New Project Community Engagement

• Site Designation: When a site has been designated as a shelter, the Homeless Services Department (HSD) will share information on its website and through its newsletter.

• Mailer: One month prior to the first community meeting, HSD will send a mailer to addresses within a .25 mile radius of the site informing neighbors about the meeting information. The mailer will also be shared with community partners to distribute electronically to their networks. 

• Community Meeting 1: Held one month prior to the FAC-1 vote, the first community meeting will: 

• • Provide an overview of HSD commitments regarding the site by sharing common elements included in Good Neighbor Agreements

• • Share information about the process and timeline for community engagement

• • Share initial design for the site and solicit feedback

• • Take questions to develop a FAQ document that addresses issues and concerns raised by members.

At this stage, the Board of Commissioners will vote on approval of the construction plan for the project. A vote of approval allows the project team to proceed with the construction phase of the project. However, the FAC-1 is one administrative step in the full process of building new sheltering facilities. It doesn’t finalize the design, nor does it establish details about programming, operations, providers, or any neighborhood agreements. 

HSD will provide the Board with a summary of Phase I of engagement and share a copy of the FAQ document produced following Community Meeting 1.

• Community Meeting 2: One month after the FAC-1 vote, the second community meeting will take place. At this meeting, HSD will:

• • Provide an update on the site design

• • Provide an overview of the GNA process and highlight common elements

• • Inform about project and development updates.

• Community Meeting 3: The third community meeting will take place after a provider for the site is selected. At this meeting, HSD will:

• • Introduce the service provider

• • Provide project updates

• • Discuss formation of GNA Working Group

• GNA Working Sessions: GNA Working Sessions will begin six months prior to the opening of the site. Members of the GNA working session will collaboratively form a Good Neighbor Agreement for the site. The GNA sets up protocols and processes to address opportunities for cooperation among stakeholders in support of a shelter and its participants and creates clear communication channels on how to address potential issues. Participants of the working group, in addition to HSD and the provider, could include neighborhood associations, business associations, school leadership, and abutting neighbors
• Community Meeting 4: Three months before the opening of the site, the GNA Working Group will present the GNA to the community. A copy of the signed GNA will be hosted on the signatory party’s respective websites.

• Sneak Peek Event: Two weeks prior to the site opening, HSD and the provider will host a sneak peek event that invites the community to tour the site before opening.
• Ongoing Community Relations