LIBRARIES TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES: EXTENDING OUR REACH ALA Annual Conference | | Chicago

Organizers  John Amundsen, Communications Specialist, ALA, Office for Literacy and Outreach Services  Lisa Gieskes, ALA, Coordinator of Hunger, Homelessness and Poverty Task Force  Julie Winkelstein, Ph.D., University of Tennessee – Knoxville

Guest Speakers  Ruth Barefoot, Manager of Innovation, San Jose Public Library  Cathy Delneo, Acting Assistant Chief of Main/Branch Manager, San Francisco Public Library  Karen Strauss, Chief of Main, San Francisco Public Library  Teresa Windham, Library Experience Director, Richland Library

Criminalizing homelessness Various laws: Panhandling, loitering, camping Outcome: Citations/tickets create barriers to employment, housing (Photos: Seth Anderson, 2004; Renjishino, 2007)

Weaponized architecture “This marked my first realization of how landscape could be devised into a kind of weapon, targeted at a specific group of people with the sole aim of removing the informal infrastructure of their survival and thereby forcing them out of the city.” (Finoki, 2009) ( Photo: Dan Udey, 2009)

More examples  Slippery and cold/hot benches  Prongs in window wells

Debunk assumptions  Which one of these young people is or was homeless?

Housing status Separate housing status from person’s identity ≠

Karen Strauss and Cathy Delneo Extending Our Reach: San Francisco Public Library

Homelessness within Populations c San Francisco Public Library. 2%. 8%

Homelessness in San Francisco Care Not Cash c San Francisco Public Library

Homelessness within Neighborhoods c San Francisco Public Library

People who spend their days at the library: have nowhere else to go during the day have jobs are housed are homeless just enjoy what we have to offer c San Francisco Public Library Homelessness in San Francisco Libraries

A Safe and Welcoming Environment for All c San Francisco Public Library

Clear Expectations Behavior GuidelinesBaggage Limits c San Francisco Public Library

Consistent Consequences & Fair Process Uniform Enforcement Appeals Process c San Francisco Public Library

Partnerships: SFPD & DPW San Francisco Police DepartmentDepartment of Public Works c San Francisco Public Library

Partnerships: D epartment of Public Health c San Francisco Public Library

Partnership Goals: Enhance Access to Existing Resources  Shelter  Food  Clothing  Showers & Laundry Facilities  Storage  Legal Aid  Medical / Mental Health Care St. Boniface Church, San Francisco PHOTO: Jeanette Antal c San Francisco Public Library A Woman’s Place, San Francisco

Library Services to the Homeless: Branch Division  Led by Branch Staff, assisted by Security  Focus on: Providing a safe and welcoming environment Meeting routine information needs Referring to appropriate social service agencies c San Francisco Public Library

Library Services to the Homeless: Main Library  Team effort involving Library Staff, SFPL Security, the Health and Safety Associates, and the Library Social Worker  Focus on: Providing a safe and welcoming environment Providing access to social services Meeting routine information needs c San Francisco Public Library

 Inspired by Free Library of Philadelphia’s collaboration with Project Home  Partnership with the SF Department of Public Health evolved out of Project Homeless Connect  Salaries covered by SFPL budget Main Library Services to the Homeless c San Francisco Public Library

Main Library Social Worker  Reaches out to Main Library patrons who are homeless to connect or reconnect them with social services  Trains, supervises and mentors HaSAs  Does not carry a case load  Coordinates training for staff c San Francisco Public Library

Health & Safety Associate (HaSA)  Paid internship (up to 15 hours/week)  Six to 12 month duration  Morning, afternoon and evening shifts  Representative of San Francisco’s cultural diversity  Monitor the bathrooms for inappropriate activities  Provide resources (free eats, showers, shelter, etc.)  Report illegal activities to Security staff Job OverviewJob Responsibilities c San Francisco Public Library

HaSAs are individuals who…  …have experienced and overcome homelessness.  …have first-hand experiences using the social service system.  …are current or former clients of the SF Homeless Outreach Team.  …do not take the place of Security staff. c San Francisco Public Library

