More Advanced Notice Provided
Local elected officials received notice from the Department of Homeless Services’ (DHS) commissioner last Thursday, July 24, informing them of changes to the agency’s notification policy regarding emergency homeless shelter openings.
At several protests, members of area community associations have expressed their anger at the lack of community notification over the conversion of the former hotel into an emergency shelter. This included protests at the former Pan American Hotel in Elmhurst, which the DHS began using as an emergency shelter on June 6.
Area elected officials, including City Council Member Daniel Dromm spoke at previous protests and voiced concerns over the lack of sufficient notification as well. Homeless families began moving into the former hotel in May, after a DHS official claimed it was unsuitable for that purpose.
“DHS will do its best to make community and elected officials aware of all shelter sites under consideration as early as possible,” DHS’ memo said. “Once a proposed site is deemed acceptable, the seven day notification process will begin and the agency will proactively engage the community and elected officials in discussion.”
The agency further outlined actions required on each of the seven days, with the goal of increasing community input. For example, a community advisory board comprised of local leaders, area representatives and clients must be created by the third day, town hall or community meetings are to be held by day four and by the sixth day notification letters from organizations managing the site are to be sent to relevant elected officials, according to DHS.
DHS Commissioner Gilbert Taylor briefly addressed media more than two hours before the protest last Tuesday. He told reporters young people living at the shelter would be bussed away to a movie to avoid the protest.
At a rally last month, while Community Board 4 held a public hearing on the shelter, tensions flared outside as rival groups hurled insults at each other.
The memo states that the city is governed by a “unique right to shelter mandate,” to provide “emergency shelter to every man, woman and child who is eligible for services.”
Homelessness is in the city is at a 20-year peak at nearly 60,000 people, according to DHS. More than 23,000 are children.
