Farías questions DSS on oversight and accountability measures
Farías asks about increased oversight for LGBTQ+ shelter residents. Russell describes proactive measures including Code of Conduct mandates, required trainings, and reactive measures including data review, provider conversations, transfers, and on-site visits. Farías emphasizes staff should be moved before residents when complaints involve staff.
So what increased oversight and accountability measures has DHS implemented to address discrimination and unsafe conditions for LGBTQ plus shelter residents?
Thank you.
So we take the dignity and safety of our clients seriously, and we continually monitor conditions to ensure shelter conditions are safe and supportive.
And depending on the circumstances, our response are proactive and sometimes reactive.
As it relates to the proactive side, our DHS Code of Conduct mandates that clients have the right not to be discriminated against due to their sexual orientation or gender identity and not be discriminated against by other clients.
The trainings that DHS staff and providers are required to take speak to how to handle these complaints of discrimination from LGBTQI plus and TGNC communities.
We monitor whether staff or providers have taken the required training.
On the reactive side, we do review the data as it relates to incidences, and we have conversations with our providers when we notice that there's an uptick or a trend that's starting to occur, and we work on how to mitigate those concerns.
Depending on the level of the complaint, we will make a transfer or other accommodations when we deem necessary as a result.
Provider accountability is consistent in all cases.
DHS shelter
staff will make regular on-site visits to these locations to ensure safety standards are being upheld by our providers.
And the transfer or accommodations, is that in reference to the residents or the staff?
Like if there's a complaint about a staff,
How are you addressing that?
Are you moving the resident or are you moving the staff?
So depending on the circumstances, it may be that we move the staff or it may be that we move the resident.
Sometimes a resident may request to be transferred and we will accommodate them accordingly.
Okay.
I just want to make the point that I think, and I'm sure you all share this, but sometimes what we say in theory doesn't always match what happens in practice.
And so I think it's important to start with the staff if a staff needs to be relocated, especially considering.
You know, the shelter population and making sure that we're addressing whatever needs to happen at the staff level before we're moving residents that might be in shelter.
And I agree with you.
Yeah, I knew you would.