Community volunteers could be trained as mentors by current volunteers and professionals. Among the other services suggested by the committee:
An education program for the homeless, nearby businesses and residents;
Private funding to provide some recommended services.
The committee also supports the continued use of the Homeless Court in Tustin and would like to see it hold sessions in Laguna.
Boyd is a big advocate of the court, which helps the homeless resolve legal issues.
One question was on the list: Should locally known homeless be given preferential treatment, such as day use of the shelter site, storage privileges or services connecting them to county assistance, job placement and Project Homecoming, which unites families?
The final recommendation was to have city staff monitor the temporary shelter for three months, including interviews with the homeless and their recommendations and review the project with the council.
The recommendations will be refined by sub-committee members Dawn Price, executive director of Friendship Shelter; Faye Chapman, board member of the Relief and Resource Center; and Mari Hill, from the county’s Health Care Agency.
“They are providing input to city staff and Mayor Boyd and Councilwoman Iseman on alternative locations and ways they think will make it make it likely the temporary shelter will be used,” said Asst. City Manager John Pietig, who represents the staff on the Advisory Committee.
Community Outreach Officer Jason Farris also sits in on the meetings.
The results will be presented to the council at the Oct. 6 meeting.
