Berkeley Food & Housing Project’s Women’s Shelter
Temporary Location Request during a Building Rehabilitation Project Summary
Berkeley Food and Housing Project (BFHP) Women’s Shelter has been in operation since 1992, and provides warm, clean beds, freshly prepared daily meals, and support services to help each client overcome their barriers to housing. Unlike many shelters which only operate overnight, our facility operates 24/7 so clients have a safe place to stay during the day while they work toward independence.
The primary goals of the Women’s Shelter are to provide immediate, safe shelter for women in need of urgent support, and then to work with each client to identify and remove barriers to housing and independence. Support services include help identifying and applying for affordable housing opportunities, securing employment and/or benefits (disability, Social Security, CalFresh, etc.), accessing physical and mental health care, and case management to work through any other unique barriers. For example, we may help women who had to leave their homes due to domestic violence to attain restraining orders. This program is funded through Alameda County and the City of Berkeley.
At full capacity, BFHP can provide shelter, food, and support for 32 women at a time. The BFHP Women’s Shelter location experienced a fire in November 2022 and would like to relocate temporarily to this location in Emeryville.
Organization Summary
BFHP’s mission is to ease and end the crisis of homelessness in our communities. We believe that safe housing is a fundamental human right and envision communities where everyone has access to affordable housing. Our core goals are to (1) provide support, including access to fresh healthy food, as clients work toward independence; (2) help clients obtain permanent housing as quickly as possible; and (3) provide ongoing support to help clients remain employed and in their homes. Our core values are equity, diversity, inclusion, community, and transparency.
BFHP is one of the leading homeless service providers in the Bay Area. We carry out our mission by providing emergency food and shelter, street outreach, rapid re-housing, employment support, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing with services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness including linkages to medical and behavioral health resources. We also provide specialized programming for those with serious mental illness and other disabilities, and for Veterans and their families.
Impact and Demographics
In the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year, the Women’s Shelter served a total of 37 women; 46% of these women are aged 62 or older, 60% are Black, and 90% have a disability. Due to the nature of the program as an emergency intervention, clients do not always remain in contact with BFHP when they leave the program, thus it is difficult to accurately track client exits from the program. However, we can confirm that 14% of clients in the Women’s Shelter transitioned to permanent housing last year, and with the addition of a dedicated Shelter Case Manager, we project that all women will have a Housing Plan within Attachment 1
10 days of entry, and during their stay will attain the documents needed to attain housing, employment, and benefits (ID, social security card, copy of birth certificate, etc.).
Proposed Building Operations and Supervision
The program will operate at that location for 6-8 months as a temporary location during the rehabilitation of Berkeley Food and Housing’s Dwight Way property that was damaged by a fire in late 2022. Once Dwight Way is rehabbed completely, and we have our occupancy permit, we would close this proposed temporary location.
Existing shelter and transitional housing beds are insufficient to meet the needs of homeless individuals, especially women in the North County. As a result, there are over 120 individuals sleeping on the streets of North County each night. This emergency shelter will provide safety and stability for up to 32 women experiencing homelessness at one time along with the resources and services to permanently end their homelessness. The Women’s Shelter will provide support and housing services including shelter, hot meals, and case management to support finding and securing permanent housing.
The building will be used for the Women’s shelter for up to 32 individuals at any time. The shelter will be operated by Berkeley Food and Housing, a well-established homeless services agency in the Bay Area that has been providing shelter to homeless populations since 1986.
The shelter will remain open to clients during the day. Day time staffing will also include on site housing navigation (case management). This former recreation center is easily converted to a space that is comfortable for the unhoused individuals. A large room inside the shelter will be designated as a community space for shelter participants. There is also ample outdoor space available in the rear of the building, shielded from the street and neighboring buildings by a fence. A second large room inside the shelter will function as a living room/ dining room/ meeting room. A microwave and refrigerator will be provided for individuals on site and full meals will be prepared off site and delivered to the shelter each day. The shelter will also have storage bins for residents to keep belongings organized within their assigned sleeping area. The shelter will meet all applicable federal, state and life safety regulations that pertain to an emergency shelter. Trash, recycling and composting services will be in place. Bins will be covered and kept in a locked area on the 43rd street side of the property for pick up. A washer and dryer will be made available on site for clients with designated laundry hours.
