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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Methods of food provision in DHS shelters
0:09:41
ยท
135 sec
The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) serves over 14 million meals and snacks annually through three main methods of food provision in shelters. These methods aim to meet diverse dietary needs and cultural preferences.
- Direct contracts with vendors for meal delivery to DHS-operated shelters
- Provider subcontracts with food vendors for meal services
- On-site meal preparation by shelter providers
- Reasonable accommodation process for religious and medical dietary needs
- Meals are expected to be healthy, culturally diverse, and respectful of individual needs
Kate MacKenzie
0:09:41
So let's speak a little bit specifically about the Department of Homeless Services.
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It serves more than 14,000,000 meals and snacks annually throughout the shelter system.
0:09:51
There are three ways that meals are provided in the DHS shelters.
0:09:57
First, in shelters operated by DHS of which there are currently about 30, the Department of Homeless Services has three direct contracts that have a total value in excess of $160,000,000 over a three year period.
0:10:12
That's from July of twenty twenty three through fiscal year twenty seven.
0:10:18
This means that the vendors are responsible for delivering meals that are typically frozen to the shelter and then the shelter staff are responsible for heating, serving the meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
0:10:31
A second method is that a provider may subcontract with a food vendor.
0:10:38
In this case, a provider is required to obtain three bids.
0:10:42
Approximately three forty seven providers run facilities that utilize food subcontracts.
0:10:50
And finally, in the third case, of which there are about 50 sites that operate like this, a provider may prepare its own food and typically that's either on-site or utilizing another shelter to within the network to deliver meals to them.
0:11:08
Finally, there's a reasonable accommodation process that's available to meet clients' religious and medical needs that might take the form of kosher or halal meal meals or a specific, you know, renal or dialysis diet that is required.
0:11:25
DHS provides three meals a day and snacks to clients.
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The meals are expected to be healthy, served at an appropriate temperature, respect the medical and or dietary needs and religious requests of individuals that are served.
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They aim to reflect the diversity of cultures served throughout the shelter system.
0:11:48
By following these guidelines, DHS strives to provide quality meals to the population that needs them with as little waste as possible.