Chair Hudson questions DHS on reducing shelter density
Hudson asks about reducing density. Dalton says DHS is on track to comply with Executive Order 2 limiting single adult capacity to 200 beds by 2027 and purpose-built shelters average about 160 beds.
Large congregate shelters create an environment where there is likely to be more interpersonal conflict.
What steps is DHS taking to reduce density in shelter sites?
Yes, thank you for that question.
First, we are on track to comply with Mayor Ron Donnie's Executive Order 2, which requires that single adults'capacity remain at 200 beds or less by the end of 2027.
So we're pleased about that.
And our purpose-built shelters, which I think are certainly the way we're trying to move the system, there's 32 of those.
25 have been open in the last four years.
They all have smaller dorms, and they're smaller capacity in general.
So the average over those sites is about 160.
And importantly, it's not just the overall size of the building and the number of people there.
It is also the density of the dorm space so that people are more comfortable where they're staying.