HaSAs receive feedback during daily meetings with the social worker, before and after their shifts. They learn how to do outreach, respect confidentiality, and recognize mental health issues. On-the-job Training c San Francisco Public Library

Making a Difference for Patrons and Staff Permanent housing for ca.100 patrons Assistance to over 1,000 patrons Decrease in inappropriate use of the public bathrooms Assistance to Library staff with patrons in need of social services c San Francisco Public Library

Next Steps for SFPL  Continue HaSA program at the Main Library  Expand HaSA program to Branch Libraries with specific need for outreach to homeless patrons  Develop programming geared toward homeless populations c San Francisco Public Library

Extending Our Reach Richland Public Library Serving the homeless High Impact Low cost Teresa Windham

. Explore and Network in your Community Attend local government meetings Search out the agencies helping the homeless Get to know the outreach case workers from agencies Offer to give them a space to meet with clients privately Work with your volunteer coordinator

. Champion Staff Community Service Champion and encourage your administration to support community service to the homeless Richland Library allows staff to volunteer one hour a week for agencies supporting early literacy and the homeless

Market Free Library Services Contact local agencies Stress that you will share books, services and staff if they will provide dedicated space Emphasize life skills learned, role models and connection to job skill services

The Transitions Story

A Library at Transitions Partnering to help empower the homeless to transition from the streets to self-reliance

Ready, Set, Go We have a space, what do we do now? Here is what we did: Promoted our idea to have a library at Transitions to the Richland Library Friends who warehouse book donations Claimed used book shelves removed from a renovated library Asked our technology department for an older computer Recruited and encouraged staff to volunteer one hour a week Wrote a MOA (Memorandum of Agreement)

Nuts and Bolts Use Excel to check out books Shelve books by genre Keep statistics on attendance and circulation Trade out donations every quarter Keep a running list of requests Train other community volunteers for extended hours

IMPACT AND OUTCOMES Provide learning and entertainment opportunities Teach life skills Provide a safe and caring environment Make personal contacts Teach 21 st century skills Provide research and resource help Provide job skill training twice a month Make appointments and encourage customers to use the Job Center

Promote Homeless Awareness A Walk in Their Shoes

RICHLANDLIBRARY.COM

EXTENDING OUR REACH San Jose Public Library Ruth Barefoot

“I’m too busy; my duties won’t get done.” “I didn’t know that.” “We are so busy with all the other things we do.” “Not in my community.” “Training on this is too difficult.” “Just call the police!” “I don’t deal with homeless people.” “No one will value what I do.” “Let’s have them do it!”

Inside SJ’s Largest Homeless Encampment Photos by SJ Mercury News

She calls it home Photos by SJ Mercury News

Life in the “jungle” Photos by SJ Mercury News

AB 109 Passes in 2011  2005  17 Psychiatric Beds for every 100,000 pop.  1955  339 Psychiatric Beds for every 100,000 pop. Services to Veterans, Mental Health & Recovery Services

Choice or Necessity?  Programs for Housing  Job Services  Youth Services  Food & Meals  Transit Programs  Homeless Outreach  Drop-In Services  Rentals

 Homelessness Forum Panel Discussions  Social Worker in the Library Program  Staff Inservices with Q & A and Scenario learning  Small group training for target issues  Hosted neighborhood discussions SJPL Steps Up

Success story

Questions? Cathy Delneo and Karen Strauss, San Francisco Public Library Teresa Windham, Richland Library Ruth Barefoot, San Jose Public Library Lisa Gieskes, Coordinator of the Hunger, Homelessness & Poverty Task Force Julie Winkelstein, Ph.D, University of Tennessee- Knoxville

Resources  Extending Our Reach, the American Library Association’s Office for Literacy and Outreach Services toolkit Extending Our Reach This toolkit and webinar are designed to help librarians create meaningful library services for people who are experiencing homelessness. webinar  The American Library Association’s Hunger, Homelessness & Poverty Task Force Website:  Share your story on Libsuccess: Services for the Poor and HomelessLibsuccess: Services for the Poor and Homeless  U.S. Dept. of Homeless Affairs (phone ) U.S. Dept. of Homeless Affairs