Standing Committee on Homelessness
April 19, 2024
Special Meeting Minutes
The April 19, 2024 Standing Committee on Homelessness was called to order by Chair Melendez at 8:33 am in City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California.
Committee Members Present:
Deputy Mayor Katie Melendez, Chair
Mayor John Franklin, Vice Chair
Staff Present
John Conley, City Manager
Walter Chung, City Attorney
Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager
Bevely Roxas, Assistant City Attorney
Kallison Leahy, Assistant City Clerk
Jonathan Lung, Homeless Services Program Manager
Eric Bunge, Housing Program Manager
Pledge of Allegiance
Chair Melendez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Approved the March 21, 2024, meeting minutes.
D1. Housing and Tenants
Chair Melendez introduced the item.
Homeless Services Program Manager Jonathan Lung.
Committee members and staff discussed the following:
• Tenants’ rights and fair housing issues within the City • Private parties experiencing tenant/landlord issues are encouraged to call CSA Fair Housing directly.
• Code Enforcement does not have authority to investigate complaints regarding issues that fall outside of the Vista Municipal Code. Those complaints are referred to the appropriate authority to investigate.
• Process to document calls that come in for housing referrals. • Request for a representative from the California Civil Rights Department to provide the Committee with a presentation on fair employment and housing.
D2. Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) Overview Tamera Kohler, CEO of Regional Task Force on Homelessness, provided a presentation.
Standing Commission on Homelessness
April 19, 2024
2 Committee members and Ms. Kohler discussed the following:
• Alternative ways to prioritize housing beyond Coordinated Entry System (CES) and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
• HUD methodology of prioritizing access to housing resources and database. o Chair Melendez requested further information on how HUD or CES prioritize
• Prioritization tools are public.
• Privacy standards and limitations of HMIS.
• Important to put requested data points in negotiated contracts with providers. • RTFH data is historically collected and organized by providers, not by regions.
Data on Vista unsheltered residents is limited to Vista service providers. As of October 2023, RTFH will be adding GIS location as a data point. • RTFH uses a glossary of standard terms as outlined by HUD. • Service providers are the only ones who have access to client data. • RTFH funds outreach services and permanent housing but does not fund shelters. Continuum of Care (CoC) is funded for the entire County. • RTFH is available to help the City with updating standardized language and drafting and preparing scope of work details in contracts. • Coordinated Entry System (CES) is a system only used for permanent housing and is critical for individuals to register with San Diego County Health & Human Services. The CES permanent housing list is organized by order in line, not by priority of needs.
• Lack of housing resources is largest factor in waitlist times in CES. • Shared Housing Model and co-habitable living arrangements are a priority • Direct staff to explore resources co-habitable housing options coordinated through RTFH.
• Chair Melendez noted possibly collaborating with Tribal communities and advocating for alternative housing options.
• RTFH will work with staff to design database.
o Vice Chair Franklin would like data to see what programs are achieving results for permanent supportive housing.
• Discussed unique identifiers
• RTFH will return to their Board with Committee’s comments
D3. General Homelessness Updates
Program Manager Lung provided a report on updates.
• There will be a resource fair on April 26 at the Vista Village Transit Center. • Humanity Showers outreach is being moved to All Saints Episcopal Church and will be open every other Friday from 8:00-11:00 a.m.
• BCNC update as of April 12:
o 41 clients receiving services – 33 client from Vista
o 8 pets on site
o 4 positive and 6 negative exits from Vista clients
Standing Commission on Homelessness
April 19, 2024
3 5 negative exits were self-exits and one was for violation of rules o 3 open beds for Vista clients
• Request for information on how many BCNC clients have spent time at other shelters.
• Request for information to see if we are getting participants closer to their goal. • Request for data point of tracking the number of stays and time spent by each individual.
• Request for BCNC clients to share experience with the Committee at the next meeting.
• Exit survey draft being finalized and will be circulated for approval. The surveys will be submitted directly to the City.
• Request to hear from BCNC staff with monthly updates at each Committee meeting.
Adjournment
Chair Melendez adjourned the meeting at 11:00 am