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Homeless Committee Meeting Minutes 03.20241 Minutes- Committee on the Homeless City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov Committee on the Homeless Meeting DATE: March 12, 2024 SUBJECT: MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE HOMELESS MEETING HELD ON MARCH 12, 2024 ATTENDEES: Charlotte Tomic Karen Edelstein Corey Narson Beatriz Herrmann Tiffany Heckler Ariana Hernandez ABSENTEES: Darren Cefalu LIASON: Janay Guerrero GUESTS: Valerie Navarrete (Zoom) CITY STAFF: Laura Cortes Flores, Housing and Community Services Sgt. Jerome Berrian [Virtual attendee], Miami Beach Police Department I. Call to order & Introductions Charlotte Tomic, Vice Chair The meeting was called to order at 3:36PM by the Chair. Attendance was taken. Ariana Hernandez was introduced to the committee, and the City’s Homeless Outreach services were explained. II. Approval of Prior Committee Meeting Minutes Charlotte Tomic, Vice Chair Action: Motion to approve February 2024 meeting summary made by Charlotte Tomic, seconded by Karen Edelstein. Motion passed unanimously. III. Covid-19 Update Janay Guerrero, Homeless Program Coordinator The following update(s) were provided: • There have been no recently reported COVID-19 outbreaks within the City’s contracted homeless shelters. 2 Minutes- Committee on the Homeless • There are no notable concerns from staff or reported by homeless clients. IV. Lazarus Project Update Janay Guerrero, Homeless Program Coordinator The following update(s) were provided: • The Camillus House Lazarus Project continues to provide services to Miami Beach. V. Miami Beach Police Department Update Sgt. Jerome Berrian, MBPD Homeless Resource Unit (HRU) The following updates were provided: • During the period from October 2023 to February 2024, the Police Department actively engaged with the homeless community and recorded the following: o 537 interactions with persons who self-identified as homeless o Nine (9) after-hours shelter placements were facilitated o Three (3) residential treatment placements were facilitated. o 58 arrests were made Assistance was also provided for residential treatment placements. • There has been a notable increase in the homeless community's acceptance of services, resulting in a decrease in arrest numbers compared to the same period last year. • Complaints from residents in the West Avenue and 5th Avenue areas have risen, despite these areas not typically having a large homeless population. The residents in the north perceived an increase in homeless presence, which is due to individuals relocating from more active areas due to enforcement actions. Questions Asked and Answers Q: Have there been any changes in the population on Lincoln Road? A: The Lincoln Road area is predominately maintained by the MBPD RDA unit, who possess the same skillset as the HRU, while the HRU tends to the remainder of the City. Q: Is the increase in arrests due to the newly implemented ordinance? A: Yes. The rise in arrests is indeed a result of the ordinance. Individuals are trespassing on properties owned by residents and business owners. Consequently, the Police Department has received complaints regarding these incidents. It's important to note that some members of the homeless population, rather than being unable to access services, are simply choosing not to accept them. Q: How are police addressing the homeless population that is moving to the north end? A: The police move as the homeless move. The City’s residents are the Police’s eyes and ears and are helpful at providing information. The Police continue to actively engage homeless persons and services are always offered prior to arrest. 3 Minutes- Committee on the Homeless Q: Homelessness is increasing around the 71st Street area. What are the Police’s efforts in that area? A: The City has trimmed the trees and dunes in that area, which has reduced the spaces that homeless persons use for sleeping and hiding. VI. Homeless Outreach Services Update Janay Guerrero, Homeless Program Coordinator The following updates were provided: • The City grants the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust (Homeless Trust) a recurring $125K per fiscal year to address homelessness in Miami Beach. This year’s allocation was utilized to expand the City’s shelter bed portfolio via an agreement through the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust (Homeless Trust), acquiring fifteen male beds at Riverside House, a shelter in the Little Havana area. Homeless clients will be placed gradually in the upcoming weeks as intake staff and case managers become accustomed to the intake process. • For this fiscal year, October 1st, 2023 to February 29th, 2024, the Homeless Outreach Services Team has facilitated 238 shelter placements and 119 family reunifications (relocations). Questions Asked and Answers Q: How big is the Riverside facility? A: In Comparison with other shelters, it is smaller; it is comparable to an average-sized apartment unit. Q: Are there more programs besides the City of Miami Beach program at the new facility? A: Yes, other programs besides the City of Miami Beach do utilize the facility for placements and transitions. VII. Old Business Follow-ups • Homeless Awareness Mural Corey Narson informed the team that the previously selected artist will not be able to participate in the mural project due to prior commitments. Beatriz Hermann suggested soliciting a new artist, to which Karen Edelstein offered to connect with a talented artist from a local Miami Beach school. Adriana Hernandez mentioned that she has the contact information for David, an artist known for his work with Camillus House. She promptly shared David's contact details with Beatriz Hermann to facilitate reaching out to him for potential involvement in the project. • Clothing Drive Action: Charlotte Tomic proposed a motion to donate clothing to shelters that are contracted with the City on a quarterly basis, beginning April 2024. Motion seconded by Tiffany Heckler. Motion passed unanimously. Janay Guerrero offered to receive these donations at the office and ensure they are dropped off at the selected location for donation. The committee agreed to 4 Minutes- Committee on the Homeless contact various cleaners for potential partnerships in this initiative. Additionally, members are encouraged to contribute donations if they have any available. • Connections with Chapman Partnership Committee member, Beatriz Hermann, reported that she has not yet been able to reach out to Chapman Partnership. VIII. New Business/ Discussions • Mission Statement Action: The Committee was tasked by the Chair with bringing forth ideas for potential mission statements to represent the Committee and its purpose. Potential statements will be presented and reviewed at April’s meeting, at which time the Committee will vote on the most suitable and favorable mission statement. • Invite guest speakers Committee Chair, Charlotte Tomic, advised the Committee that she will be reaching out to local agencies within the community that serve the homeless population to invite them to future Committee meetings to provide information on available services. IX. Public Right to be Heard Public attendee, Valerie Navarrete, advised the Committee that her non-profit organization, Favela Miami, will be hosting its annual Homeless Resource Fair on Saturday, March 16th, where homeless individuals can come to learn about the City’s resources. The event’s location is All Souls Episcopal Church at 4300 Pinetree Drive. Additional services to include medical and mental health care screenings, clothing distribution, and legal advising. Committee members were encouraged to attend the event. X. Adjourn Meeting was adjourned at 4:40p.m. Next meeting is scheduled for April 9th at 3:30pm.