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Homeless Committee Meeting Minutes 11.20241 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: November 12, 2024 SUBJECT: MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE HOMELESS MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 12, 2024 ATTENDEES: Charlotte Tomic, Chair Corey Narson Beatriz Herrmann Ariana Hernandez Tiffany Heckler Yechiel Baron Karen Edelstein LIASON: Janay Guerrero (Absent) CITY STAFF: Marcela Rubio, Assistant Director, Office of Housing Community Services Laura Cortes Flores, Office of Housing and Community Services Sgt. Jeronime Berrian (Zoom), Miami Beach Police Department Daniel Soomer, Mayor’s Senior Policy Advisor Luis Atencio, Commissioner’s Aide I. Call to order & Introductions Charlotte Tomic, Chair The Chair called the meeting to order at 3:39 p.m. by the Chair. Attendance was taken. Yechiel Baron was introduced as new member of the committee. II. Approval of Prior Committee Meeting Minutes Charlotte Tomic, Chair Action: Beatriz Herrmann made a motion to defer approval of the minutes. The motion was made to include the names of individuals who ask questions in the meeting minutes to clearly identify who made each question. The motion was second by Tifanny Heckler III. Lazarus Project Update Marcela Rubio, Assistan Director The following updates were provided: • The Lazarus project continues to provide services throughout Miami Beach on a daily basis. During their time at the shelter, two clients stayed for more than 30 days. Two 2 Minutes- Committee on the Homeless others moved into permanent housing, and one was reunited with family or friends out of state. Sadly, one client passed away. IV. Miami Beach Police Department Update Sgt.Jerome, MBPD Homeless Resource Unit (HRU). Sgt. Berrian introduced himself and provided the following updates: The Surgent provided a number for the month of October; the police department had approximately 102 engagements, which refers to the people we interact with daily. Of those, there were 18 arrests. Out of the 102, 17 individuals accepted some form of service and were referred to 771 Homeless Outreach Walking Center for further assistance. We were also able to place 10 people in the shelter, most of whom were referred to the Salvation Army during after-hours when 771 was closed. Once the office reopens, the 771 staff follows up with assessments to provide the necessary services. Unfortunately, the majority of those we engage with refuse any help or services, and that number for October was 45. One of the highlights for us this month was successfully reuniting a young man with his family in Chicago. He had been homeless in Miami Beach for about 10 years, and despite ongoing efforts to reconnect him with his family over the years, it wasn’t until last week that we were able to make it happen. We worked closely with his family, and with the help of 771’s staff, we were able to get him on a bus back to Chicago. We hope this will be a positive outcome for him, but we understand that after being separated from his family for so long, it may take some adjustment. If he returns, we will continue to engage and provide support. Questions Asked and Answers Question Ariana Hernandez: You mentioned that 45 people refused services. What specific services did they refuse? Do they just leave without assistance? Answer: Yes, 45 people refused services. Many more, when we approach and engage with them, simply say they don't want any help and ask us to move on. If they are in an area where they shouldn’t be or if they’re trespassing, we address it, but we're not out to arrest homeless individuals—that’s not the approach we take at the police department. If they're walking down the street or in a park where they are legally allowed to be, we don't take any action. We just try to engage, offer services, and continue building rapport. We’re noticing an influx of new faces coming into town, especially during the winter months. Many come from northern states because of the warmer weather, but we’re also seeing people coming from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and even local areas. Some of these individuals are drawn here because they’ve heard about the services available, while others are just moving around, possibly because they've overstayed their welcome in other places. They’re coming here to take advantage of the services we offer. Question Ariana Hernandez: What were the 18 arrests for? A: The 18 arrests were for various crimes. Some individuals had outstanding warrants. For example, today, we picked up a sex offender with a warrant from another state, Michigan, that authorities want to extradite. The crimes range from trespassing, drinking 3 Minutes- Committee on the Homeless in public, and urinating or defecating in public, to individuals with warrants and more serious offenses such as burglary, breaking into cars, or assault and battery. The types of arrests we make cover a wide range of offenses, all of which are important. Question Ariana Hernandez: Regarding the increase in transient individuals on Miami Beach, is it true that the city of Miami has been sending people living on the streets