Camp Hope

1. Camp Hope Planned Unit Development Concept Plan 2013 Presented to Las Cruces City Council February 19, 2013

2. Since we last met… MVCH Campus has 6 separate operating agencies providing services to the homeless, indigent and disabled; Camp Hope not reason for higher number of patrons on the campus in general 148 People have passed through Camp Hope Average length of stay is 122 days (4 months) At least 50 accessed housing (James VB) 37 accessed income through work and disability (others had income already); Matt hired on! Self-governing; Safety team/Paid Security Volunteer hours(Jan: 2,509 hrs; 43 volunteers from Camp alone) MVCH Campus as a whole saw only 50 police responses (16 were for suicide/mental illness) from Jan 2012-Dec 2012, compared to the prior year where Jan.to Feb.=50 calls For the homeless population visiting the campus in general, MVCH is diligent in calling police and banning those that violate campus policies MVCH willing to work with surrounding businesses; fencing, businesses to add security; series of Great Conversations?

3. Camp Hope remains a safe place for those transitioning out of homelessness with group support and wrap-around services

4. Why an Outdoor Shelter? • Camp Hope meets the needs of homeless clients unable to stay elsewhere; gives homeless time to become housing ready; • “Tent cities are America’s de facto waiting room for affordable and accessible housing…The idea of someone living in a tent in this country says little about the decisions made by those who dwell within and so much more about our nation’s inability to adequately respond to our fellow residents in need” (Neil Donovan, executive director of National Coalition for the Homeless; from Tent City by Andrew Heben). • Homelessness has gone down due to housing programs (HUD report of reducing homelessness in 2012 by 5.7%); • Proven to be more effective and less costly (HUD studies), MVCH has a housing-based approach to end homelessness, rather than a shelter-based approach. • National Alliance to End Homelessness reports HUD’s Emergency Shelter Grants Program is approximately $8,067 more than the average annual cost of a federal housing subsidy. • Only 3% of households become homeless again;

5. City of Las Cruces Planning Department • “The campground is specifically intended as an alternative for transitional housing for the homeless and is currently located on the COH campus without the appropriate permits or improvements. The PUD provides the method by which to allow this use and create basic design standards for the campground to ensure the health, safety, welfare, and aesthetic layout of the property” –note: it is not “Transitional Housing.”

6. CLC • Specifically, a PUD concept plan may be approved only if it meets the following findings: • The proposed construction and use of the PUD will not be detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of the community or adjacent neighborhood; • There is or will be adequate sewage capacity, roadway capacity, energy supply, and potable water supply to serve the PUD at the time a certificate of occupancy or letter of acceptance, as applicable, is to be issued; • The PUD conforms to the intent, goals, objectives, policies, and standards of all city plans and codes; • The uses proposed, including their density and intensity, are appropriate to the character of the neighborhood and will have a positive aesthetic effect on the neighborhood in which the PUD will be located; and • The proposed uses will not subject surrounding properties and pedestrians to significant hazardous traffic conditions.

7. CLC • The Mesilla Valley Community of Hope PUD Concept plan meets the purpose of a PUD by: • Complying with growth management policy as established in the land use element, other applicable elements and all companion documents to the comprehensive plan; • Producing more flexibility in development than would result from a strict application of this Code by allowing options for safe, accessible, and consolidated social services including housing; • Permitting design flexibility that will encourage a more creative approach to the development of land and that will result in more efficient and aesthetically desirable alternatives to the housing and other development needs of the community by allowing for tents to be used as transitional housing; • Permitting flexibility in land use, density, placement of buildings, arrangement of open space, circulation facilities, and off-street parking areas, and maximize the potential of individual sites under development by consolidating various social services on one campus for those most in need in the community; • Promoting the infill of vacant land by creating provisions for the development of unused portions of the 8.01 acre property; and • Creating developments that balance the benefits to the community with the developer's interests by providing a location and standards for at need population in the City.

