REMARKS
Commissioner explains transition from emergency operations to non-profit providers
1:57:07
·
116 sec
Commissioner Park describes the rapid growth in shelter clients and the transition from emergency operations to more structured shelter management. She emphasizes the shift to non-profit providers and ongoing efforts to improve oversight and engagement.
- Explains the initial use of National Guard and temp staff during the emergency phase
- Highlights the recent transition to having non-profit providers in all shelter sites
- Acknowledges the need for continual improvement in shelter operations and oversight
- Expresses commitment to building on current work in consultation with council members
Molly Wasow Park
1:57:07
be?
1:57:09
So as you know, as as I think everybody knows, the the number of shelters, of shelter clients, grew very substantially in a very short period of time.
1:57:21
4 and and we opened a large number of sites very, very quickly.
1:57:27
We did that to meet both our legal and moral obligation to to make sure that we are sheltering, you know, all of those in need.
1:57:36
For for quite a while, we actually many of those emergency sites were operated not by by not for profit providers, but actually by the National Guard and and a series of temp staff.
1:57:49
We did that because we were in emergency condition, and but that was very challenging.
1:57:55
Right?
1:57:55
The I am incredibly grateful for the national guard service, but those are not trained shelter operators, and they didn't have, all the levels of structure that we need.
1:58:05
As of this fall, we have not for profits in every single site, and we are now in a place where we can put our our structure around oversight and engagement and training in place with those not for profits.
1:58:19
So, again, we are always looking to improve on what we are doing.
1:58:24
I am I'm never going to sit in front of the council and say that we do everything perfectly.
1:58:29
At the beginning of the hearing, council member Brewer noted that I do not that I often say no.
1:58:36
You know, that that is the case, but I also commit that I will always be honest.
1:58:41
And and, you know, what I can say honestly is that we are we are an organization that is seeking continual improvement.
1:58:48
So I think the fact that we now have not for profit providers in place in every single one of our emergency sites is an important, inflection point, and we will continue to build on the work that we are doing, and we're happy to do that in consultation with with council members.