to Miami Beach? Answer: There have always been rumors about people being transported between cities, but I don’t believe these rumors are true. I can confirm that we are not transporting people to other cities, and I don’t believe the city of Miami is doing that, either. The only instance I know of where people were transported was over a year ago when some individuals were brought from Key West under the guise of coming to do day labor. However, we only verified the morning drop-offs and never confirmed that they were being picked up and taken back in the afternoons. Aside from that, there hasn’t been any verified transportation of people between cities. As for the rumors about Miami Beach, I don’t believe there is any truth to them, aside from specific cases like the bikini hostel, which is a separate situation. V. Homeless Outreach Services Update Janay Guerrero Homeless Services Program Coordinator was absent, and Marcela Rubio, the Assistant Director, provided the update. The following updates were provided: • From September 1, 2023, to September 31, the end of the physical year, the office facilitated 556 shelter placements and 338 family reunifications. • Two commission items were approved in September that addressed the operations of the Walk-in Center: o Live Assistance: The first item extended the hours of live assistance. When calling the Walking Center’s number, even outside regular office hours, calls are now dispatched to an outreach team or the police department, ensuring that individuals needing services can access them anytime, even when the center is closed. o Hours of Operation: The second item addressed the new hours of operation for the Walking Center. The center operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM as part of a pilot program. Street outreach is also available on Saturdays and Sundays from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM • No additional costs: The hours were extended using existing staff, with no extra cost to the city. Staff hours were rearranged to accommodate the new schedule, and the program will be monitored to assess its effectiveness. Questions Asked and Answers Question Beatriz Herrmann: Do you have the new postcards with the updated schedule, or are you still giving out the old ones? 4 Minutes- Committee on the Homeless Answer: We have some new brochures, and we are also working on updating the door hours with the latest schedule. The program coordinator has ordered more brochures. Question Tiffany Heckler: What were the previous hours for the period, and how are they changing now? Answer: Previously, the hours were from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Last year, street outreach hours were extended to include Saturday and Sunday. Now, those extended hours are being continued and added to the walk-in center. Question Tiffany Heckler: Did the 50 homeless individuals from Miami, who were placed in the hostel on Miami Beach, come to our walk-in center? Answer: The 50 homeless individuals from Miami were placed in a hostel on Miami Beach. According to the latest communications, the City of Miami is providing all supportive services, including case management, housing assistance, and employment assistance. Question Tiffany Heckler: Are the 50 homeless individuals placed in the hostel on Miami Beach being transported daily back and forth? Answer: No, not necessarily. If they have jobs on the mainland, some transportation assistance is provided. Question Beatriz Herrmann: What was the reason the 50 individuals were sent to Miami Beach? Answer: The 50 individuals were sent to Miami Beach for several reasons. They were previously sheltered at Camillus House, but for business reasons, the shelter increased its bed rates from $32 to $67. While the exact rate is unclear, the rate was no longer affordable at this price, resulting in the termination of their contract. According to information provided by the City of Miami to the City of Miami Beach, a property owner associated with the Bikini Hostel was offered terms to accommodate the individuals. The arrangement might have been different if the Bikini Hostel property were located in Miami. The Bikini Hostel had a cheaper price for the staying time. Miami Beach is trying to identify alternatives to not losing shelter beds. Question Luis Atencion: Through the Chair, my understanding is that the Homeless Trust provided a list of different places, and the Bikini Hostel was ultimately chosen. It was not the only option but a selection from the provided list. Answer: We are not sure if there was a list, as we have not seen one. The negotiation ultimately resulted in selecting the Bikini Hostel. There may have been different property options, but the decision was made to go with the Bikini Hostel. Question Tiffany Heckler: What is the Bikini hostel address? Answer: The address is 1247 West Avenue VI. Old Business/Discussions Follow-up • Homeless Awareness Mural o Beatriz Herrmann went in person to the Design Review Board. The manager and assistant provided a phone number and instructed to make contact. They offered support and indicated they would help expedite the process. Beatriz will contact them and explain