A shower trailer (See Attachment B) with approximately three shower stalls will be installed on the eastern side of the building.
BFHP partners with Alameda County’s Coordinated Entry System for assessments and placement into the shelter. Persons needing a shelter bed can be assessed at one of the County’s Housing Resource Centers or by calling 211. BFHP staff will complete shelter intakes onsite for same day placements. Enrollments are completed by appointment which prevents any need for people to line up or wait outside the facility.
With the shelter being open 24 hours, 7 days a week there are no lines or people in queue waiting to enter the facility. The average length of stay for each client is 90 days.
The program employs seven full time staff, including a full-time program manager. Staff is onsite 24 hours, seven days a week to interact with program participants and to ensure the safety of the participants, the building and the neighborhood.
Estimated parking demand for the site staff varies by shift:
Day Shift (8:00A – 4:30P) – 5 Staff parking spots;
Afternoon/Evening Shift (3:30P-12:00A) – 3 Staff parking spots; Overnight Shift (12:00A – 8:30A) – 3 Staff parking spots; Many staff and clients will also make use of public transportation (BART, Emeryville Go-Round, Bus) and BFHP staff will assist clients with transit passes whenever possible. There will be daily deliveries of meals for clients (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and weekly deliveries of supplies. Those will occur from the 43rd Street entrance which will have a specified delivery zone. We anticipate less than two clients will need to utilize parking.
Given the temporary nature of this property use and the potential limited frequency of such deliveries, we do not believe there will be a need for special signage.
Berkeley Food & Housing Project
Long Term Rental Requote
Emeryville, CA 94608
1/25/23
Portable Restroom Trailers, LLC
WOSB Certied
Disadvantaged, Small Business Enterprise
DUNS: 806679325
CAGE Code: 4VAL5
TIN: 26-0516406
NAICS: 56291
Prepared For
Samantha Burrows
Berkeley Food & Housing Project
[email protected]
**Quote expires February 10, 2023;
Subject to availability;
Created By
Ivy Hartzok
[email protected]
Pricing
*7 Months*
ADA + 2 Station Portable Shower/Restroom Combo
Trailer with Heat & A.C.(or similar trailer): CA Compliant.
Code B. Unit to be setup in fenced, secure location.
Keyed access upon request.
7 Month rental. 1 Month = 4 weeks. Minimum 7
months required. Rental to start up to 20 business
days from signed rental agreement & deposit for
7 months. Subject to availability.
*Minimum 2-3 power cords 120V DEDICATED 30 AMP
WITHIN 30 FT OF TRAILER
*Quote expires February 10, 2023
*All rental agreements to be completed & deposit up
to 20 business days prior to rental
$6,990/month
Minimum 7 months
*Toilets will be removed or covered
*To secure, signed rental agreement &
deposit needed ASAP
*Lessee to verify janitorial,
cleaning & restocking services,
multiple times per day for
trailer during rental period
*Cannot cut or modify cords
Initial Fill of Propane Tanks: $123 per tank $246
*Lessee to monitor & rell tanks when
needed
*Empty tanks can damage trailer
Delivery & Set Up: $495
**Due to fuel increases, there may be an
added surcharge
Breakdown & Removal: $495
**Due to fuel increases, there may be an
added surcharge
*7 Months*
Rental Security Deposit: $600*
Refundable
Trailer to be cleaned prior to pickup &
keys returned
*No refund of deposit if
tape has been applied to
exterior of trailer
Lessee to have licensed plumber to connect unit direct to sewer. FINAL RINSE OUT $675 & UP.
Lessee to verify janitorial, cleaning & restocking services, multiple times per day for trailer during rental period. Trailer must be kept in secured area during rental period and locked when not in use.
Lessee is responsible for maintenance & repairs, provide power cords & heated garden hose. Lessee is responsible for monitoring/refilling propane tanks.
Any electrical modifications must be pre-approved by PRT. ** The Above Quote limited to availability. Rentals are plus applicable sales tax. • Insurance accord required, with Portable Restroom Trailers listed as additionally insured • Garden hose with good water pressure of 45-65 lbs. per sq. inch with water source within 50 ft of trailer **A deposit is required to secure your date.
**Sales tax additional or tax exempt certicate required