SBRNA Kickoff Meeting FAQ

Summary of Answers from Mr. James Stagi, D2 Housing and Policy Plan Administrator & Ms. Ragan Henninger, Deputy Director of Homeless Response Team:

1. Will the Bridge Housing Communities increase crime and gangs, and devalue our neighborhood property?
2. How will residents be selected?
3. Will residents be required to pay rent, if so, how much?
4. Are residents employable through their case manager?
5. Are residents eligible to participate in local community programs? Would they need case manager clearance for this? What type of community programs?
6. What happens when the city funding for the first year of 24-hour private security ends?
7. Are model residents able to be interviewed and featured on SBRNA’s website or other forms of communication?
8. What happens when a resident is not placed into permanent housing?  Are they transferred? Or are they moved out? 
9. What measures are in place to prevent the BHC residents from accumulating in the Basking Ridge trail, where there are nearby daycare centers and elementary schools? What measures will be in place to protect the children who walk along the Basking Ridge trail to and from school?  Why was the Rue Ferrari site placed so close to schools and a daycare center?  
10. Additionally, what measures are in place to prevent accidental fires along the high-risk brush on the Basking Ridge trail once more and more homeless find themselves there, after they are removed from the program?  Similarly, what measures are in places to prevent the buildup of trash and homeless tents along Monterey Highway and the Basking Ridge trail, where there is no supervision of the homeless. 
11. What is the annual operating cost and who will be fiscally responsible?
12. Why did D2 get 2 of the 3 sites?
13. Will security be armed? Are they members of the Police Department (PD)?
14. What will be done if there is an increase in homeless activity? How will it be addressed and how do we contact you?
15. Is this site temporary or permanent? Are the tenants interim?
16. What do the green on the presentation represent?
17. Is this a COVID-19 site?
18. What is the current vacancy rate at the Mabury site?
19. Did Home First (the company managing the Bernal BHC sites) manage the RV park at Happy Hallow?
20. Is it possible to extend the green lines to include the Basking Ridge trail?
21. Does the city have the ability to continue the BHC sites past 2025 without community vote? Do they have the authority?
22. Can Basking Ridge get the cameras like Los Paseos did?
23. How often are Neighborhood Watch (NW) meetings held?
24. What is the required percentage of participants? How do we get the NW set up? How do we get the signs for the metal posts and our homes?
25. Given all you have heard about the tiny homes, what changes have or will be proposed to increase patrol or security measures? Why does the south end of San Jose not receive the same amount of patrol as other areas?

Neighborhoods surrounding the BHCs in Seattle saw a decrease in crime rates. The neighborhood surrounding the Mabury site in San Jose has not experienced an increase in their crime rate.

1. How will residents be selected?

Residents are referred through Homeless Housing. During the current COVID-19 pandemic residents that are considered vulnerable, will be given priority. Vulnerable individuals include those that are seniors who have underlying health conditions. Examples of underlying health conditions include but are not limited to cancer, severe liver disease, and asthma. Residents also have to agree to the safety and security guidelines set forth by the BHC which means that they have to be willing to abide by the BHC rules and work with their case manager regularly to seek employment and ultimately, permanent housing.

2. Will residents be required to pay rent, if so, how much?

Residents will be required to pay a nominal monthly rent.

3. Are residents employable through their case manager?

According to Ragan, the assigned case managers will actively assist each resident in their search for employment. Residents will also have access to additional resources from the BHC front office and community resources.

4. Are residents eligible to participate in local community programs? Would they need case manager clearance for this? What type of community programs?

Residents are eligible to participate, at will, in community programs offered by Habitat for Humanity, community help groups, and faith-based groups.

5. What happens when the city funding for the first year of 24-hour private security ends?

State funding will support the operational needs of the BHC sites until 2025. This can be extended based on state legislature.

6. Are model residents able to be interviewed and featured on SBRNA’s website or other forms of communication?

At the Home First website, https://www.homefirstscc.org/about a short video of Edward Howard, a model resident who went on to be employed at Home First, is available for viewing.

7. What happens when a resident is not placed into permanent housing?  Are they transferred? Or are they moved out? 

Residents that are selected for the BHC sign a 60-day rental agreement. The expectation during this time frame is that they actively work with their case manager to obtain employment and ultimately permanent housing. Rental agreements that need to be extended beyond the 60-day agreement are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Residents that continue to follow the rules of the BHC and continue to make an observable effort to obtain employment and subsequent permanent housing, will be considered for an extension and some will even be able to stay indefinitely.

