Title
a. Approve the endorsement of the “Salinas Housing Advancement, Resource & Education (SHARE) Center” as the official name for the new regional homeless shelter, which was identified through a public naming process and mutually supported by the development partner, the City of Salinas.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve the endorsement of the “Salinas Housing Advancement, Resource & Education (SHARE) Center” as the official name for the new regional homeless shelter, which was identified through a public naming process and mutually supported by the development partner, the City of Salinas.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
In a press release issued on July 24, 2020, the public was invited to submit suggestions and vote on a name for the new regional homeless shelter, which is currently under construction and located at 855 E. Laurel Drive in Salinas. A copy of the press release is attached. The public survey remained open through August 24, 2020. Over 700 responses were received and reviewed by a panel of County of Monterey and City of Salinas representatives.
Of the most popular submissions, the review panel recommends the Salinas Housing Advancement, Resource & Education Center, abbreviated as SHARE Center. This name best encapsulates the services and support the facility will provide. Two other top suggestions were to memorialize Ezzard "Dread" McCall, a recently deceased advocate for homeless services, and the late Salinas Mayor Joseph Gunter, who advocated for the shelter’s construction. The review panel proposes honoring “Dread” and Mayor Gunter with onsite memorials.
The regional shelter is the result of a longstanding partnership between the City of Salinas and County of Monterey. The City of Salinas and the County of Monterey established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2017 to operate a temporary emergency shelter while working toward securing a permanent shelter location. The new regional shelter will replace the emergency warming shelter and is expected to be operational in 2021.
The facility will operate year-round using an emergency shelter model and serve Salinas and Monterey County residents-single men, women, and families--who face homelessness. It will not only provide emergency shelter, but also wrap around services and housing navigation services based on the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) endorsed "housing first" approach.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The City of Salinas and MCDSS facilitated the press release and public survey. Representatives from the County of Monterey and City of Salinas reviewed submissions.
FINANCING:
There is no impact to the County General Fund or appropriations to implement this proposal.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This action correlates to the Administration and Health & Human Services Strategic Initiative adopted by the Board of Supervisors by allowing the Department to continue to receive State and federal funding to provide programs and services to the residents of the County.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
___ Economic Development
_X_Administration
_X_Health & Human Services
___ Infrastructure
___ Public Safety
Prepared by Denise Vienne, Management Analyst, x4484
Approved by: Lori Medina, Social Services Director, x4430
Attachments: Press Release- Public Invitation to Name Regional Shelter