Dear Council Members,
I am writing in regard to Item 10, the SAVS quarterly report.
I appreciate the honesty and transparency of the report. It clearly documents the struggles that are implicit in trying to staff and operate a facility which requires significant professional expertise and training.
SAVS has undergone many personnel changes in the last year, which are clearly documented in their previous reports. In addition, it seems that SAVS has used the Horizon Shine pilot project to refine its methods. It appears that helping people transition out of homelessness is a labor and time intensive project requiring a significant amount of trained staff.
It also appears that it requires constant vigilance to stop other problems from occurring in the surrounding areas.
I am concerned about the expulsion of 4 members for violent behavior. This is detailed on page 5:
“Four clients were asked to leave due to violence or safety problems. The incidents are described in summary below:
Client 1 - Escalated an argument into physical assault, then used a bat to pound on trailers and a car.
Entered other people’s homes without permission.
Client 2 - Threw an ashtray at a gate monitor who was doing a visitor check causing an injury that required medical attention.
Client 3 - Interfered with policy enforcement, verbally assaulted staff and encouraged other villagers to threaten staff and police officer, physically assaulted a staff member.
Client 4 – Escalated an argument into physical assault and verbally threated staff members when told he would have to leave.
All of these actions were violations of our rule against violence at the village and the perpetrators were asked to leave. All of the victims declined to press charges.” Where do these people go when they are expelled? Are they still in the community, the neighborhoods, the parks? If they exhibit violent behavior, shouldn’t they be committed to a program to help them with their behavior?
If SAVS is expelling people without finding them proper treatment, it is extremely worrisome for our community. This means that we have people without stability and treatment who tend toward violent reactions left to their own devices in our community.
Can Council please address this issue?
In several correspondences, I have asked for an exit plan for the SAVS residents. Horizons Shine is slated to end in June 2023, which is less than 3 months away. It appears that SAVS has hired new case managers and more staff. What is the exit plan for this facility? When Council approved this in December 2021 (a year after converting the Sebastopol Inn to homeless housing), citizens were told that the site would close in December 2022. That date was extended.
Funding ends in June 2023. What is the exit strategy? The document shows that SAVS has accepted new people. Shouldn’t they be transitioning people out to permanent housing as the site is slated to close? As it is extremely difficult to place people, it seems that SAVS should not be accepting any new residents.
It appears that SAVS has not concentrated on finding new locations for their residents. What will people do when the site closes?
Thank you,
Kate Haug