City Commissioner Teri Johnston Weighs In On Key West’s New Homeless Shelter

When I opened this past Wednesday’s Key West Citizen online (www.keysnews.com), I saw an article on the night before’s city commission meeting, which I either spaced out or did not know was happening. I probably had a lot more fun at Kelley’s Caribbean MUSE open mike, and then at The Bull listening to Wanda Wilder belting out one song after another.

A major agenda item reported in the Citizen was a city planner report on where might a new homeless shelter go. Heaps of suggestions, many ridiculous.

The last paragraph of the Citizen article really caught my eye:

“It’s not just a city of Key West problem,” said City Commissioner Billy Wardlow. “It’s everybody’s problem. It’s a city, county, state and federal problem. Everything is negotiable.”

Actually, it’s Key West’s problem, because Key West wants to get its homeless people out of sight and sound, and in trying to do that that, Key West has caused the Sheriff, the hospital on Stock Island, and the entire county and its taxpayers serious financial problems.

As I understand negotiations, the different sides each have something to offer towards a solution. So far, I don’t see what Key West is offering the Sheriff, the hospital on Stock Island, the County Government and the county taxpayers, the state and the feds.

So far, what I see is Key West wants those stakeholders to give Key West what it wants.

Since this is Key West’s problem, it needs to make attractive offers to the other stakeholders.

That’s what City Commissioner Teri Johnston’s memo below to Bob Vitas was about. After Teri sent it to me for review a couple of weeks ago, I added in my few additional thoughts in CAPS and sent it back and asked her to share it with Bob.

To: Bob Vitas

From: Teri Johnston
Subject: Homeless in Key West

Bob,
I had the opportunity to have lunch with Sloan Bashinsky last week to brainstorm viable programs to manage our homeless situation. Given our recent dismantling of Commission support for a 24 hr. homeless center, it is clear that we need a plan that will garner support from the Commission, our county wide stakeholders and our residents.

Sloan’s perspective on homelessness is unique in the fact that he was homeless in Key West for 5 years. Although he has dealt with many of the current support agencies, he is not connected with any of them nor has any financial interest in any group. Sloan is probably the only individual that I have spoken to who has actually slept at Kots and understands its purpose and limitations.

Program expectations: Sloan predicts that less than 50% of our current homeless population will utilize any type of REHAB HOMELESS facility whether it is overnight or 24 hr. due to the restrictions on drugs or alcohol. There is also a % of the homeless population who cannot interact in a crowd situation or in close quarters who will not utilize any service.

Overnight facility: The City should be providing a basic overnight shelter to comply with case law (Pottinger) providing services limited to controlled lockers, bunks, showers and a TV/video area (which will be a draw to utilize the facility) in an open air tent. The facility needs to accommodate 300 people (MY BEST GUESS OF ACTUAL HOMELESS AT LARGE NUMBERS, WHICH MIGHT BE LOW IF JAILED HOMELESS ARE COUNTED) with a sparse overflow area if needed. Again, with just the basic services provided.

One potential location for Kots is underneath the Sheriffs elevated facility manned 24 hrs by a retired Monroe Co. Deputy or KW police officer. OR ELSEWHERE ON THE SHERIFF’S PROPERTY, WEST OF CURRENT KOTS The function of the facility during the day would be to accept those homeless violating city ordinances to basically get them off of the street. This would reduce the cost for the county for processing them into the county jail, the $82.00 per day cost of housing an inmate and any medical costs associated with each of these stays. The homeless picked up would be allowed to bring personal possessions only to be stored in a controlled locker @ Kots. This secure, isolated location for Kots with a close proximity and visual contact with Sheriffs deputies should reduce resistance from area residents.

24 hr homeless shelter: Key West already provides many of the services that we had anticipated our new 24 hr. facility to provide albeit on a smaller scale. Why not redirect our financial and political support to the professionals who have been successfully dealing with certain facets our homeless population for years. I am talking about Samuels House for women and children and FKOC for men, AND FOR WOMEN NOW. These are local, trained professionals who understand our homeless AND RECOVERING ADDICT population. The homeless group that we are not adequately addressing is homeless families . A program would have to be developed or an existing agency would need to expand their current services to address homeless families. These are the individuals that we should be investing in….the individuals who want the opportunity to turn themselves around.
It seems that a change in our approach could accomplish the following:
1. Support, invest and expand our local COC programs who have demonstrated track records and an understanding of our local homeless population needs.
2. Garner support from the Commission by providing only basic services to meet federal requirements for those individuals not candidates for long term programs.
3. Reducing current expenditures for unnecessary homeless services such as Monroe Co. Sheriffs dept. including intake costs, daily jail costs and associated medical treatment, ER visits @ Lower Keys Medical Center, ambulance trips to Lower Keys Medical Center and reducing the negative image of Key West to residents and visitors AND TAKING THE FINANCIAL PRESSURE OFF THE SHERIFF AND THE HOSPTIAL NOW CAUSED BY KEY WEST POLICE TAKING HOMELESS PEOPLE TO JAIL OR THE HOSPTIAL IN POLICE CRUISERS OR AMBULANCES.
4. Reduce the number of homeless on our streets. A controlled “one-way bus/plane ticket program” could also reduce our on street numbers, ALTHOUGH THERE IS AND PROBABLY ALWAYS WILL BE AN INFLUX OF HOMELES INTO KEY WEST BECAUSE OF ITS FAIR CLIMATE AND SEASIDE AND ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS.
5. Provide a number of employment opportunities for retired law enforcement officers.

There remains a critical shortage of housing available for the fortunate homeless who successfully complete a program. We must add the 30% affordable housing requirement for all re-development in Key West to ease this shortage.

Bob, I realize that this is a departure from the original proposal but it is clear that we are far apart on our perceptions for a workable program(s) to manage our homeless population. I believe this approach incorporates the concerns of the Commission, stakeholders and the residents.

Please call me to discuss in depth at your earliest convenience.

Teri