Morgan Hill Safe Car Park Pilot “FOCUS” Updated June 1, 2017
Purpose:
The City of Morgan Hill, Morgan Hill Police Department, County of Santa Clara, MHUSD, and local faith communities will partner to provide respite and resources for local unsheltered families or persons, living in cars or RV’s, with the goal of transition to more stable housing.
Scope:
This pilot program, beginning Saturday, July 8th,is limited to eight vehicles (cars or RV’s) and a maximum of 14 persons and for a period of 13 weeks, with a possibility of modification and extension, after an evaluation for effectiveness.
Basic Elements:
- Clients. Potential clients of the safe parking program are being identified and vetted through the Morgan Hill Police Department, MHUSD, and local faith communities. Initial outreach will be to families and single parents with children, followed by adult singles.
- Site: Morgan Hill Bible Church at 15055 Monterey Street has a secluded gravel lot toward the rear of the property that will be used for parking up to eight vehicles. Spaces will be chalked, and garbage cans, tables, chairs, portable lighting, cleaning supplies, and flashlights will be supplied for each space. The site will also include a “tiny house” for office and caseworker space and storage. Wifi access and staff cell phone will be available.
- Site Services. Portable toilets and wash stations, as well as a shower/laundry unit will be provided to support the daily needs of the safe parking clients.
- Hours of Operation. The safe parking site would be open from 7:00 PM to 8:00 AM. Clients and their vehicles would need to vacate the site no later than 8:00 AM each morning and return between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM.
- Security. On site security will be provided from 10pm-6am to monitor the clients and ensure their safety. A PD grant will fund the security contract.Volunteer staff and security staff will have access to emergency contact information and procedures.Program managers will check in with volunteer staff regularly.
- Meals. Light breakfast and a to-go lunch will be provided daily (by Second Harvest Food Bank). Dinners are available in Morgan Hill through Martha’s Kitchen and served at churches Monday – Thursday weekly (Monday-St. Catherine, Tuesday-Advent Lutheran, Wednesday, United Methodist, Thursday-Community Christian). Saturday dinner will be provided at the Compassion Center in Gilroy, Sunday dinner at the Lord’s Table at St. Mary’s, Gilroy. Friday dinner will be provided by the community hosting that week - a BBQ, catered meal, or gift cards given to local restaurants.
- Support Services. Clients will be provided a list of local resources that can be utilized for counseling, case management, career/vocational training, food stamps, transitional housing, job referrals, mail services, internet access, medical, dental, etc. The program management will make arrangements for these services to be provided at the site whenever possible. In addition, worship services will be provided for those clients that wish to participate.
- Client Responsibilities. Clients will be asked to sign a code of conduct “contract” outlining the expected conduct of the clients while on site. No alcohol or drug use will be allowed and violators will be removed from the program. Guests will be responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of their space.
- Case Management/Resources. Social services will be provided by the Compassion Center, 20 hours per week. The case manager will meet with clients onsite in the evenings, or will make arrangements to meet with clients at a mutually agreed on place and time. The volunteers at the “tiny house” office will keep a supply of local resources (food, bill pay, health, etc.) for guest use. St. Vincent de Paul Community Closet volunteers will fill weekly personalized clothing lists for each guest.
- Program Management. Planning has been a coordinated effort of the City of Morgan Hill, the Morgan Hill Police Department, the County of Santa Clara, Catholic Charities, Gilroy Compassion Center, MHUSD and volunteers from local faith groups and interested community members. Daily program management of the car park will be handled by Dirk Caudill (909) 630-6410 from Morgan Hill Bible Church,and Jeanette Thatcher(408) 427-6291 and Carol Lillig(408) 857-4516 from St. Catherine Church.
- Volunteers: Faith groups, nonprofits and community members can sign up to “host” the car park for a one week period; each team would be responsible for providing 2 volunteers from 6pm-10pm for preparing the site, welcoming and checking in guests, providing resource referrals, facilitating showers and laundry, and scheduling appointments with the case manager. 2 additional volunteers would be needed for a morning shift from 6am-8am, to assemble a light breakfast and to-go lunch, dismiss guests, and close up site for the day. Clipboards and a whiteboard will be provided for daily communication about guests’ needs and experiences. A weekly summary will be passed from each week’s team to the next.
Volunteer responsibilities: Car park guest will be asked to contribute to keeping the site clean, but evening volunteers will check the toilets, laundry, showers, and garbage areas and refresh the site. Volunteers will check in guests, and visit with them, providing resources and support as needed. Lights out, and security guard arrival 10pm. Morning volunteers will prepare coffee and a light breakfast and to-go lunch (food provided by Second Harvest) and work with guests to leave the site clean by 8am dismissal.
Individuals may sign up for volunteer shifts using an online volunteer system, “ivolunteer”. Go to: (If you cannot or would rather not, volunteer online, please contact Carol Lillig 408-857-4516 and I’ll sign you up.) On the “ivolunteer” site, choose the date range you’d for which you’d like to volunteer from the blue tabs. Each blue tab contains one week of dates. The top row of green slots are for evening volunteers; the bottom row for morning shifts. Click on the blue VOLUNTEER button for each date that you’d like to attend. Fill in your email address, first and last name, and phone number. Check the consent square, then click “volunteer”. Within a few minutes you will receive an e-mail from ivolunteer to confirm your intent to volunteer. If you have any questions, contact Carol Lillig (408)857-4516 or Jeanette Thatcher (408)427-6291.
- VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION A volunteer orientation will be held at Morgan Hill Bible Church (15055 Monterey Rd., Morgan Hill) on Tuesday, June 20th from 6:30-8pm.We’ll explain logistics, take a tour of the site (complete with showers, laundry, and tiny house!) and hear from our caseworkers about what to expect, and how best to be of service to our unsheltered brothers and sisters.
Week beginning . . . through Team Hosting Contact
- July 8
- July 15
- July 22
- July 29
- August 5
- August 12
- August 19
- August 26
- Sept 2
- Sept 9
- Sept 16
- Sept 23
- Sept 30