2019-122 Homeless EncampmentsDate: June 14, 2019 Report No. 2019-122
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL SUBJECT: On May 14, 2019, Council Member Meltzer requested a high-level analysis comparing cleanup of homeless encampments to providing some services, such as providing and servicing portable toilets and dumpsters, for these sites.
DISCUSSION: In the last two years, the City has monitored, evaluated, and cleaned up three encampment sites following significant health and safety issues: Pebblebrook Park in November 2017, North Lakes
Park in March 2019, and Loop 288 Bridge Area in May 2019. The clean-up of North Lakes Park
cost $2,280 and the estimated cost for Loop 288 clean-up is $7,000. The question posed is if it would be less expensive to provide portable toilets and a dumpster to site locations from the beginning rather than performing clean-ups; however, there are many
factors to this question, including the sanctioning of encampments and the specific location
factors. If the City provides any services, it could mean that the City is sanctioning the encampment and permitting individuals to live outdoors at that site on City property. This presents significant risk
and liability concerns to the City, in addition to other considerations:
• The City assumes liability for individuals staying or interacting with the site, including the potential hazards for fires, communicable illness, or criminal activity;
• It would be challenging to determine a distinction for where it is and where it is not
acceptable to live unsheltered on public property and what sites receive services and what
sites do not. There can be many scattered throughout the community that differ in size and location;
• Providing services at encampments may increase the unsheltered population or detract
from the goal of connecting individuals to shelters – where they are sheltered from the
elements, provided supportive services, provided meals, restrooms, and safety, and can begin work with a case manager for a path to housing;
• Prioritizing investment of limited resources – since this strategy has little direct impact on
reducing homelessness, resources should focus on what does end homelessness – access
to safe, stable permanent housing;
• Investing in and sanctioning encampments may risk losing current and potential community partners who may want to support shelter and housing, but not encampments;
• It would need to be determined of how and when a site, once sanctioned, could be closed without potential legal implications;
• It is unknown what new issues could emerge that would become the responsibility of the City of Denton.
To look at providing services such as portable toilets and dumpsters and estimating a site cost, the following should be considered:
Date: June 14, 2019 Report No. 2019-122
• Most encampment sites are not regularly accessible, conducive to placing equipment, or getting heavier trucks and labor to the site to conduct ongoing maintenance. Each site
would need to be looked at to determine what equipment may be needed and how daily or weekly maintenance could take place.
• For example, trash receptacles and portable toilets would not have been an option in the recent Loop 288 site which was in a heavily wooded area with limited access by foot
only. Even for the one-time clean-up of this site, contractor trucks will be temporarily parked with permission on an adjacent parking lot on private property. Workers will have to move back and forth from the site to the parking lot where trucks are located for disposal.
• While offering equipment like trash receptacles and portable toilets in areas where people
may be living unsheltered may reduce trash and refuse, it is unknown if it will actually prevent large accumulations of trash and other waste.
• Homelessness can be transient and mobile. It would be difficult to right-size the amount
of equipment sufficient to meet the needs of different sites with changing populations.
Specifically it would be difficult to identify the number of sites to service with questions including: what is the number of people at a site that makes it cost effective to service this way; how much equipment will actually prevent large accumulations of trash and other waste; how to provide sufficient ongoing maintenance of equipment; how often
would the equipment need to be replaced due to use, normal wear and tear, and/or
intentional damage; and what information and staff resources would be needed in order to decide how and when to shift equipment as active sites become inactive.
• It could prove to be have higher costs over time. While the direct cost can be estimated
for a site, there is much that is unknown like those described above that would have
associated indirect costs. Current Process to Monitor and Perform Outreach Currently, we have a structured and defined process to address specific health and safety
concerns.
• Building trust with Street Outreach Program – i.e. Nonprofits, case managers, Police and EMS are currently visiting the areas where homeless encampments are located and introducing themselves to homeless individuals in effort to build a foundation of trust and working to help people access shelter and housing resources;
• Multi-Departmental Team is monitoring and assessing existing sites for health and safety concerns;
• Clean-up action is only taken when there is a significant risk to health and public safety,
and additional street outreach and appropriate notice is given before any clean-up action
begins;
• On May 21, 2019 City Council heard a presentation highlighting efforts to enhance shelter, increase shelter nights, and, improve local shelter operations and policies to encourage more people to access shelter instead of living unsheltered;
• Strategic planning, budgeting, and funding are focused on actions that support people who experience homelessness to housing assistance and/or services tailored to the unique strengths and needs of households to enable them to achieve and maintain permanent housing.
Date: June 14, 2019 Report No. 2019-122
STAFF CONTACT:
Sarah Kuechler, Director of Public Affairs sarah.kuechler@cityofdenton.com 940-349-8356 Danielle Shaw, Community Development Manager
danielle.shaw@cityofdenton.com 940-349-7237