My To-Do List For Winter Shelter

-Complete 1" thick detailed Request for Proposal
-Compile budget
-Contact city and county for available properties
-Search for vacant warehouses
-Locate vacant properties
-Evaluate locations
-Contact brokers/owners
-Do walk throughs
-Check with community
-Get call from newspaper
-Check with city council person
-Check with police
-Repeat list several times
-Meet with LAHSA in LA
-Have budget decreased, move site to LA city
-Repeat above in Wilmington and Harbor City
-Call LA Councilwoman, Wilmington Police Captain
-Get notice of site visits conflicting with my schedule
-Repeat list again, making numerous site visits
-Field numerous calls asking why this is taking so long
-Calculate capabilities with reduced budget
-Withdraw from contract
-Get call from County Supervisor who found more funding
-Repeat above list again
-Get call from newspaper
-Get Signal Hill councilman's help for potential sites
-Find several potential, suitable sites
-Try to get councilperson's approval
-Have meeting on 14th floor (City Hall)
-Get another councilman's approval
-Get on council agenda
-Get shelter emergency zoning waiver
-Get call from LAHSA - "someone died in Riverside"
-Get call from newspaper
-Complete detailed LAHSA contract
-Get sub-lease from city
-Get keys
-Field complaints about the site location
-Field calls - "a storm is coming"
-Have walk-through with staff
-Get additional insurance coverage
-Field calls - "It's getting cold, you know"
-Get bidding and agreements for:
oBus transportation
oLaundry services
oPortaPotties
oMotel and Restaurant (for family vouchers)
oEmployment agency
-Have fire and building inspections
-Meet residential code requirements
-Detail required alterations
-Get calls - "It's cold"
-Draw floor plans and alterations
-Get permits for temporary alterations
-Hire contractor
-Hire electrician
-Rent custom ADA ramps
-Make alterations for egress
-Install emergency and egress lighting
-Install fire extinguishers
-Install smoke detectors
-Get calls - "it's raining tomorrow"
-Deliver blankets to rainy day shelter
-Have re-inspected
-Make amended alterations
-Have re-inspection
-Get official occupancy permit for # of beds
-Hire 30 people
-Set up case manager at MSC
-Have training meetings
-Order staff supplies/uniforms
-Rent porta-toilets
-Rent tables and chairs
-Get calls - "don't you know it's raining?"
-Order food and supplies
-Rent truck to pick up cots and blankets in LA
-Set up cots (return/replace many broken ones)
-Ramp up staffing schedules
-Have staff attend mandatory training sessions
-Finalize contract
-Provide certificates of insurance
-Schedule opening night
-Prepare daily and monthly reports and invoices
-Extend staffing for rainy day operations
-Field client complaints: too cold, no TV, hate food
-Prepare for audit of last year's shelter program
-Keep funding and running LBRM’s own 24/7/365 shelter and rehab programs...
-Try to get seminary course assignments done on time
-Read negative blogs and comment posts about me
-Sit and watch the rain and temperature fall, thinking about the homeless living on the bluff, in the park, along the river, about the person who died in Riverside . . . try to fall asleep .
-Thinking about preparing to repeat the above all over again
-Have head examined
-As Yogi Berra said: “It’s déjà vu all over again”