HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/26/2022 /S/ Christian Clegg
Staff: Committee Members:
Christian Clegg, City Manager Vice-Mayor Ken Weir – Chair
Anthony Valdez, Assistant to the City Manager Councilmember Patty Gray
Juan Heredia, Administrative Analyst III Councilmember Eric Arias
Special Meeting of the Homelessness Ad Hoc Committee
of the City Council – City of Bakersfield
Tuesday, July 26, 2022 12:00 p.m. Mercy House: Brundage Lane Navigation Center, Conference Room 1900 E. Brundage Lane, Suite 1, Bakersfield CA 93307 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
Meeting called to order at 12:05 p.m.
1) ROLL CALL
Committee Members:
Councilmember Ken Weir, Chair
Councilmember, Eric Arias
Councilmember, Patty Gray
City Staff:
Scott Andrews, Assistant City Manager
Anthony Valdez, Assistant to the City Manager
Juan Heredia, Administrative Analyst III
Robert Voyles, Public Works Operations Manager
Ashley Zambrano, Deputy City Attorney
Elizabeth Villanueva, Associate Attorney
Joe Conroy, Public Information Officer
Theo Dues, Program Manager, Mercy House
Additional Attendees:
Members of the public
2) PUBLIC STATEMENTS
Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness Special Meeting July 26 Agenda Page 2
a. Agenda Item Public Statements - None
b. Non-Agenda Item Public Statements - None
3) ADOPTION OF THE JUNE 28, 2022 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Councilmember Arias, to adopt
June 28, 2022 agenda summary report. Motion was unanimously approved.
4) STAFF REPORT
a. Staff update on the City’s efforts to address homelessness – Valdez
Assistant to the city Manager Anthony Valdez provided a monthly update on
city’s efforts to address homeless with the City’s contracted partners.
Councilmember Gray commended all efforts by city partners and
commented on the number of individuals moved into permanent housing.
5) NEW BUSINESS
a. Discussion and tour of construction expansion of the City of Bakersfield’s
Brundage Lane Navigation Center – Valdez
In advance of the tour of the Brundage Lance Navigation Center expansion,
Assistant to the City Manager Anthony Valdez provided a look back at the
efforts made since 2020 and the progress made. As of January, Point In Time
744 in shelter and 600+ unsheltered. For the first time in recent years there are
more sheltered individuals than unsheltered.
Mr. Valdez introduced Theo Dues, with Mercy House to give the committee
some insight on what they are doing for their clients. Mr. Dues talked about a
key idea behind their success is based on WHY they do what they and is
rooted in human dignity. Mercy House’s model of service is founded on three
main ideas: 1) They are trauma informed 2) they are low barrier and 3) they
are housing first.
Councilmember Gray loved the philosophy behind Mercy House’s model. Ms.
Gray went on to ask how housing first is sustainable when so many individuals
have trauma, mental health or substance abuse issues, mentioning the 158
placements. Mr. Dues explained that having established quality system of
aftercare which includes social workers and case managers that continue to address the issues that lead them to BLNC. Because of the model in place,
90% of placements organization wide have maintained retention.
Councilmember Eric Arias thanked the group and provided a testimony of
the BLNC being the ideal place to go to when one is experiencing homelessness. Mr. Arias asked about the housing first element and are there
any challenges? Mr. Dues responded that it is much more cost effective than
Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness Special Meeting July 26 Agenda Page 3
making individuals navigate through a long system first. Mr. Dues also
commented on the team effort by local agencies to ensure that individuals get matched up with homes.
Council member Weir expressed his gratitude for being able to participate in the tour.
Mr. Valdez provided the group a brief view of the plans and they moved to
tour the expansion of the Brundage Lane Navigation Center.
The meeting resumed after the tour.
6) COMMITTEE COMMENTS - None 7) ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 1:04 p.m.