2018-163 DCHLT RepresentationDate: November 9, 2018 Report No. 2018-163
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
On October 23, 2018 during concluding items, Council Member Armintor inquired about
representation on the Denton County Homeless Leadership Team’s newly formed Shelter
Workgroup.
DISCUSSION:
Overall Representation
There are two primary planning entities regarding homeless initiatives in Denton County, the
Denton County Homeless Coalition and the Denton County Homelessness Leadership Team.
The following graphic shows the member representation of those two groups, which includes a
broad range of involvement from many backgrounds including county, cities, law enforcement,
community members, higher education, healthcare, service providers, workforce development,
and more.
Date: November 9, 2018 Report No. 2018-163
These groups have representation from City Council, Community Development, Library, Police,
and Public Affairs. This representation by City representatives brings the needs of the City of
Denton to the planning efforts to make homelessness Rare, Brief and Nonrecurring. The work of
the groups is brought back to the City and shared with the internal staff team with staff from the
Library, Fire, Police, Community Development, Public Affairs, Parks, Legal, Economic
Development, and Community Improvement Services. This team meets every other month to
discuss the City’s response to homelessness and impact of homelessness on City services. This
also provides staff opportunities to be informed about other community efforts, like the Shelter
Workgroup, that may impact departments and City services.
The Shelter Workgroup is an ad-hoc group of the DCHLT that was recently formed to work on
shelter planning. This group was formed rather quickly to assess the current environment of
shelters in Denton. Part of the group’s efforts have included administering a feedback survey to
individuals experiencing homelessness. The results and feedback received are being compiled
and will help inform the workgroup. Recommendations from the workgroup will be brought
back to the DCHLT Board, as well as City Council.
Library Involvement
Denton libraries do interact with the City’s homeless population. As a result, the Library has
implemented strategies help address the needs of library users experiencing homelessness. The
Library has developed a print resource list to distribute to patrons seeking assistance and it
provides space for local case managers to be onsite to help patrons register for assistance
programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Social Security
Disability (SSDI).
Library staff conducts regular and frequent community outreach. Some of these outreach efforts
are targeted specifically to people experiencing homelessness to increases awareness of library
services. Staff set up information tables at community service locations like Our Daily Bread and
they attend events like the Annual Veterans Stand Down.
In addition, staff are actively involved in local community and City homelessness planning
initiatives to help build awareness both of the libraries resources and to gather community
resource to make available to library patrons. Director of Libraries, Jennifer Bekker, serves on
the Denton County Homeless Coalition Steering Committee shown in the graphic on the first
page and Kimberly Wells, Branch Manager for Emily Fowler Library, represents Denton Public
Libraries on the internal interdepartmental staff team referenced above that works together on the
City’s response to homelessness and impact of homelessness on City services. This team helps to
facilitate discussions among many different City departments and foster a more unified approach
from the City.
In January of 2019, the Library will be presenting its Strategic Plan which will provide additional
information regarding the Library’s plans to support and serve the community including target
groups like people experiencing homelessness.
Date: November 9, 2018 Report No. 2018-163
STAFF CONTACT:
Danielle Shaw
Human Services Coordinator
940-349-7237
Danielle.Shaw@CityofDenton.com
Jennifer Bekker
Director of Libraries
(940) 349-8753
jennifer.bekker@cityofdenton.com