8. 17 Conditions of Approval-CLC 1. A final site plan for the Camp Hope component of the PUD shall be submitted within 6 months of City Council approval of the concept plan. Within 1 year of City Council approval of the concept plan, the improvements for Camp Hope shall be constructed per the approved final site plan. Improvements may include, but are not limited to, landscaping, fencing, grading, surfacing, ponding, access/circulation improvements, pad site improvements, shade facilities, common area, ADA compliant facilities, sanitary facilities, cooking & eating facilities, and other basic conveniences for sanitary, health, &/or safety purposes. 2. An opaque perimeter wall or fence at least 5 feet in height and adequate landscaping in conformance with all applicable regulations shall be constructed around the external perimeter of Camp Hope. 3. The camping facilities shall be constructed to the Bureau of Reclamation’s camping standards or other equivalent standards as approved by the Community Development Director. 4. Permanent potable water and bathroom facilities accessible 24 hours a day seven days a week shall be provided for Camp Hope residents. 5. Trash receptacles in compliance with CLC regulations shall be provided for Camp Hope residents. 6. The PUD shall comply with the 2009 International Fire Code, specifically chapters 3-General Precautions Against Fire, 9-Fire Protection Systems, and 24-Tents & Canopies. 7. Emergency access routes shall be maintained throughout the campus and Camp Hope in accordance with section 503. 8. The use of temporary electrical wiring, open flame, and liquid/gas fueled heating appliances, portable generators, or smoking will be strictly prohibited. Smoking not allowed in tents but allowed in camp.

9. Conditions Continued 9. The joining of any structures or membrane structures forming a total area of 200 sq. ft. or greater shall be strictly prohibited. 10. All structures and membrane structures shall be separated by a distance of not less than 10’ and meet NFPA 701 requirements. 11. Not more than the 50 persons and 45 tents (including tipi) shall be allowed in the temporary homeless encampment. 12. No tent or structure shall be located within 20’ of the proposed pedestal grill. 13. Fire extinguishers shall be within 75 feet from any location within the camp and with one within 30’ of the pedestal grill. 14. A current list of residents’ names and their tent locations shall be kept at the camp to aid in emergency response. 15. One person minimum must remain on watch overnight to ensure security and provide a fire watch for Camp Hope. 16. No tent can be utilized for more than 10 persons at any time. 17. MVCH to report back to City Council and P&Z every 6 months about crime in the area and surrounding area: Asking to delete this condition.

10. NMSU Geography Department SPARC Lab

11. Engineers Without Borders Camp Hope Resident helps survey Drainage Pond

12. EWB

13. Tent Pad Sites • Tent pad site should be at least 144 square feet. • Tent pads should be constructed of compacted sand (or aggregate road base) over landscape fabric over compacted earth. • Tent pads should be sloped 1.5%. • MVCH received offers of small wooden structures and small military structures used in Afghanistan, but they were not approved by the CLC.

14. Tent Pad Sites Wood border filled with dirt/gravel/sand Accessible tent pad site; Camp Hope will have 3

15. Tent Pad Site Examples • Site costs:roughly $140/site x45=$6,300

16. CAMP HOPE OUTDOOR SHELTER

17. Condition #4: Permanent potable water and bathroom facilities accessible 24 hours a day seven days a week shall be provided for Camp Hope residents. HOW WILL WE ADDRESS COOKING FACILITIES? • Outdoor cooking area near garden with accessible pedestal grill and potable water; EWB to move spigot for accessible water; • Access to El Caldito Soup Kitchen and Gospel Rescue Mission for food 7 days a week; • Weekly food boxes from Casa de Peregrinos • Churches come regularly on weekends to cook for the homeless • Waive any requirement to build an enclosed cooking/kitchen area Accessible Pedestal grill; $190

18. HOW WILL WE ADDRESS SANITARY FACITILITIES? • Access to indoor rest rooms at MVCH 5 days a week; • 5 port-a-potties emptied twice weekly and cleaned daily by clients (4 inside the camp, including an accessible toilet and one outside the camp paid for by MVCH). • Waive any condition that MVCH must build a permanent restroom Amon’s Port-a-potty; 5@ $70/mo =$4,200 yr

19. PUD • Rezoning the camp is going to be a financial burden on MVCH (more than $30,000 to be in compliance); • Currently paying for liability insurance ($2,720), port-a-potties, tents, tarps, trash bags, solar lights, and more without additional funding; • Fundraisers, grants, EWB help being implemented but will still fall short; • MVCH is currently meeting and will meet all other requirements

20. Conclusion • 1. We need an affordable shelter option for a quick turn-around for housing; 2. The camp benefits the MVCH campus, the people staying at the camp, and the City of Las Cruces in terms of safety, resiliency, and where would these people go if…; and 3. the Camp has not increased campus services/traffic nor has it added crime in the area (in fact it has most likely reduced it); • Camp Hope is working. It allows homeless people a safe place to stay while they get back on their feet and the rezoning of the camp will result in an affordable way for MVCH to continue to offer housing, income support and wrap-around services. • Camp Hope has proven to be a model for other communities that struggle with homeless issues and has provided a benefit to the City of Las Cruces. • We ask that the Concept Plan be approved with the exception of having to build a permanent kitchen and bathrooms and that the 17th condition be waived.

21. New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness AWARD: Camp Hope wins Most Inspiring Idea of the Year