassessments.
ElbertMcBride HomelessOutreachWorker(FullTime)
AspartoftheHomelessOutreachTeam,Elbertprovidesclientswithridestoessentialappointmentsandservices,aswellastotheVillageofLove’sAlamedaDayCenter.HerespondstocallstoourHomelessOutreachTeam’sphone,andregularlychecksonclients,offeringtobringthemtotheCenterandSafeParkingprograms.
Elbertbringsyearsofexperienceworkingwiththeunshelteredcommunity, havingworkedasacounseloratYouthUprisingandasacareproviderforIHSS.Hisprofessionalgoalistopursuea 7|Page
careerassistingindividualsthatstrugglewitheverydayliving,andhelpthemfindsuccessandsecurity.
SharonGambles HomelessOutreachWorker(PartTime)
AspartoftheHomelessOutreachTeam,Sharonprovidesclientswithridestoessentialappointmentsandservices,aswellastotheVillageofLove’sAlamedaDayCenter.SherespondstocallstoourHomelessOutreachTeam’sphone,andregularlychecksonclients,offeringtobringthemtotheCenterandSafeParkingprograms.
SharonhasyearsofexperienceworkingasaPeerAdvocateatUCSFMedicalCenterandLyonMartinMedicalAssociates,andbringsexpertiseinworkingwithHIVpositiveclients.ShealsoworkedasaSubstanceAbuseCounseloratHaightAshburyCenterforRecovery,whereshesupportedNAandAAmeetingsandtherecoveryofHIVpositiveindividualsdealingwithsubstanceabuse.Sheisskilledinaddictioncounseling,casemanagement,behavioralhealth,andcrisisintervention. 8|Page