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<br />San Leandro Homeless & Housing Task Force 11 <br /> <br />TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> <br />The immediate, short term plan the Task Force developed for the City of San Leandro <br />includes a pilot warming center, a temporary Outreach Coordinator and enhanced <br />funding for basic needs. <br /> <br /> <br />Warming Center <br />The Task Force recommended $15,000 in funding for the development of a pilot <br />warming center program for the upcoming winter in order to provide emergency shelter <br />on evenings when the temperatures fall below 40 degrees as well as on extremely wet <br />evenings. On October 20, 2014, the Council granted this request to Building Futures for <br />Women and Children who will serve as the lead agency. <br /> <br />This pilot program will operate for a three-month period from December 2014 through <br />February 2015. The Task Force anticipates that the warming center will be open for <br />approximately 50 nights during this winter when the weather is at or below 40 degrees <br />or when the nights are rainy. The warming center program will be overseen by the <br />Outreach Coordinator, and monitored by two paid staff per shift each night the center is <br />open with assistance from community volunteers. <br /> <br />The warming center will require all guests be pre-screened. Pre-screening intakes will <br />be conducted in the field by the Outreach Coordinator and at April Showers events and <br />St. Leander Lunch Program events. <br /> <br />The Task Force has already begun mobilizing its efforts to open the warming center in <br />early December. These efforts included contacting local churches and faith <br />communities to engage their interest and cooperation in serving as a warming center <br />site; outreach to recruit volunteers and obtain donations for sleeping bags/cots, <br />blankets, clothing, toiletries, paper cups and towels, and plastic utensils; and a <br />volunteer/donation hotline has been established. A warming center hotline to inform <br />clients when the warming center will be activated is also now operational. Clients will <br />be able to call 510-924-3787 to find out if the shelter is open. <br /> <br />The continued successful operation of the warming center will depend on many <br />variables including the weather, participation of agencies willing to host the site, the <br />number of clients, volunteers, and in-kind donations such as meals. The Task Force <br />anticipates that more funds may be needed to continue operating the Warming Center <br />throughout the winter months. The Task Force plans to present a progress report on <br />the warming center operations and outstanding needs at the January 20, 2015 City <br />Council meeting. <br /> <br /> <br />Outreach Coordinator <br />The Task Force recommended, and the City Council agreed to fund, $32,000 for a <br />temporary Outreach Coordinator to manage the implementation of the warming centers