8. What measures are in place to prevent the BHC residents from accumulating in the Basking Ridge trail, where there are nearby daycare centers and elementary schools? What measures will be in place to protect the children who walk along the Basking Ridge trail to and from school?  Why was the Rue Ferrari site placed so close to schools and a daycare center?  

3 private security officers (unarmed) will patrol and enforce safety and security measures at the Monterey & Bernal BHC, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. 4 private security officers (unarmed) will patrol and enforce safety and security measures at the  Rue Ferrari site, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Both BHCs will be gated communities.

9. Additionally, what measures are in place to prevent accidental fires along the high-risk brush on the Basking Ridge trail once more and more homeless find themselves there, after they are removed from the program?  Similarly, what measures are in places to prevent the buildup of trash and homeless tents along Monterey Highway and the Basking Ridge trail, where there is no supervision of the homeless. 

The green lines on the attached document indicate the zones directly outside of the BHCs that will receive additional resources for safety and security as well as abatement services. Neighbors are encouraged to report homeless related concerns along the green lines, to the Homeless Concerns Line.

10. What is the annual operating cost and who will be fiscally responsible?

2.9 million for the Bernal & Monterey site. 3.7 million for the Rue Ferrari site. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Stimulus Act will cover operational costs for the first year. State Funding will be the financial source starting in 2021. State legislation requires operation of the BHCs until 2025. Any extension of this will be per State Legislation.

11. Why did D2 get 2 of the 3 sites?

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, a state of emergency was declared, and state mandates required the development of homeless housing. The city did not intend to place the sites so close together but due to the lack of land owned by the city in other districts, the sites at Monterey & Bernal, and Bernal & Rue Ferrari were chosen.

12. Will security be armed? Are they members of the Police Department (PD)?

The security patrol will not be armed and are not members of the PD.

13. What will be done if there is an increase in homeless activity? How will it be addressed and how do we contact you?

For homeless remediation (encampments and need for abatement), neighbors should contact the homeless response team at Homeless Concerns. Their team will go out and assess the situation and will perform remediation, as necessary.

14. Is this site temporary or permanent? Are the tenants interim?

The BHCs and their residents are interim. The sites will operate until 2025 under the current state mandates (AB 2176)

15. What do the green on the presentation represent?

The green lines indicate the service area where BHC safety and security resources will be allocated.

16. Is this a COVID-19 site?

This is not a COVID-19 site.

17. What is the current vacancy rate at the Mabury site?

There are currently 16 vacancies at the Mabury site. The vacancy rate has been as high at 40.

18. Did Home First (the company managing the Bernal BHC sites) manage the RV park at Happy Hallow?

No, it did not.

19. Is it possible to extend the green lines to include the Basking Ridge trail?

The service areas have already been defined and are indicated with a green line on the attached presentation.

20. Does the city have the ability to continue the BHC sites past 2025 without community vote? Do they have the authority?

The city does not have the authority to make this decision as it is within the jurisdiction of the state legislature.

21. Can Basking Ridge get the cameras like Los Paseos did?

Additional questions that were asked of Ms. Marina Chakmajian, Southern District Crime Prevention Specialist

22. How often are Neighborhood Watch (NW) meetings held?

NW meetings are typically held Tuesday through Thursday. They run for about 2 hours but can be concluded in an hour if there is a focus on specific topics. The meetings are scheduled to begin at 6:00 pm, 6:30 pm, or 7 pm.

23. What is the required percentage of participants? How do we get the NW set up? How do we get the signs for the metal posts and our homes?

Neighborhood watch meetings will require 70% attendance or more to receive a NW sign for each street.

24. Given all you have heard about the tiny homes, what changes have or will be proposed to increase patrol or security measures? Why does the south end of San Jose not receive the same amount of patrol as other areas?

A lack of patrol is not due to our location at the south end. It is based on statistics. In regard to our community growing with the tiny homes, nothing specific has yet been decided upon in regards to plans for increased security. The Police Captain can be invited to participate and speak next month. Marina suggested that once the south end has established their NW, the north end can be encouraged to participate.