the mural project sending the design. The idea is 5 Minutes- Committee on the Homeless that the contact with the Design Review Board will facilitate access to move the process along more quickly. If the project exceeds 100 suare feet, it requires approval from City Commission. After the City Commission’s approval, the Planning Department needs to review and approve. Once all reviews and approvals are complete, the project moves to the financing stage. o Marcela Rubio explained that the Marketing Communications team follows their own timeline, which typically requires preparation three months in advance. She suggested providing all the necessary deadlines. Action Tiffany Heckler, Tiffany Heckler explained that if featuring the designs in the magazine ends up causing delays, the Committee would handle the decision-making process themselves to keep things moving smoothly VII. Discussion Items • Publicized data o Ariana Hernandez expressed the importance of having access to reliable data to counteract rumors, sharing an example from the previous day where misinformation about people being relocate to Miami Beach was circulating. She noted that without accurate information, such rumors spread more easily, making it difficult to have informed discussions. She proposed exploring ways to access data, particularly regarding outreach efforts, so the Committee can work based on facts rather than assumptions. Ariana also mentioned a concern about missing information on resources like veteran programs, which may be better in other states. She emphasized her desire for more data as a social scientist and suggested that Janay, the Homeless Program Coordinator, could explore potential options for accessing relevant information. o Beatriz Herrmann Proposed that Ariana volunteer in data collection since she has the knowledge. Marcela Rubio explained that the city staff prepares a Letter to Commission (LTC) on a weekly basis that is open to the public. Marcela offered the option of arranging to receive the letter through the City Clerk's office, or it can be accessed online. The office can also link to the Miami Beach website. o Daniel Sommer informed that the City issues an LTC every week and explained that it includes the following information: Miami Beach police statistics, including total arrests, and data from the Homeless Resource Unit (led by Sergeant Berrian) detailing the number of contacts and engagements, after- hours emergency shelter placements, residential treatment placements, and arrests; the Homeless Outreach Services Division covers walk-in center contacts, street outreach contacts, refusals of service, shelter placements, family reunifications, and the average number of shelter beds available to the City; and it provides data on Park Ranger contacts. This information can be easily sent to all committee members weekly through the City Clerk’s Office. These metrics, along with the Homeless Trust census conducted twice a year (available online and dating back to 1997), provide valuable insights. Daniel 6 Minutes- Committee on the Homeless Shared that this information has been collected for the past 22 weeks. • Open the floor for discussion of any other issues o Ariana Hernandez asked if, during the special Commission meeting on November 14, 2024 at 3:30, there would be any space for comments. Daniel Soomer informed that the meeting on Thursday will have a half hour of public comment at the beginning, and then the meeting will start at 4 PM. o Luis Atencio explained there are three proposals on the agenda. The agenda should be available online for review. Three discussion items are listed, along with one resolution from Commissioner Fernandez. From my understanding, Commissioner Fernandez is proposing to use(RDA) funds to build affordable housing. Commissioner Magazine has proposed funding for Miami-Dade using surplus revenues from Miami Beach Redevelopment Agency (RDA) funds and bed taxes from the Miami Beach Convention Center headquarters hotel. The proposal suggests that once the Convention Center hotel opens, which should be in a few years, funds from the RDA would be used to reimburse the county for the $10 million they are requesting. Approximately $4 million of this amount would come from the RDA funds. For clarification, the RDA stands for Redevelopment Agency. Within the city are different RDAs, such as the North Beach RDA and others, which are specific funds allocated for redevelopment projects. Apologies if this explanation sounds a bit redundant, but it’s the simplest way to describe it. Action:The Committee will receive the weekly LTC data in regards to arresting, bed availability, and walk-in center services. Questions Asked and Answers Question Tiffany Heckler: Do those numbers specify gender information, such as male and female? Is this a word document, PDF? Answer: No. It is just the numbers per week. It is on PDF format. Question Tiffany Heckler: Is someone analyzing the data? Or any trend lines? Answer: No. VIII. Adjournment • Meeting was adjourned at 5:04 p.m. Next Meeting December 10, 2024 at 3:30pm Miami Beach City Hall- Building Department Conference Room 1700 Convention Center Dr. – 2nd Floor Miami Beach, FL 33139