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Convenient: A navigation center model is most successful when
<br />located in “walkable” areas or near public transportation. It is
<br />imperative that people can access a bus line and that the shelter
<br />offer bus vouchers/passes for clients. A less centrally located
<br />shelter will be more difficult for clients to access. In addition, a
<br />location with no access to public transportation may place a greater
<br />strain on staff and operations, as case managers would need to
<br />spend more time coordinating transportation arrangements for
<br />client appointments and to connect clients to resources that are
<br />not based at the center.
<br />Accessible: The shelter should be opened 24/7, allowing people to
<br />come and go throughout the day. This is necessary for people to be
<br />able to access on-site services, as well as services in other parts of
<br />Lane County without worrying about a safe place to stay that night.
<br />This is especially important for clients employed to work the 3rd/
<br />night shift.
<br />Neighborhood Politics: Neighborhood “buy-in” is important
<br />in making the new shelter a success. Once a site is identified,
<br />outreach, education, and marketing to the local residential and
<br />business community should be done immediately. Through Lane
<br />County and its partners, the community process should include
<br />buy-in that results in the entire neighborhood committed to the
<br />shelter and its occupants’ ultimate success.
<br />Shelter Structure Considerations
<br />The physical structure and model of the shelter will impact costs
<br />and must be taken into account.
<br />Shelter structure lay-out/design: In order to serve 75 people
<br />in new shelter beds, models of the actual structure or buildings
<br />may vary. As discussed earlier, TAC is recommending 75 beds
<br />initially, but as Lane County and its partners work to decrease the
<br />number of vulnerable people living on the streets and in need of
<br />beds at the new emergency shelter, the number of beds will be
<br />able to be reduced. Therefore, TAC recommends the new shelter
<br />design anticipate at least partial repurposing of the property.
<br />Other navigation centers use a “temporary” structure that will be
<br />repurposed to permanent housing in the future. There are several
<br />common design options. TAC recommends that Lane County
<br />consider which of these options is the best fit once the land or
<br />property is secured. Navigation centers in other communities
<br />include unused office buildings, former school buildings, SROs, and
<br />modular trailers.
<br />Regardless of the option selected, TAC recommends the following
<br />elements. Dormitory style living is more cost effective and secure
<br />than individual rooms for each person/couple. The dormitory
<br />structure can be one large space with partitioned sections/
<br />areas. The structure should be mixed gender and include the
<br />option for a couple (regardless of gender) to sleep in beds next
<br />to each other, allow pets in the space with their owner, and
<br />provide a safe location to securely store people’s possessions.
<br />Best practices within the navigation model include communal
<br />spaces for comfort and opportunities for clients to interact, both
<br />indoors and outdoors. The space should also include showers,
<br />bathrooms (either single use or two separated facilities so clients
<br />feel comfortable and safe using the facility of their choice), a
<br />kitchen and dining area, staff offices/space, secure space for intake
<br />procedures, as well as private/confidential meeting spaces
<br />with clients.
<br />Accessibility in Structure: The facility should be designed and
<br />operated as a low-barrier shelter, which accommodates those who:
<br />• Have substance use disorders and/or mental health issues
<br />• Require harm reduction supplies, including condoms,
<br />clean needles, access to a safe disposal such as sharps
<br />containers, etc.
<br />• Require access to primary health care
<br />• Require physical accessibility
<br />In addition to the above accommodations, the shelter design
<br />should also consider the following accessible features for people
<br />with disabilities:
<br />• Exterior and interior common areas intended for shelter
<br />users (including landscaped open space, outdoor recreation
<br />areas, walkways and program spaces) should be universally
<br />accessible
<br />• Stairs and ramps must be easily usable by people with
<br />reduced mobility and impaired vision
<br />• Rough-in wiring in the building entry/lobby for future
<br />automatic door opener
<br />• Accessible washrooms should have resilient, non-slip floors,
<br />and knee clearance under the sink
<br />• Roll-in showers should be provided for wheelchair-accessible
<br />showering
<br />• Doors, faucets, and showerheads should have lever handles
<br />rather than knobs
<br />• Light switches, thermostats, other controls, and storage
<br />should be mounted at a height accessible for a person in a
<br />wheelchair
<br />• Outdoor seating area/common space is durable, low
<br />maintenance, and universally designed
<br />Cost of structure: As mentioned previously, there are several
<br />considerations when analyzing costs of the structure. Typically,
<br />these costs are one-time costs associated with the construction
<br />of a new building or acquisition (e.g., purchase of land or modular
<br />trailers) or rehabilitation of an existing structure. In addition to
<br />traditional building costs, one-time costs may also include kitchen
<br />appliances, furniture for clients, furniture and equipment for staff
<br />offices, etc. Nationally, the one-time costs incurred by navigation
<br />centers with 50-75 beds range from $712,000 to $2.4 million, with
<br />an average cost of $1.6 million. Many of the navigation centers are
<br />in large, high cost cities, and therefore the cost in Lane County may
<br />be below the national average.17
<br />17 See Appendix D: Research on National Emerging and Promising Practices in Emergency
<br />Shelter.
<br />STRATEGIC POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
<br />PAGE 19
<br />May 13, 2019, Joint Work Session – Item 1
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