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Public Land Management - Homeless Encampments Downtown Austin Community Court Advisory Board September 2020 Ramesh Swaminathan, P.E, Managing Engineer Watershed Protection Department Agenda ● Wate rshe d Impacts ● Pilot Proje ct ● Citywide Coordination ● Covid Posture ● Q&A 2 Emergence 1. The process of coming into view or becoming exposed after being concealed. 2. The process of coming into being or becoming important or prominent. The growing population of unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness have environmental health impacts on the City of Austin. For many, the only immediate option is to reside in public spaces, often near creeks and stormwater infrastructure. Statistics source: Austin Echo. http://austinecho.org/wp- content/uploads/2016/03/Austin-Homelessness-Needs-and- Gaps3.pdf 3 The Question Can we define a new process to addresses human waste and litterin creeks & ponds generated by homeless encampments that is safer and more cost effective while meeting WPD pollution prevention goals in a manner that is respectful of both the homeless community and surrounding neighborhoods? 4 How might we support our WPD mission areas while minimizing harm to people experiencing homelessness? Good ideas come together across disciplines to identify innovative solutions: ● Human ce nte re d de sign with the Office of De sign and De live ry (ODD) ● Le ave No Trace (LNT) with Parks and Re cre ation De partme nt (PARD) ● Public safe ty with Austin Police De partme nt (APD). ● Me e ting pe ople and the ir ne e ds whe re the y are with the Inte gral Care Programs for Assistance in the Transition from Home le ssne ss (PATH) Te am 5 Encampment Management: Design and test a standardized process for managing encampments on WPD managed lands. Assessment and Prioritization 1. Develop and test a method for prioritizing sites needing clean -up or removal, and to identify alternate locations where people can be safely provided services in place. 2. Reduce safety risks to homeless individuals living near creeks or in storm drain infrastructure. Contract 1. Learn more about contract requirements and coordination efforts by contracting for ongoing maintenance at a select group of historically cleaned watershed protection sites. 2. Reduce additional burden on WPD field crews. 6 Site Prioritization for Clean -Up Prioritized Deprioritized Risks to human safety and environmental quality Low-risk to human safety and environmental quality Strategy PATH - Connect to services plan to relocate PATH and Integral Care Case Management Supplies To meet immediate needs and support move To support Leave No Trace principles Wickersham Removal Timeline 72-hour to 30-Day Notice Self-sort garbage for regular pick-up at designated spot Goal Mitigate moderate environmental health and safety risks and connect resident to services. Provide services in-place and connect to permanent housing while improving environmental quality. 7 Performance Indicators: Cleanups From March through September: 37 cleanups across 11 sites; rem oved over 24 tons of m aterial from WPD land, creeks , and infras tructure. 1807 E. Stassney 2301 E. Riverside Blvd 8th Street at Waller Creek 8 Performance Indicators: Engagement Total Persons Engaged: 400 (approx.) 152 residents been outreached with engagement (Mental Health, medication, CareCo Clinic, Street Medicine, Community Care) 21 linked up with The Other Ones Foundation 7 residents housed Over 250 residents been outreached without engagement Three Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to 75 -80 people The total contracted cost through this period has been approx. $60,000 9 Insights about Prioritized Sites ● Encampment Location and Frequency: regular clean -ups are needed in some areas but locations are not static and flexibility is needed as well. ● Capacity: Adding capacity through the contact meant that staff could maintain focus on the needed maintenance of the City’s water protection infrastructure. ● Communication Strategy : WPD developed and enhanced a coordination and communications strategy between the contractor, the social services providers, and APD. ● Need a tool to communicate to persons experiencing homelessness at Encampment Sites. ● Notification: Official notification postings were one of the most beneficial additions to WPD’s clean-up approach. 10 Scale Up and Recommendations -Watershed ● Capacity: The WPD contract will need to expand to citywide. $250K Contract, Dec 5, ‘20 RCA COVID Impacts Emergency Contract ● Infrastructure Improvements: WPD to review inherently unsafe sites for possible infrastructure changes that will prevent camping in extremely dangerous conditions. (E.g. 2301 E Riverside Culvert design and construction estimated $250,000) ● Wraparound Services: Expand budget and resources for Integral Care PATH team and other providers needed to support the cleanup efforts citywide (i.e. Violet Bag Program). 11 Scale up and Recommendations-Citywide Solutions ● Cleanup Contract Coordination: Collaborate and coordinate citywide encampment cleanups. ● Trash Collection: Expand the highly successful Violet Bag trash collection program citywide. ● Non-Profit Agency Collaboration: Increase capacity to provide meaningful employment for persons experiencing homelessness with the non-profit agencies: The Other Ones Foundation. ● Decentralized storage: Provide a place to store their belongings. US 183 and Cameron Road 12 Citywide Solutions Clean City Strategy Cross-departmental approach to maintaining public spaces in partnership with people experiencing homelessness. Connects the programs that residents experience allowing for greater coordination of resources and services, learning and innovation, and a more compassionate approach to engaging the community. ● Violet Bag Program: Pilot four sites-July 2019 20 sites currenty-future expansion FY21 Daily Service Remove Litter from immediate area of kiosk US 183 and Cameron Road 13 Citywide Solutions ● Violet Keep Safe Storage Program: Free downtown storage facility with weekday access morning, afternoon and evening. Opened to clients August 2020 with 14 clients currently and looking to expand. Currently working with the Office of Design and Delivery to establish satellite locations throughout the City in FY21 ● Homeless Text Alert System One way texting to get critical information HSEM + Capcog Colloboration Approx. 600 Numbers DACC, Integral Care, Front Steps US 183 and Cameron Road 14 Clean Creek Crew New program for Fiscal Year 2021 with 8 dedicated FTEs Collaborative approach between Watershed Protection and Austin Resource Recovery Provides for general litter abatement in creeks based on information from WPD 15 Covid Posture CDC Guidelines: Allow people who are living unsheltered, or in encampments, to remain where they are at this time, to minimize community spread of the disease and maximize access to services ● Cleanups WPD-Emergency Contract $200K (approx.) Council ratification Oct. 2020 ● Eat Apart Together Initiative https://www.austintexas.gov/eat 465K Meals served across the city (see map) EOC, TOOF PPE, Hygiene stations US 183 and Cameron Road 16 Cleanups 17 Citywide Dashboard-All City Departments US 183 and Cameron Road 18 Citywide Dashboard-All City Departments 19 Citywide Dashboard-Watershed Department 20 Questions Ramesh Swaminathan, P.E. Watershed Protection Department 512.974.3541 Ramesh.Swaminathan@austintexas.gov https://austintexas.gov/department/watershed-protection Lara Foss Communications & Public Information Office 512.974.7969 Lara.Foss@austintexas.gov https://howtohelpaustin.givepulse.com/group/396656-COVID-19-How-to-Help 21